History and Politics

History and politics together offer one of the most intellectually satisfying approaches to understanding the world we inhabit. History provides the depth of time, showing how the political arrangements and problems we face today emerged from the decisions, conflicts, and contingencies of the past. Politics provides the analytical framework, examining how systems of government work, how ideologies shape political life, and how processes of change and contestation play out in contemporary societies.

Studied together, they allow you to trace how specific political questions, including the rise of nationalism, the dynamics of empire, the emergence of welfare states, and the tensions of global governance, have developed over the long run.

At Leeds Beckett University this part-time programme develops your understanding of both disciplines in an integrated way. You will explore pressing issues in contemporary politics, including questions around populism, climate politics, and international instability, alongside an in-depth historical perspective that covers the rise of the nation-state, European imperialism, and the ideological conflicts of the twentieth century. The combination builds strong skills in research, critical reading, argumentation, and written communication, which are valued across a wide range of professional contexts.

The programme includes a year abroad, allowing you to study history and politics in an international setting and to develop a comparative perspective on the issues you examine.

Graduates from history and politics programmes work in the civil service, politics, journalism, broadcasting, law, think tanks, education, community and voluntary organisations, and international bodies. The analytical and communication skills developed through the degree transfer into virtually any career where understanding events and making clear arguments matters. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in political science, history, international relations, or law.