About History and Politics with Foundation Year, BA (Hons) - at University of Portsmouth

Overview

Discover how the politics of the past have shaped the world we know today. On this BA (Hons) History and Politics degree, you'll retrace the political and social conflicts, revolutions and protest movements of yesterday in order to make sense of the here and now and create positive change.

Travel back to pivotal political moments in time from around the globe guided by our expert academics. Craft your own learning experience by choosing to study the historical and political subjects and eras that most inspire you, such as the French Revolution, post war Britain and Germany, or the American Civil Rights Movement.

As this is an interdisciplinary course, each year you'll also study a bespoke combined history and politics module as well as delving into each subject separately.

Through the course's overarching theme of 'changing the world', you'll use what you learn to rethink modern societal issues, such as social justice, racial and gender equality, and global migration.

You'll graduate with an insight into the powers and processes that have formed today's societies and how positive changes are made. Armed with this understanding of the past, you'll be empowered to address the challenges of the future. 

Course highlights

• Study two fascinating and interwoven subjects from 1750 to today, through combined interdisciplinary modules and specialist modules in each subject area
• Bring new perspectives to contemporary social issues – such as social justice, human rights and environmentalism – through your studies, supported by the course's overarching theme of 'changing the world'
• Customise your course by choosing your own topics to focus on in years two and three - from censorship in modern Britain to the Opium War, from Nazi Germany to digital democracy, from the American Republic to anti-racism in the 20th century
• Immerse yourself in Portsmouth's rich heritage, thanks to our close links with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Records Service and the D-Day Museum
• Learn from staff who are members of the Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR), the UK's largest research centre specialising in humanities and social sciences
• Go on field trips to locations such as the Houses of Parliament and heritage sites on the south coast
• Participate in an interactive mock UN meeting called 'Model United Nations' and take on the role of a specific country
• Choose to spend a year building experience on a work placement at a museum, law firm, government department, charity or other organisation of interest after your second or third year on this Connected Degree - we're the only UK university to offer flexible sandwich placements for undergraduates
• Take up an exchange opportunity at a university outside the UK, such as University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, Halmstad University in Sweden, Nagoya University in Japan, Caen-Normandy University in France, University of Western Carolina in the USA, or Edith Cowan University in Australia
• Have the chance to learn a foreign language for free as part of your degree, choosing from Arabic, British Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish
• Opt to do a foundation year with ICP to get uni-ready ahead of this course, then take up a guaranteed place on this full Bachelor's degree when you successfully finish your foundation year

Careers and opportunities

Studying history and politics together will give you transferable skills in critical thinking, collaboration, research, analysis and argument, all of which are highly valued by many kinds of employers.

You could also continue your studies at Master's or PhD level in history, politics or a combination of the two.

"As a graduate of a Humanities and Social Sciences degree, your skills will give you the flexibility to take on "careers in a variety of sectors including in those of enormous social value"

(The British Academy)

What areas can you work in with a history and politics degree?

Graduates from our other history and politics courses have taken up roles in the following sectors:

• central and local government
• primary and secondary education
• higher education
• charity / not-for-profit organisations
• financial services
• corporate governance
• trade unions

Our history and politics alumni have worked with organisations including:

• National Trust
• Office for National Statistics
• Serco
• West Midlands Police
• NHS

What jobs can you do with a history and politics degree?

Roles our graduates from other history and politics courses have taken on include:

• public affairs consultant
• museum curator
• archivist
• development editor in publishing
• researcher and writer for TV
• teacher
• political researcher, Houses of Parliament
• assistant to Member of Parliament
• civil servant, Department for the Cabinet Office
• senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
• communications officer, House of Commons
• local government administrator, Government of Jersey

Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Careers and Employability Service to help you find your perfect role.

Placement year (optional)

After your second or third year, you'll have the chance to do an optional year-long work placement to get valuable work experience in a sector of your choice. 

Potential placement roles

Students from our other history and politics courses have secured placements at: 

• The Ministry of Defence 
• The House of Commons 
• National Museum of the Royal Navy
• Freedom from Torture, a charity which supports survivors of torture who seek protection in the UK
• Shrewsbury Museums
• Law firms such as Darton Law Ltd

The sort of activities you could do during your placement year will depend on the field of your chosen placement. Among other activities, our previous placement students have curated exhibitions, worked as paralegals, organised charity events, or supported MPs in their constituency offices.

We'll help you to identify opportunities and approach possible organisations and businesses. You'll have support from our Placement and Internship Centre and a personal tutor throughout the year.

We can also help you find shorter placements, internships or volunteering opportunities in and around Portsmouth to complement your studies and build your CV. Previous students have done projects for community groups and worked with heritage sites, archives, political parties and local government. 

You could also choose to set up your own business, or take a voluntary placement.

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Entry requirements for this course

Contact University of Portsmouth to find course entry requirements.

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