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History BA

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Overview

The History BA is designed to develop your critical thinking and independence of thought through an extraordinary breadth of periods and places. We encourage you to adopt a comparative approach to your studies, looking at the connections and contrasts between different eras of history from around the globe. You will explore topics covered at school as well as many that aren’t, such as the history of Contemporary Africa or friendship in Medieval Europe. Our range of modules ensures that you can choose a programme of study to match your interests whilst studying in the heart of London. History at King’s has a world-class reputation, offering graduates excellent career prospects.

 

Key benefits

  • One of the best history departments in the world, currently ranked 7th in Europe (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018).
  • Students have the option to study abroad at one of our partner institutions for the second semester of the second year. Current options include University of Sydney, Hong Kong University, University of Auckland and Toronto University.
  • Graduates get top jobs in a wide range of sectors, including law, business, government, heritage, finance and teaching.
  • A wider range of periods and places than most history degrees, from medieval Europe to modern India.
  • Students are taught in a friendly and supportive environment by expert historians.
  • Most teaching takes place in small seminar groups providing the opportunity for students to hone their discussion and presentation skills.
  • Studying in a central London location, you will have easy access to world-class museums, collections and libraries.

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Please note: Assessed internship placements are not included as part of this programme. However, King’s Careers & Employability can help you to find a range of different work experience options, including internships, placements and shadowing opportunities.

Key information

UCAS code V100

Duration Three years

Study mode Full-time

Course type Single honours

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Department Department of History

Locations

 

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History BA

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Course detail

Description

History BA at King’s has a world-class reputation, offering graduates excellent career prospects. In your first year, you will explore a wide variety of introductory level modules, building an understanding of the background of historical events over an extensive period. In your second year, you to choose a more focused pathway, exploring themes across a narrower time range while encouraging a more comparative approach to history. Your third year of study will become even more focused, challenging you to think comparatively and theoretically by choosing a particular subject and studying its primary source materials and writing your research dissertation. All of our students have the opportunity to study abroad as part of their History degree. Recent popular destinations have included The University of North Carolina Chapel, The University of Auckland and The University of Hong Kong.

Find out more about studying abroad: kcl.ac.uk/studyabroad

Teaching style

History BA at King’s is a three-year course where you will take modules totalling 120 credits for each year and will be assessed through a combination of essays, examinations, presentations, group work and dissertations. You will choose from a wide range of modules, which span Medieval, Early Modern and Modern History. You will also take ‘Historical Skills, Sources & Approaches’, which is taught in smaller groups. Our modules are designed by the faculty lecturers and reflect their academic expertise. In the final year, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a research dissertation on a topic of your choice, with one-to-one support from academic staff with comparable interests. We are part of the University of London and as second and final-year students, you’ll have the option to study History modules at other institutions (such as UCL and Royal Holloway), creating an even greater choice of modules.

Assessment

We will assess your progress and attainment on all the modules you choose for the History BA degree through a range of techniques including written examinations, coursework, assessed essays and presentations. You may also benefit from some informal assessment during individual modules to help steer your studies and enhance your learning.

Location

The Department of History at King’s is centrally located on our Strand Campus and is within walking distance of the capital’s famous landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the River Thames and the South Bank. London offers unparalleled historical resources, including the British Museum, British Library, Imperial War Museum and National Gallery. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select. There are opportunities to study abroad as part of your History degree at King’s. Recent popular destinations have included The University of North Carolina Chapel, The University of Auckland and The University of Hong Kong.

Special notes

All students are offered the opportunity to study abroad as part of their History degree at King's and recent popular destinations include The University of North Carolina Chapel, The University of Auckland and The University of Hong Kong.

Find out more about studying abroad: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/studyabroad

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

Required Modules

You are required to take the following module:

  • Historical Skills, Sources & Approaches (30 credits)
Optional Modules

In addition, you are required to take 90 credits, choosing one 30 credit module from each of the following three periods: Medieval, Early Modern or Modern history. Choose from a range of options, which may typically include:

Medieval History
  • The Making of Britain 400-1400 (30 credits)
  • European History 400-1500 (30 credits)
Early Modern History
  • Early Modern Britain 1500-1750 (30 credits)
  • Power, Belief and Culture in Europe 1500-1800 (30 credits)
Modern History
  • Europe from 1793 to 1991 (30 credits)
  • Politics and Society in Britain, 1780-1945 (30 credits)
  • The Worlds of the British Empire, c1730-1960 (30 credits)
  • World History 1870s - 2000s (30 credits)

First-year module descriptions

 

Year 2

You will study two required ‘History and Memory’ modules in the second year, as well as taking a number of optional modules. You will also have the opportunity to study a modern language in the second year. Details of languages offered are available at Modern Language Centre.

Required Modules

You are required to take the following modules:

  • History and Memory I (15 credits)
  • History and Memory II (15 credits)

 

Optional Modules

You are also required to take two 30 credit modules selected from a range of options, which may typically include:

  • The Black Death in England (30 credits)
  • The Civilising Mission: French Imperialism since 1750 (30 credits)
  • Conflict, Coexistence & Cooperation: South Asia’s International Relations since 1900 (30 credits)
  • War in the Pacific, 1898 to 1975 & beyond: Strategy and Diplomacy (30 credits)
  • The Northern Ireland Troubles (30 credits)
  • London from the Romans to the Middle Ages (30 credits)
  • History of Feminism (30 credits)
  • Making Americans: Peoples, Cultures and Identities in Colonial North America and the United States, 1500-2000 (30 credits)
  • Faraway so Close: The Middle East since 1800 (30 credits)
  • China: From Imperial State to People’s Republic (30 credits)
  •  A range of Intercollegiate Group II modules offered by our partner colleges in the University of London.

