History and Psychology

History and psychology are two disciplines that examine human behaviour from very different angles: history looks outward at what people and societies have done across time, while psychology looks inward at the mental processes that drive thought, feeling, and action. Together they offer a genuinely distinctive vantage point on what it means to be human, and they develop complementary sets of analytical skills. At the University of Dundee, the history component teaches social, cultural, and political history from the early modern period through to the present day, focusing in particular on the British Isles, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and India.

This four-year full-time programme develops your skills in historical research and interpretation alongside your understanding of psychological theory and method. In history you will engage with primary sources, historiographical debates, and the writing of well-evidenced arguments about the past. In psychology you will study cognition, development, social influence, and research methods, developing both experimental and analytical skills.

A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the experience of studying in a different national and academic context. Entry typically requires around 184 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates of history and psychology go on to careers in education, social research, the civil service, journalism, public policy, healthcare administration, human resources, and a wide range of roles in which both an evidence-based understanding of human behaviour and strong research and communication skills are valued. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in psychology, history, social work, or related disciplines, and those who wish to pursue professional psychology qualifications can use the BPS-accredited psychology component as a foundation for further training.