Studying our past to reveal the future
Year of entry: 2025/26
V100
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
Complete University Guide 2025
according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF (2021)
History gives you an in-depth view of the world. It enhances your understanding of the forces that play a part in economies, societies, cultures, power and faith.
Historians are critical readers of evidence. They understand how to construct knowledge. They're quick to recognise context. And they're adept at constructing engaging arguments and proposing alternative solutions.
Study in detail the topics that interest you, as well as exploring themes which span across the centuries. With more than 45 academic staff, the breadth and quality of the modules we offer will ensure that you'll find your niche.
York is the perfect place to be inspired to study the past, with a rich and turbulent history stretching back to the Romans. Today the city boasts beautiful historic architecture, as well as a variety of museums and galleries.
for History, in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024.
The University is home to the Borthwick Institute for Archives and students can also access York Minster Library and the City Archives. We're also close to the British Library Reading Room at Boston Spa where you can consult millions of items.
The BA in History progresses from broad to specialised topics. Core modules in the first year introduce you to the broad sweep of history across time and place and historical problems. You develop this in the following years, which cultivate expertise, leading up to your 8,000-word dissertation
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
Your first year will introduce the study of History at a degree level. You'll develop research skills and study prominent periods of interest.
You will also complete a Historical Project:
The four Historical Project option modules introduce you to the study of a period in history through an independent guided study. Examples of projects include:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Your second year builds on the skills you acquired in the first year and gives you the opportunity to broaden your historical knowledge. You will explore different approaches to studying the past and think about how history has been communicated to audiences beyond academia.
You will study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
In your final year of the BA in History, you’ll participate in Special Subject seminars, focusing in depth on a historical process or problem. You will also take modules in comparative history, tracing a historical theme across space and over time. Alongside your taught modules you will complete your dissertation, demonstrating the research skills you have learned during your time here.
You will also study three option modules. You will take one Special Subject and two Comparative History modules. Examples may include:
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The course is constantly being improved so current first years are studying some different modules than I did last year. York is a research based university so module options reflect lecturers interests and specialities as much as possible.Hayley, BA History
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
You will have to pay for the cost of printing some assignments for submission as assessed work in Years 2 and 3.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
We believe that students learn better – and think better – when engaging with others.
Small group teaching remains at the core of our BA in History, rising to 100 per cent in Year 3. Our tutors work closely with small student groups in seminars and weekly discussions.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 4 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 4 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Around your timetabled hours you'll work independently, guided by your tutor. History students are the University's most frequent users of the library. You may spend time working with primary sources, accessing archives or working with academic librarians. The skills of independent research and analysis that you develop will not only be pivotal for your course but are also highly valued by employers.
You may also take part in extra activities such as our seminar series featuring visiting speakers and our own staff and students. All faculty members also offer regular student hours in which students are free to come in and discuss any issues relating to their courses, career and development.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
We are home to the Borthwick Institute for Archives, a major archive repository in Britain. It holds the records of the Archbishopric of York from the early thirteenth century onwards, and specialises in the study of ecclesiastic institutions.
There are several other important archives housed at York, including the JB Morrell Library and the Raymond Burton Library for Humanities Research. These contain collections covering subjects such as the British Civil Wars, French Revolution and Modern Asian history. Find out more about our libraries.
You will be based in the Department of History on Campus West.
Over half of your teaching will take place in the Spring Lane building on campus. Other seminars and lectures will take place in buildings across Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Your first-year work doesn't contribute toward your final marks. We recognise that students are only beginning to develop over the course of their degree.
From Year 2 onward, formal assessments contribute toward your degree. In your third year, your 8,000-word dissertation focuses on a specific topic of your choice.
Lecture content is always stimulating, engaging and thought-provoking, and lecturers try to keep it fresh and interesting. In second year one of my lecturers enjoyed using a fake lightsaber as a pointing aid. That definitely kept our attention!Lucy, BA History
As a historian, you’ll develop critical thinking, analytical expertise and excellent communication skills – all valuable assets for your future career.
Our graduates have gone on to work in the following sectors:
York History students graduate with a wide range of valuable transferable skills. These include:
York is a beautiful city. It’s quite a privilege to spend your days encountering that history, stumbling around incredibly long cobbled streets! I really miss it as a place. That’s why I’ve loved coming back for the past nine years to give talks – it feels like coming full circle.Greg Jenner, BA History
Public Historian & Podcast Host
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA including an A in either History or Classical Civilisation |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 39 credits at Distinction including at least 9 credits in History-related units and 6 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD with an additional A Level or equivalent qualification in either History or Classical Civilisation at grade A |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including History |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% overall, including 85% in History |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points including 6 in History at Higher Level |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in History has been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Advanced Highers - A in History plus Scottish Highers - BBBB We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve A or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
You may also be interested in the BA Global Development course, which is led by the Department of Politics and International Relations and includes some History option modules.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.
