History and Philosophy & Ethics

History and philosophy and ethics is a combination that explores the human past and the fundamental questions of how we ought to live, what we can know, and what we value. History traces the unfolding of societies, cultures and events over time, developing the ability to engage critically with evidence and to understand how the past shapes the present. Philosophy and ethics takes a different but complementary approach, examining the logical structure of arguments, the nature of moral reasoning, and the philosophical foundations of knowledge, politics and human experience.

Together they form a degree that is both intellectually demanding and broadly relevant.

At Liverpool Hope University this four-year full-time programme helps you see how people and societies lived in the past and how those experiences shape our present and future. You will explore many periods of history, from the Early Modern era to today, engaging with key themes including nationalism, imperialism, colonisation, decolonisation, gender and identity. The philosophy and ethics strand develops your ability to reason carefully about contested questions, to construct and evaluate arguments, and to think clearly about moral complexity.

A sandwich year gives you the opportunity for substantial professional experience before your final year, the option to study abroad adds an international dimension, and work placement opportunities throughout the programme connect academic learning with real professional environments.

Graduates move into law, the civil service, journalism, education, research, policy, charities and cultural organisations. Many pursue postgraduate study in history, philosophy, law or ethics. The combination of historical knowledge and philosophical rigour supports a wide range of professional and academic pathways.