Contemporary History

Contemporary history is the study of the recent past, from the transformations of the nineteenth century through the upheavals of the twentieth to the events of the early twenty-first. It is a field that differs from conventional historical study in one crucial respect: the events it examines are not fully settled in their significance. The history of the past two centuries is still being contested, reinterpreted, and connected to the present in ways that make historical analysis feel urgent rather than academic.

At the University of Brighton, this three-year full-time programme approaches contemporary history not just as the study of events but as an examination of how history is shaped, produced, and used in society. You will explore the transformative events and struggles of the period, drawing on insights from politics and cultural studies as well as historical methodology, to understand not only what happened but why it matters and how competing accounts of the past are constructed and deployed. A sandwich year gives you professional experience, and work placement opportunities are integrated throughout.

Graduates from contemporary history programmes work in journalism, broadcasting, policy research, education, archives and museums, publishing, and the civil service, as well as in roles in the charity sector and in organisations with a specific focus on the events or causes that contemporary history encompasses. The analytical, research, and communication skills the degree develops are valued across many professions. Postgraduate study in history, contemporary history, and related social sciences is a natural progression for those who wish to develop their expertise or pursue research.