History

History is the discipline that asks how the past has shaped the present, and why those connections matter. It involves the critical analysis of evidence from documents, artefacts, and oral testimony, the construction of arguments about causation and change over time, and the constant revision of received accounts as new sources and new perspectives become available. Far from being a fixed body of facts, history is an active and contested discipline, always engaged with the question of whose stories have been told and whose have been overlooked.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands, you will study history in a distinctive educational context that takes seriously the specific history and culture of Scotland's Highlands and Islands, while also engaging with broader Scottish, British, European, and world history. UHI's distributed model of higher education, spread across campuses and learning centres across the region, gives students access to university-level study in communities where it might not otherwise be easily available. The programme is delivered part-time and flexibly, making it accessible to students with work, family, or other commitments alongside their studies.

You will develop skills in archival research, critical reading, historical argument, and clear written communication throughout the programme.

History graduates are among the most flexible and employable in the humanities. The combination of research skills, analytical thinking, and clear writing that the degree develops is valued in the civil service, local government, teaching, journalism, heritage and museum work, publishing, and policy analysis. For those living and working in the Highlands and Islands, the local historical knowledge and community connections the programme fosters can also be directly relevant to roles in heritage tourism, local authority work, and community development.

Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in history, heritage management, or education.