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Undergraduate Study

BA History and Politics - 2025 entry

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code VLC2
Duration 3 years
Entry year 2025
Campus Penryn Campus
Discipline History
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone: +44 (0)1326 371801

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A-Level: AAB-ABB
IB: 34/665-32/655
BTEC: DDD-DDM

Contextual offers

A-Level: BBB-BBC
IB: 30/555-28/554
BTEC: DDM-DMM

Overview

  • Study international, economic, cultural and social history and many geographical areas including the Americas, parts of Asia, Britain and Europe
  • You'll gain a sound knowledge of the four principal areas of politics: political thought, international relations, comparative government, and public policy
  • Our broad range of optional modules in your second and third years gives you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions
  • Prepare for your future career by developing a range of skills valued by a wide range of employers from the media to teaching and the public, private and charity sectors
  • Get involved with the Politics and various Language student societies, make friends, attend socials and seminars and hear from guest speakers

View 2024 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days and visiting us

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

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We are 6th in the UK for research in History

Based on our GPA in REF 2021

Top 100 icon

Top 100 in world subject rankings for History

QS World University Subject Rankings 2024

Top 100 icon

Top 100 in the world for Politics

QS World University Subject Rankings 2024

Trophy icon

Top 15 in the UK for Politics

11th in The Complete University Guide 2025

Rosette icon

We are 6th in the UK for research in History

Based on our GPA in REF 2021

Top 100 icon

Top 100 in world subject rankings for History

QS World University Subject Rankings 2024

Top 100 icon

Top 100 in the world for Politics

QS World University Subject Rankings 2024

Trophy icon

Top 15 in the UK for Politics

11th in The Complete University Guide 2025

Living and working in Cornwall has been amazing, and an opportunity I would’ve most likely never had, had it not been for Exeter’s campus in Penryn.

I also loved the prospect of being on a shared campus because of the vibrant community of students it would create.

When I was initially doing my UCAS form I changed the course I wanted to apply to multiple times. I am extremely glad, however, that I settled on History and Politics because I have enjoyed every module I have studied. I love the content and the lectures and believe my course – along with help from the career zone – is helping my future career path.

Read more from Luke

Luke

BA History and Politics

Entry requirements (typical offer)

Qualification Typical offer Required subjects
A-Level AAB-ABB n/a
IB 34/665-32/655 n/a
BTEC DDD-DDM n/a
GCSE C or 4 English Language
Access to HE 30 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade - 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade N/A
T-Level Distinction N/A
Contextual Offer

A-Level: BBB-BBC
IB: 30/555-28/554
BTEC: DDM-DMM

Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.

Other accepted qualifications

View other accepted qualifications

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply

Course content

The History and Politics degree programme is made up of compulsory (core) and optional modules, which are worth 15 or 30 credits each. Full-time undergraduate students need to complete modules worth a total of 120 credits each year.

Depending on your programme you can take up to 30 credits each year in another subject, for instance a language or business module, to develop career-related skills or just widen your intellectual horizons.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

75 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules (including 30 credits of History optional modules and 15 credits of Politics and International Relations optional modules)

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
HIC1602 Crafts of Research and Writing 15
HIC1611 Global History: Twentieth Century Transformations 15
HIC1604 New Approaches to History 15
POC1033 Political Communication 30

Optional modules

CodeModule Credits
HIC Stage 1 CH History Option Modules 2024-5
BEP1160 Business History 15
HIC1605 European History: Politics and Society 15
HIC1010 Foundations of Environmental Humanities 15
HIC1610 An Introduction to Histories of Science and the Environment 15
History & Politics Stage 1 Politics Option modules 2024-5
POC1003 British Government and Politics 15
POC1023 Participating in Politics 15
POC1026 Power, Inequality and Global Justice 15
POC1022 Violence in World Politics 15
POC1021 Key Concepts in Politics and International Relations 15
POC1014 The Public Policy Process 15
POC1028 Modern Political Theory 15
POC1029 Work Placement 15

30 credits of compulsory modules, 90 credits of optional modules. You will select either Pathway A or B.

a - Under Pathway A, you will take the 30-credit compulsory module HUC2002 Perspectives on Sources: Independent Study Project in the Humanities.

b - Under Pathway B, you will take the 15-credit compulsory module POC2124 Political Analysis and POC2120 Power and Democracy.

