History

History is the discipline of understanding the past in order to make sense of the present. At degree level it is a rigorous analytical and research-based subject, developing your ability to handle primary sources, construct evidence-based arguments, and engage critically with the interpretations that historians offer. The study of history ranges from the political and military to the social, cultural, and economic, across periods from the ancient world to the recent past and across geographies from local to global.

It rewards both precision in reading individual documents and the imaginative breadth to think across long stretches of time and complex human experience.

At Aston University, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year with work placement opportunities and a year abroad, making it one of the more structurally rich history degrees available. Aston's location in Birmingham gives it a particular context for exploring modern industrial, social, and political history, and the university's professional orientation means the placement year is a seriously developed feature of the programme. You will cover the major periods and themes of historical study while also developing the research, analytical, and writing skills that make history graduates so versatile in the job market.

History graduates are employed across an exceptionally wide range of sectors. The civil service, law, journalism, publishing, the heritage and museum sector, politics, finance, and education are all well-established destinations. The analytical and communication skills developed transfer to virtually any role in which clear thinking and persuasive writing matter.

Many history graduates go on to postgraduate study in history, law, public policy, or education, and the discipline provides excellent preparation for graduate-entry law programmes and professional qualifications of many kinds. The placement year and year abroad at Aston make this degree particularly strong preparation for professional life.