BA History and Politics
About this course
BA in History and Politics BA, a politics and international relations and history degree centred on the study of past events and political systems. Core topics include research methods, historical research, and critical & analytical thinking. Students complete a final-year dissertation and research project. The first year introduces disciplinary foundations through History Workshop, Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and Scholarship, Thinking Politically: Key Concepts, and Thinking Historically. The second year develops empirical and theoretical approaches through Political Analysis 2: How to do empirical research, Political Theory in Practice, History and the Public, and Parchment to Pixels: Interrogating Historical Evidence. Optional modules in these earlier stages allow exploration of topics such as world politics, Chinese politics, and early modern European history. The final year focuses on independent research through compulsory modules including Short Dissertation and Research Project 1, alongside optional modules covering areas such as the ethics of political leadership, global culture wars, and modern international conflicts.
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: AAB IB: 34; 33, with B in a history-based extended essay
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Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 4 UCAS decisions for BA History and Politics (VL12) at the University of Sheffield for 2027 entry so far: 4 offers. The published offer is AAB at A level.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 93%: 231 offers from 248 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 12 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 96%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 81%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 45 students who started
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 19 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 25%
- Elementary occupations: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Legal professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 310 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 17%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 22%
- East Midlands: 9%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 25%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 55 students who started
- A levels: 95%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 4%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- History Workshop
- Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and Scholarship
- Thinking Politically: Key Concepts
- Thinking Historically
- The 'Disenchantment' of Early Modern Europe, c. 1570-1770
- Beyond Borders? A Deep History of the Connected World
- The Long View: an introduction to archaeology
- World Politics
- Global Political Economy
- Political Analysis 2: How to do empirical research
- Political Theory in Practice
- History and the Public
- Parchment to Pixels: Interrogating Historical Evidence
- From Democracy to Dictatorship: the 1973 coup in Chile
- Murder in the cathedral: the Becket Affair
- The Irish Republican Brotherhood, 1858-85
- The Putney Debates, October 1647
- A Very British Revolution? The 1926 General Strike
- Contemporary Crises in Historical Perspective
- Autocracies and Democracies
- Chinese Politics
- Migration and World Politics
- Oppression and Resistance
- Tackling the World's Wicked Problems: theoretical tools and applications
- Short Dissertation
- Research Project 1
- Permissive Britain? Social and Cultural Change 1956-74
- The World of Intoxicants in Early Modern England
- Cannibals and Christians: Mexico and Spain, c.1492-1600
- The Wars for Vietnam: Empire, Decolonisation and Liberation
- Resistance & Liberation in South Africa: Gandhi to Mandela
- Makers of a New World: Merchants, Scholars and Commoners in Late Medieval Europe
- Merchants, Pirates and Planters: The English Overseas, 1570-1624
- The National Security State, Treason, and Individual Rights during the Twentieth Century
- Italy in the Age of Dante, ca. 1200-1350
- The World Transformed? The League of Nations and the End of Empire, 1919-46
- The Ethics of Political Leadership
- Global Culture Wars
- Understanding Elections
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History and Politics at University of Sheffield earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £24,500 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £40,000. The £31,000 median after five years is £3,000 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA History and Politics at University of Sheffield do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA History and Politics at University of Sheffield?
96% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA History and Politics at University of Sheffield?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 147 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA History and Politics at University of Sheffield?
93% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 231 offers from 248 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA History and Politics at University of Sheffield 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 and Politics at University of Sheffield?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.