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History BA (Hons)

Undergraduate

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Immerse yourself in history while developing highly sought-after transferable skills like research, content creation, and critical thinking. Learn from the past to shape the future.

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Condensed first year available
Flexible part-time

Course code

V140

Start date

September 2025

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Course overview

Coventry University offers an exciting, modern history degree. You will learn about core issues and themes that have shaped the modern world, from race to civil rights, to gender and environmentalism, espionage, the far right and organised crime.

We have designed the History BA (Hons) degree to help you understand the historical forces that have shaped the modern world. It looks at how issues such as racism, gender constructs, class, political identities, war, and the environment have intersected, interacted, and evolved to change human societies over time.
This course aims to develop your critical thinking skills and analyse themes and voices from a range of different communities. We will encourage you to explore primary (historic) sources.
You will learn to develop a portfolio of digital media work, including podcasts, documentary films, exhibitions, and historical writing as part of your studies.

The January start for this course is condensed in the first year. Please see the ‘How you’ll learn’ section below for more details.

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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

Tactile learning – engagement with historical artefacts such as newspapers and other documents to learn about how societies were informed, and shaped.
Innovative learning and assessment – learn how to use digital tools to produce documentaries; create video and radio podcasts and develop your digital literacy skills.
Critical thinking – a focus on the ways in which critical questioning of the past can help you to understand the social, cultural, and political forces which have shaped societies through the present day.
Academic community – the creation of learning experiences built around collaboration and research, taught by a team of accessible historians who will help you to develop a portfolio of work for the post-graduation market or further studies.
Specialised topics – specialise in an exciting range of topics and themes within the history programme. These include American history; modern European history; race and civil rights; espionage studies; environmentalism; the history of the media; and the history and politics of the Far Right.

If you choose to start this course in January you will study exactly the same course but over a slightly shorter timescale in Year 1. This is ideal if you missed the September start, want to transfer from a different university or course or just need a bit more time to prepare for life at university.

Joint 1st

for Teaching on my course and Organisation and Management in History, across UK HEIs

National Student Survey (NSS) 2023

What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses

History BA (Hons)
History and Politics BA (Hons)
International Relations BA (Hons)
Politics BA (Hons)
Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

In your first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and final years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

Modules

Ideas and Concepts that Shape the World - 20 credits

The aim of this module is to facilitate your transition from pre-university level study and provide preparation and support for academic study at degree level. This module will also introduce you to major themes and concepts that guide your studies in History, Politics, and International Relations.

Compulsory

Nations and Nationalism: From Unification to Annihilation - 20 credits

This module explores the emergence, evolution, and impact of nationalism and the nation state in the modern period. It traces the origins of nationalism from the Atlantic Revolutions of the late eighteenth century to ‘Brexit’ and the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Compulsory

The Making of the Globalised World - 20 credits

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the ways in which the process of globalisation has altered cultural, social, and economic realities for centuries. This module looks at historical change from the fifteenth century to the present and examines multiple aspects of the emergence of a globalised system that saw ideas, peoples, and goods exchanged across the world.

Compulsory

After Destruction: The World since 1945 - 20 credits

The module provides a survey of the major developments in world politics since the end of the Second World War. It will examine major themes of post-war international politics, such as the Cold War; humanitarian interventions in the post-Cold War; debates about Globalisation; the War on Terror; rise of China; and emergence of populist political narratives.

Compulsory

Power, People, and the State  - 20 credits

This module aims to provide an introduction to the study of political institutions and behaviour post World War II. It examines the theories associated with political systems and institutions that form the framework for political life, and assesses the extent to which these match the reality of practice.

Compulsory

Freedom, Rights and Democracy - 20 credits

This module aims to introduce you to key concepts employed in the study of politics and enable you to use these concepts to gain both an insight into the workings of modern political systems and an understanding of the ideas and theories underlying contemporary political structures, movements and debates.

Compulsory

In your second year, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge
study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner
professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career
global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen

You will begin to deepen your knowledge about the history of Europe and the US. You will explore their cultures, conflicts and key social changes.

Modules

Emerging Powers and Global Order - 20 credits

This module focuses on the rise of Far-Right political parties in West European countries. The focus will be on the different explanations put forwards for their success or failure to acquire electoral support, their influence on the behaviour of mainstream political parties and politics in general in the case study countries.

Compulsory

The Shadow Warriors: Modern Britain and Espionage - 20 credits

This module charts the professionalisation of Britain's intelligence organisations from the Great Game to the early Cold War. It will examine the formation of the intelligence services in Britain, and their relationship to allies in the United States and enemies in the Soviet bloc. It will also examine cultural depictions of spies and espionage, from Fleet Street to Hollywood.

Compulsory

Making of the Modern United States: Race, Class, and Gender - 20 credits

The aim of this module is to explore the major social, cultural, and political forces which led to the emergence of the United States. It will pay particular attention to the ways in which race, class and gender have shaped the country's history, from the colonial period to its rise as a global superpower.

Compulsory

Making Humanities: Open Project - 20 credits

This student-led project module introduces you to research methods and practices in humanities disciplines. You will design and produce a piece of independent research of your own devising, on a topic relevant to your course. The module will be orientated around developing skills, such as problem-solving, designing research questions, identifying and locating research materials, research methodologies, media production and producing research outputs.

Compulsory

Humanity and the Natural World - 20 credits

This module explores the human relationship with the natural world, examining the ways in which an emerging Western worldview has affected humanity's impact on its surroundings. It covers topics from the dominant views of nature emanating out of the Scientific Revolution of the Renaissance to the birth of the modern environmental movement and organisations like Greenpeace and the nascent political ideology of Ecologism.