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
HUC2002 Perspectives on Sources: Independent Study Project in the Humanities [See note a above]30
POC2124 Political Analysis [See note b above]15
POC2120 Power and Democracy [See note b above]15

Optional modules

CodeModule Credits
HIC Stage 2 History Option Modules 2024-5
HIC2029 Histories of Everyday Life in Modern Cornwall 15
HUC2015 Revolution and Abolition: History and Legacies of the Atlantic Slave Trade 15
HUC2013 Enlightenment and the Age of Reason: Philosophy, Politics, Society 15
HIC2316 The Occult in Victorian Britain 15
HIC2037 Earth Matters: Soil, Society and the Humanities 15
HIC2038 Caribbean Histories: Colonialism, Resistance, and Environmental Crisis 15
HIC2324 Organised Crime in USA 15
HIC2009 Ecology and Empire 15
HUC2012 The Age of Unreason? Modernity and its Discontents 15
HIC2028 Art and Archaeology in Post-Colonial Nations 15
HIC2007 Apocalyptic Narratives: Disaster Writing 15
HUC2001 Humanities in the Workplace (Penryn) 15
History & Politics Stage 2 Politics Option modules 2024-5
POC2005 American Politics 15
POC2018 National and Community Identity 15
POC2041 The Political Psychology of Elites 15
POC2047 Work Placement 15
POC2087 Security Studies 15
POC2088 Understanding Israel and Palestine: One Land, Two People 15
POC2098 Comparative Politics 15
POC2103 Introduction to Postcolonialism 15
POC2108 Political Geographies: Local to Global 15
POC2114 Green Politics in Theory and Practice 15
POC2123 Politics of the Middle East 15
POC2130 Political Behaviour across Generations and the Life Course 15
POC2131 Political Economy 15
POC2151 Parliamentary Studies 15
POC2152 Representing the People 15

Find out more about study abroad or employment experience under Course variants.

With Study Abroad

120 credit compulsory placement module

For your year abroad you will agree a suite of modules in your host institution with the Faculty Study Abroad Coordinator. Details of individual modules that may be taken whilst abroad can be found by accessing the partner institution’s factfile at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/international/abroad/where/ and navigating to the “Course Requirements” section of that factfile where a link to the modules on offer in the partner institution is displayed.

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
HAS3999 Study Abroad (HASS) 120

With Employment Experience

120 credit compulsory placement module

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
HAP3906 Work Placement Year 120

With Employment Experience Abroad

120 credit compulsory placement module

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
HAP3906 Work Placement Year 120

30 credits of compulsory Dissertation, 90 credits of optional modules

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
CHP3042 Interdisciplinary Final-Year Dissertation 30

Optional modules

CodeModule Credits
HIC Final Stage History Option Modules 2024-5
HIC3004 Hippies: The US Counterculture of the 1960s 30
HUC3045 Myth in the Modern World: From the Classics to Conspiracies 30
HIC3009 Pacific Histories: Environment, People and Politics 30
HIC3300 Britain and the Telecommunications Revolution 30
HUC3048 Writing Nature 30
HIC3008 New American Century: History, Culture, and Crisis 30
HUC3016 Irish Stories: History, Politics, Literature and Heritage 30
POC Final Stage Politics Option Modules 2024-5
POC3095 Environmental Knowledge Controversies 15
POC3130 Controversies in American Politics 15
POC3105 Negotiating Postcoloniality: History and Politics of Independent India 15
POC3023 Entangled Life: Radical Democracy in Theory 15
POC3141 Displacement and Migration in the Middle East 15
POC3103 The Resource Paradox: Blessing or Curse? 15
POC3151 Parliamentary Studies 15
POC3152 Representing the People 15
POC3128 Post-Soviet Politics and Societies 15
POC3146 Party Politics, Voters and Elections in Britain 15
POC3148 Political Psychology and Society 15
POC3120 Political Thinkers of the Early Twentieth Century 15
POC3147 Politics of Work 15
POC3140 Religion, Conflict and Reconciliation 15
POC3094 Global Policy Challenges 15
POC3133 Chinese Politics and Society 15
POC3150 The Making of Democratic Politicians: Comparative Political Recruitment 15
POC3149 Is Politics More than Human? Cornwall, California, and the Local to the Global 15
POC3153 Global Palestine and the Politics of Solidarity 15
POC3154 Environment and Conflict in the Middle East 15

Course variants

UCAS code: VLD2

Our four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.

Why Study Abroad?

Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.

Where can I Study Abroad?

We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.

Does it count towards my degree?

Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are Studying Abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your College Study Abroad co-ordinator for further details.

How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?

For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your Study Abroad year.

