History

History is the discipline that asks how we know what happened in the past and what it means that things happened as they did. It is not simply the accumulation of facts about previous eras: it is the critical examination of evidence, the construction of interpretations, and the recognition that the past is always encountered through sources that are partial, situated, and shaped by the interests of those who created them. Studying history develops the ability to read carefully, argue rigorously, and communicate complex ideas with precision, skills that are valued across almost every professional field.

The three-year full-time History programme at the University of Nottingham is available with a foundation year for students who want to build their academic skills before entering the main degree. The University has a distinguished History department with research strengths spanning medieval, early modern, modern, and global history, and you will study with academics who are actively engaged in archival and primary research. The programme is inclusive in its approach to prior qualifications, considering all candidates on an individual basis and accepting a broad range of qualifications, which reflects a commitment to bringing talented students to the discipline regardless of their academic background.

You will develop your ability to work with primary sources, to engage with historiographical debates, and to construct extended arguments in essay and dissertation form. These research and writing skills are the core of a history education, and the combination of teaching and research culture at Nottingham means you will be challenged to think independently from the outset. Seminars encourage discussion and debate, and independent reading and research become increasingly central as you advance through the programme.

Graduates from history programmes are consistently among the most versatile in the graduate labour market, finding roles in law, the civil service, heritage and museums, teaching, journalism, publishing, finance, management consultancy, and the charitable sector. Many also pursue postgraduate study in history, archival studies, public history, or law.