You are also required to take 30 credits (two modules) from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

  • The Hundred Years War (15 credits)
  • Atlantic Slavery: West Africa & the Caribbean, 1492-1807 (15 credits)
  • Orientalism, Race, Islam (15 credits)
  • Europe in the Second World War (15 credits)
  • Electric Cities: The Experience of Modernity in London, Melbourne, New York & Paris, 1870-1929 (15 credits)
  • One 15 credit module offered by other departments in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities including the Modern Language Centre.

View second-year module descriptions

Second year students also have the opportunity to study abroad for the second semester of the second year. In this case, 15-credit modules are substituted for the 30-credit modules above. Partner universities currently include:

  • University of Auckland
  • Frankfurt (German language required)
  • Hong Kong University
  • University of Melbourne
  • Monash University
  • National University of Singapore
  •  University of North Carolina
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Oslo
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Washington (Seattle)
  • George Washington University
  • University of Salamanca (Spanish language required)
  • University of Bologna (Italian language required)
  • Western University

Year 3

Required Modules

You are required to take a 30 credit Group III module and its associated 30 credit dissertation from a range of options which may typically include:

  • Romans and Barbarians: The Transformation of the Roman West 350-700 (30 credits)
  • The Enlightenment (30 credits)
  • The Experience of Power in Nigeria since 1900 (30 credits)
  • Red, White & Blues: Jazz & the United States in the 20th Century (30 credits)
  • Women & Gender in Early Modern England (30 credits)
  • Additional University of London Intercollegiate Group III modules and associated 30 credit dissertations.
Optional Modules

Final year students are also required to take a 30 credit ‘Thematic Special Subject’ module, chosen from a range of options which may typically include: 

  • Ritual
  • War
  • Nations
  • God
  • Wealth

 Final year students also take 30 credits from one of the following options:

  • Free-standing Long Essay (30 credits)
  • 30 credits of second year (level 5) modules, which may typically include those listed above.

View final-year module descriptions

Entry requirements

 

Required grades

AAA

Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A-levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer.

Required grades

35 points overall (including TOK/EE) and three Higher Level subjects at 666

Required grades

45 Level 3 credits: 36 must be awarded at Distinction, with the remaining Level 3 credits at Merit

Required grades

D3 D3 D3

Combinations of Pre-U principal subjects and other qualifications (such as A-levels) will be considered

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

85% overall

Required grades

Visit our admissions webpages to view our international entry requirements and English language entry requirements.

Required subjects

History

Preferred subjects

None

Further information and other requirements


Entry requirements
A-Level  AAA 

Must include grade A in History.

Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer.
Access to HE Diploma 

D: 36 credits

M: 9 credits

P: 0 credits

Access to Humanities (or similar) Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits: 36 must be from units awarded at Distinction (including substantial study of History), with the remaining Level 3 credits at Merit.
Cambridge Pre-U D3 D3 D3

Must include grade D3 in History. 

Combinations of Pre-U principal subjects and other qualifications (such as A-levels) considered.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

DDM with eleven Distinctions and two A levels at grades AA, including History at grade A.
BTEC Level 3 Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

DM with six Distinctions and two A levels at grades AA, including History at grade A.
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

D with four modules at Distinction and two A levels at grades AA, including History at grade A.
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers

AAB at Highers

and

AA at Advanced Highers

Must include grade A in Advanced Higher in History.

Must be a combination of three Scottish Highers and two Scottish Advanced Highers. We do not count the Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject.
International Baccalaureate 35 points

Including 6,6,6 at Higher Level, and including grade 6 at Higher Level in History. Note the total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE. 
Other International Qualifications   Visit our admissions webpages to view our international entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Selection procedure

Application deadline: January 15th 2019

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

Full time tuition fees UK:

The UK tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees EU:

Students starting their programme in 2019/20 (September 2019) who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2020/21.

The UK tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees International:

The International tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year is £18,900 per year.

Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 against their first year’s tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

 

Additional costs/expenses

 If you study abroad as part of your course, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities.

King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees  At present these are as follows: 

  • Home students studying for a semester abroad will receive an invoice for £6,000 for King’s tuition fees for the year.
  • Overseas students studying for a semester abroad will receive an invoice for two thirds of the King's tuition fees for the year.

You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. 

In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses 
  • Printing and binding two hard copies of the dissertation
  • Graduation costs

For further information, please visit our fees and funding pages.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

Career prospects for King’s History graduates are excellent. Former King’s History students have found employment with national newspapers, law firms, civil service, state and private schools, heritage, banking and business sectors as well as in many different universities across the globe. Prominent King’s History graduates include Ronan Bennett (novelist and screenwriter), Janice Hadlow (Controller of BBC Two) and Georgina Henry (Executive comment editor of the Guardian newspaper).

Career destinations

Career destinations

Recent graduates have found employment as:

• Academic Historian

• Dealers’ Assistant, Bonhams

• Research Analyst, Ministry of Defence

• Junior Accounts Executive, Chelgate

• Project Assistant, Heron Evidence Development

• Trusts & Statutory Fundraiser, Crisis UK

• Support Worker, Sense

• Departmental Runner, BBC

 

Testimonials

Rodolphe

Rodolphe

I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

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