BA History
About this course
BA (Hons) History covering political, social and cultural developments from the early modern period to the present day. Core topics include Research Methods, Historical Research, Communication & Writing, and Design & Creative Practice. Students may undertake an optional placement year and complete a 10,000–12,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choosing. An international exchange programme with partner institutions in the US and Europe is available.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: 104 points from a minimum of 2 A levels. BTEC National Extended Diploma: DMM. If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information, we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application. Access to HE Diploma: Pass an Access to Higher Education Diploma with at least 33 credits at merit and/or distinction. T level: Merit overall. International Baccalaureate: 26 points overall. Other qualifications: Other combinations and non-A level qualifications also considered.
See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 21 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 97%
- Learning opportunities: 92%
- Assessment and feedback: 92%
- Academic support: 97%
- Organisation and management: 95%
- Learning resources: 85%
- Student voice: 90%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 40 students who started
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 15%
What graduates do next
Based on about 15 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Skilled trades occupations: 15%
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Engineering professionals: 10%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 55%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 40%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 25%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 140 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 4%
- London: 7%
- South East: 16%
- South West: 63%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Placement Year
- What is History?
- America from Settlement to Empire
- World History since 1850
- Fractured Isles: Britain and Ireland 1640-1990
- History and Heritage
- Talking History<>Seeing History: Introduction to Visual and Oral History
- Preparing for Dissertation Research
- Heritage and Public History
- The Longest War; Britain, Ireland and the Troubles 1949-2006
- Dunkirk to D Day: The Second World War in Europe
- Culture and Society in Britain c. 1760-1914
- The American Century: The United States, 1900-2000
- Royal Navy in the Age of Sail, 1545-1815
- Stage 2 Professional Development, Placement Preparation and identifying opportunities
- Research Methods in Visual Sources, Oral History and Memory Studies
- Land of the Samurai: Japan - 1450-1800
- Tudor and Stuart Britain
- History Dissertation
- Piracy and Privateering, c.1560-1816
- The Irish Revolution 1912-37
- Filth and the Victorians
- The Civil Rights Movement
- Modern Japan: Transforming Empire and Identity at the Edge
- Heritage and Public History
- The Secret Cold War: Culture, Espionage, and Identity, 1945-1991
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History at University of Plymouth earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £20,500 after 3 years, £25,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,000 and £31,500. The £25,500 median after five years is £5,000 less than the UK median for History.
What do graduates of BA History at University of Plymouth do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA History at University of Plymouth?
97% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA History at University of Plymouth?
The typical offer is 26 points in the IB. The average entrant had 119 UCAS points.
Does BA History at University of Plymouth include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA History at University of Plymouth?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.