History

History is the discipline that takes the past seriously as a subject of inquiry in its own right. It asks not only what happened but why, and how we know, developing a critical awareness of sources, evidence, and the way historical narratives are constructed and contested. At its best, the study of history is also an exercise in empathy and imagination, requiring you to understand how people in very different circumstances experienced their world, while maintaining the rigour to distinguish evidence from interpretation.

At Birmingham Newman University this four-year programme, which includes a foundation year as its first stage, offers a reflective and inclusive exploration of the past. You will investigate a wide range of periods, places, and perspectives, examining global conflict, cultural identity, and political transformation across different times and regions. The programme is designed to encourage curiosity and independent thinking, and to help you draw meaningful connections between past and present, recognising that historical understanding has real relevance to the challenges and questions of contemporary life.

The foundation year provides the academic preparation and study skills needed to engage fully with degree-level historical inquiry.

Throughout the degree you will develop skills in reading and evaluating primary sources, engaging critically with historical scholarship, constructing well-evidenced arguments, and writing with clarity and precision. These are not merely academic accomplishments; they are capacities that employers across many sectors value highly in candidates who can think carefully, communicate well, and engage with complex information.

Graduates of history programmes move into careers in education, heritage and museums, archives, publishing, journalism, the civil service, law, and a wide range of other roles in public and private life where the analytical and communication skills of the historian are recognised and sought. Many also continue to postgraduate study in history, heritage management, law, or education.