History and Politics

History and politics are disciplines that mutually illuminate each other. Political systems, ideologies, and institutions cannot be properly understood without the historical processes that produced them, and the writing of history is never politically neutral: the questions historians ask, the sources they select, and the interpretations they construct are all shaped by the present moment in which they work. Studying them together builds the analytical depth that neither provides alone, giving you the tools to understand how societies have changed over time and how power is exercised in the present.

At the University of Westminster, this part-time programme is designed for students who need to balance academic study with other commitments. You will explore the relationship between historical change and political structure, examining how democratic and non-democratic systems have developed, how political movements and ideologies have risen and fallen, and how the patterns of the past continue to shape contemporary politics. The programme develops your capacity to analyse evidence, construct sustained arguments, and engage with scholarly debate across both disciplines.

Westminster's location in London brings considerable advantages, including proximity to archives, cultural institutions, policy organisations, and an extraordinarily diverse social and political environment that enriches study in both fields.

Graduates from history and politics programmes go on to careers in the civil service, journalism, law, policy research, international organisations, diplomacy, and education. The combination of historical knowledge and political analysis is particularly valuable for roles that require understanding complex institutional contexts and navigating change over time. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in history, political science, public policy, or international relations, building on the analytical foundations the degree provides.

The skills developed, including research, critical reading, and clear written argument, are highly transferable across virtually every professional field.