History And Politics

History and politics together place the study of power, governance, and political change in the context of the past that shaped it. History trains you to work with evidence, to think about causation and contingency, and to understand how events and institutions have developed over time. Politics equips you with theoretical frameworks for analysing systems of government, political behaviour, ideologies, and international relations.

Studied together, they offer a dual perspective: history asks how we got here, and politics asks how things work and how they might change.

At Edge Hill University you will explore the analysis of political systems, institutions, and policies alongside modern history from across the globe, developing skills in primary source research, political analysis, and academic argument. You will examine how political developments are rooted in historical context and how contemporary institutions carry the weight of their pasts. The three-year programme includes a sandwich year and a year abroad, as well as a work placement, giving you a combination of professional experience and international exposure alongside your academic study.

Graduates from history and politics programmes are well prepared for a wide range of careers in the civil service, public policy, think tanks, journalism, broadcasting, teaching, law, and international organisations. The combination of historical understanding and political analysis is particularly valued in roles concerned with research, communications, and strategy. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in political science, history, international relations, law, or public administration, and the degree provides a strong foundation for any career that values rigorous thinking, clear writing, and an understanding of how the world has come to be the way it is.