Modern History with Bible and Culture

The study of modern history examines how the world has been shaped by political revolutions, social movements, wars, religious transformations, and cultural encounters from the early modern period to the present. Pairing that with the academic study of the Bible and culture adds a distinctive and intellectually rich dimension, since biblical texts have been among the most consequential forces in shaping Western civilisation, literature, law, art, and politics for two thousand years. Understanding them in their historical and cultural context is therefore central to understanding modernity itself.

At the University of St Andrews, you will engage with the methods and debates of professional historians while also developing expertise in how biblical narratives and traditions have been interpreted, contested, and transformed across different times and places. You will learn to read primary sources critically, situate ideas in their broader contexts, and construct arguments that draw on evidence from a range of disciplines including history, theology, and literary studies. The programme includes a year abroad, broadening your perspective and giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution overseas.

It runs over four years full-time.

This combination of skills prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in which critical thinking, research, and communication are central. Many go on to roles in education, the civil service, the heritage sector, publishing, journalism, or faith-based organisations. Others pursue postgraduate study in history, religious studies, theology, or cultural studies, where the breadth of their undergraduate preparation proves a considerable advantage.

The programme is particularly well suited to anyone interested in the intersection of ideas, belief, and historical change.