History

History is the scholarly study of the human past: how societies have changed, what forces have driven that change, and how we can know and interpret events that we did not witness. It develops a distinctive set of intellectual skills, including the ability to evaluate evidence, to construct a well-argued interpretation from incomplete or conflicting sources, to understand context and causation, and to communicate complex ideas clearly and precisely. These skills are valuable far beyond the discipline itself, which is why history graduates are sought after across an unusually wide range of careers.

At City St George's, University of London, this three-year full-time degree takes you across a range of nations, societies and cultures, examining key historical developments from multiple perspectives. You will engage with both primary sources and the arguments of other historians, learning to situate events within their broader contexts and to evaluate competing interpretations. Seminars and discussion are important parts of the learning experience, and you will be expected to develop and defend your own well-supported readings of historical questions.

A sandwich year placement and a year abroad are both available, broadening your experience and giving you the opportunity to develop skills in professional and international contexts. Work placement experience is embedded in the programme, helping to connect your historical training to the professional world.

Writing and research are central. You will develop your ability to construct extended arguments, to use archives and libraries effectively, and to produce clear, precise prose that communicates your findings to different audiences.

Graduates from this programme move into careers in education, journalism, archiving, heritage, law, public policy, the civil service, business management, communications and the third sector. The rigorous training in analytical thinking and written communication that history provides is valued across many areas of professional life, and postgraduate study in history, law, public administration or related fields is a natural pathway.