UCAS code: VLC3

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements within the UK as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience?

Undertaking graduate-level work during your degree unlocks a world of experience that allows you to develop essential employability and interpersonal skills that relate to your degree and future career. A work placement will dramatically boost your confidence, enhance your CV and develop graduate level skills and competencies that employers are looking for.

Where will I do my work placement?

The sector you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fees and funding?

For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities. 

UCAS code: VLC4

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience Abroad?

Spending up to a year living and working in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. By carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements abroad you can demonstrate to employers your adaptability, cultural awareness, independence and resourcefulness and, depending on where you stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language.

Where will I do my work placement?

The sector and country you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fee?

For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.

Is the placement paid?

You will be paid in accordance with the rules of the country you work in and there may be visa restrictions or requirements which you need to consider when applying.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities. 

Fees

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

UK students: £9,250 per year
International students: £24,700 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

How will I learn?

Throughout the History programmes stress is laid on the need to analyse, discuss and deploy historical evidence in a variety of settings and not simply on the ability to memorise. You will learn through lectures, tutorials and seminars, with a growing emphasis at each successive level on student-led learning.

Politics

We use a wide range of teaching methods as well as encouraging independent study with an increasing emphasis on seminar discussion and project work in your second and third years

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Project and group work
  • Independent study

Modules

Modules are designed to encourage you to think about long-term developments and processes of historical change, and to make comparisons between countries and cultures. This helps you progress from the more tightly defined topics studied at A level. Modules are also designed to encourage you to think and write analytically about these broad subjects. They emphasise historical questions that require you to identify patterns across time, or between countries, and to isolate common or competing trends, instead of concentrating on short-term or single explanations.

Teaching hours

Modules are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and/or tutorials. Our teaching methods are chosen to encourage you to become an increasingly independent learner as you progress through the years.

Personal tutor

You'll have a personal tutor, as well as tutors in individual subjects and they will work with you to monitor your progress, as well as offering pastoral support and other help. You will have a chance to make your mark on the programmes through regular student evaluations and participation in the Student-Staff Liaison Committees and the student History Societies on both campuses.

How will I be assessed?

  • Essays and projects
  • Practical assignments
  • Oral language tasks
  • Field work notebooks

You must pass your first-year modules in order to proceed but your performance at this level does not count towards your final degree classification.

Progression

You must pass your first-year assessment in order to progress to the second year, but the results do not count towards your degree classification. For three-year programmes, the assessments in the second and third years contribute to your final degree classification. For four-year programmes, the assessments in the second, third and fourth years all contribute to your final degree classification.

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.

  • A Foreign Language
  • Data Science
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Law (Penryn Campus only)
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Social Data Science

Find out more about proficiency options

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Your future

Employer-valued skills this course develops

History graduates from the University of Exeter have an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and compete very successfully in the employment market. Alongside in-depth subject knowledge you’ll develop highly transferable skills in researching; analysing and assessing sources; written and verbal communication; managing and interpreting information; developing ideas and arguments; teamwork; and problem solving.

Combining Politics with History will not only develop your understanding of complex political and cultural issues, but you will also graduate with language skills that are particularly valued in a wide range of employers within finance, law, the media as well as the business and public sectors. Alongside this you will gain a range of academic and professional skills including:

  • Analytical, critical and independent thinking
  • Independent research
  • Discussion and group work
  • Written and verbal communication
  • Articulating ideas and arguments
  • Organising, planning and time management
  • Assertiveness and enterprise
  • Commercial awareness
  • Communication and leadership

Employer visits

We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service, with offices at our Exeter and Penryn campuses, ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market. Our graduates compete very successfully in the employment market, with many employers targeting the University when recruiting new graduates. For further information please visit our Careers Service.

Career paths

You will be equipped with skills that are attractive to employers and relevant for a wide range of careers, including graduate-level roles in the heritage and arts sectors as well as other fields of work, including education, retail management, recruitment, charities, finance and accounting, and journalism.

Example careers

  • Account Manager
  • Archivist
  • Business Analyst
  • Civil Servant
  • Digital Marketing and
  • Events Executive
  • Event Project Manager
  • Global Market
  • Researcher
  • Historian
  • Parliamentary Researcher
  • TV Researcher

Further study

A History degree may also lead to further study or research and recent graduates have progressed to postgraduate courses in:

  • MA Conflict, Security and Development
  • Graduate Diploma in Law
  • MA English Literary Studies
  • MA History
  • MSc International Management
  • PGCE

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