Compulsory

The International History of Europe - 20 credits

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the history of the relations between the major European powers in the twentieth century. The foreign policies of Britain, France, Italy, Germany and the Soviet Union will provide the focus of this module. This module will examine the development of the European states system and thereby provide you with the essential background for understanding contemporary Europe.

Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement² can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final years of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

Modules

UK Work Placement– 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from your first and second years. Your studies could culminate in a dissertation, the production of a documentary film, or by launching a curated exhibition based on your independent research of an area of interest to you.

You will be asked to choose optional modules to total 120 credits in your final year.

Modules

Independent Project - 20 credits

This module is designed to enable you to develop, enhance and put into practice the research and analytical skills acquired in your previous years of study in order to pursue an in-depth analysis of a subject of your own choosing within the context of your programme of study. This can take the form of an extended piece of writing, or a media project such as a documentary film.

Optional

Global Organised Crime - 20 credits

The module will examine the recent evolution of the traditional criminal organisations in comparative perspective (Sicilian mafia, American Cosa Nostra, Japanese Yakuza and Chinese Triads), the growth of the new wave of organised criminal groups (with a focus on the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Africa and the South American Cartels), the nature of criminality behind the human trade and piracy, the emergence of youth gangs and the evolution of organised crime in the UK.

Optional

United States' Foreign Policy since 1945 - 20 credits

The aim of the module is to examine in detail several major themes and developments in post-1945 US foreign policy. These are examined both for their intrinsic importance and interest, and for the light they throw on the foreign policy making process in the US system and on the development of the international system.

Optional

Race and Resistance in the Americas - 20 credits

This module will examine the ways in which ethnic minorities have stood up to corrupt, racist power structures across the Americas.  It will pay particular attention to the ways in which suppressed people have empowered themselves and fought to resist white supremacy and the socio-cultural systems that support it. 

Optional

The Third Reich 1933-1945 - 20 credits

This module will examine the rise to power of the Nazis and their domination of German political life. It will also analyse the changing nature of Nazism and the impact of Nazi ideas on various sectors of society. The priorities of the Nazis and the impact of those priorities on the German people and those who fell under their control in the Second World War will provide the focus of this module.

Optional

Post-War Germany: From Division to Unification and Beyond - 20 credits

This module explores the political and economic history of the German nation from its division at the end of the Second World War to its reunification in 1990 and beyond. The module examines the international significance of the two German states and their internal developments over the 40 years of division, and the social and economic impact of the subsequent unification on the nation as a whole.

Optional

The Green Movement: The Search for Sustainability - 20 credits

This module considers the emergence of the modern environmental movement from the 1960s to the most recent climate change activism of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion as well as identifying the emergence and impact of climate change denial. It will demonstrate possible sustainable futures with an appraisal of alternative ways of living in search of sustainable futures.

Optional

Women's lives in Britain and the US 1800-1945 - 20 credits

The aim of this module is to examine aspects of women’s lives in Britain and the US between 1800 and 1945 using an historical approach that will focus on the following areas of study: working lives and labour relations, education, women’s roles in war, peace campaigning, feminist campaigns. It will explore and compare changes and continuities in the political, social and economic status of women in both countries.

Optional

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.

If you choose to start this course in January, it will be run as a condensed programme. You’ll start your course in January and finish your first year in August. Upon successful completion of your first year, you will progress onto your second year in September and then continue to start subsequent years of your course in September, completing your degree at the same time as the September starters unless you opt to do a placement year.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

essays
group work
presentations
reports
projects
coursework
individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

You will have the opportunity to apply to take part in an additional study abroad year² to provide you with greater experiences and expand your understanding of the subject matter. You will also have the opportunity to take part in Collaborative Online International Learning with peers in international institutions.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed².

Entry requirements

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With those grades, we may be able to make you an offer to study at Coventry University.
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02476 888 888

UCAS details

1

Course name: History BA (Hons)

2

Course code: V140

3

Course location: Coventry University (Coventry)

Typical entry requirements:

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,535 per year	Request fee information
EU	£9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary £16,800 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£16,800 per year	Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement² or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee³ to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Condensed course – January start date

If you choose to start this course in January please make sure you check the Fees and Finance page for more information. Although starting this course in January does not prohibit you from being eligible for student finance, the way it is paid in your first year differs from those who start their course in September.

If you start the course in January, your tuition fees will be paid in accordance with the university’s Tuition Fees, Refund and Withdrawal Terms and Conditions for January starters and for any further years of study, your fees will be paid in accordance with the terms for September starters.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Students will benefit from studying on our well-equipped, modern campus⁴.

Delia Derbyshire building

Delia Derbyshire Building

The Delia Derbyshire complex offers more space to learn, design and make, including a hyper-studio for students across all disciplines to collaborate on projects together, a gallery space and an events atrium.

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The Library

You will benefit from our personalised support and industry-relevant teaching and resources, which are designed to help you succeed. These include our modern library with academic-liaison librarians who provide specialist help and support throughout your degree.

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Academic support

No matter which degree you’re studying, you’ll find a lot of support on campus, including the Centre of Academic Writing and sigma, which offers mathematics and statistics support.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Throughout the course, your academic study will be combined with broad-based skills development.

This course aims to equip you with a range of transferable skills highly valued by employers, including exceptional communication, critical thinking and analysis, and powerful presentation and listening skills.

We are committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Graduates have gone onto various roles as listed:

Teaching careers
Working at an NGO or charity
Local city council/government and politics
Civil service
Museum-based roles
Media-based careers (eg BBC)
Roles in the business and finance sectors.

Further study

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the History MA. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

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How to apply

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

UK students

Full-time students can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

If this course has a part-time option you will need to apply directly to the university.

Apply via the portal

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
AHU110

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2025/2026 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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