History and Philosophy

History and philosophy is a pairing with a long and distinguished intellectual tradition. History asks how human societies have changed over time, how events unfolded, and what the record of the past can tell us about the present. Philosophy asks the most fundamental questions about knowledge, reality, ethics, and human existence, providing the conceptual tools needed to engage rigorously with ideas across every domain.

Studied together, the two disciplines develop a combination of contextual understanding and analytical precision that is among the most valuable any humanities graduate can possess.

At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year, full-time programme combines the study of all aspects of human activity in the past with an exploration of the big questions that have mattered to human beings throughout the ages. You will develop the historical skills to engage with evidence and construct well-reasoned interpretations of how the past has shaped the present, alongside the philosophical skills to examine the conceptual and ethical foundations of human thought and practice. In your third year you will spend a year abroad, broadening your intellectual horizons and developing the personal adaptability that many employers value.

The combination of history and philosophy at Aberdeen produces graduates with wide career options and a distinctive analytical profile. The typical entry tariff is 168 UCAS points.

Graduates from history and philosophy programmes are well placed across a range of careers. Journalism, the civil service, law, education, policy research, publishing, heritage and archives, arts administration, international organisations, and academic research are all natural destinations. The critical thinking and communication skills developed during the degree are valued in virtually every professional context where complex questions need to be analysed and communicated clearly.

Postgraduate study in history, philosophy, ethics, law, public policy, or education provides a natural continuation.