BA American Studies and History (with a study abroad year)
About this course
BA (Hons) in English Literature, American Studies and Creative Writing and History, exploring transatlantic culture and historical contexts over four years full time. Core topics include Research Methods. Students complete a history dissertation and an American studies dissertation in the final year.
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: ABB or BBB IB: 32 points
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What students say
Based on about 60 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 86%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 81%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 17 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 5%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 165 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 47%
- South East: 34%
- South West: 3%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 65 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 97%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- Other qualifications: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Early American History, Literature and Culture
- The Early Modern World
- Modern American History, Literature and Culture
- The Making of the Modern World
- Historical Consultancy
- Theoretical Concepts in American Studies
- American City
- Engaged Public History
- Connections and Currents in the Early Modern Atlantic
- The People's Century? Britain after 1914
- 1661: Slavery in English America
- 1776: The Enlightenment
- 1857: Indian Rebellion
- 1942: Holocaust
- 1948: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- 1959 Havana: Revolution in Latin America
- 1968: Rivers of Blood
- 1984: Thatcher's Britain (Observing the 1980s)
- Latin American Cinema: Contemporary Trends and Movements
- Picasso to Kahlo: Transatlantic Dialogues
- Pop Life: After Modern Art
- Queer Brighton and Sussex: Histories, Heritage, and Aesthetics
- States of Disunion: Power, Polarisation and Protest in US Politics
- American Studies Dissertation and Research Communication
- History Dissertation
- Britain and the Second World War
- City on a Hill: Faith and the American Project
- Debating Democracy in the Long 19th Century
- Freedom Now! The African-American Freedom Struggle After 1945
- Genocide
- Guns, Germs and Mai Tais: Culture and Imperialism in the Pacific
- Post-Rave Britain, 1988 - present
- Producing History
- Queer Archives
- Race and Ethnicity in Popular Cinema
- The French Empire and Its Aftermath
- The Global First World War
- The United States in the Middle East, 1917-Present
- Topics in African American Literature
- Visualising War: Image, Media, and Culture
- Witches and Witch-Hunts
- America in the 21st Century
- American Empire
- American Studies in Practice
- American Teen Cinema: Coming of Age on Screen
- Beauty, Fashion and History
- British Childhood, Past and Present
- DIY History
- Emotions
- Hollywood Industry and Imaginary
- Life Writing and Life Histories
- Migrant Ecologies
- Queer Fictions
- Race, Photography, Archives
- Resistance
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA American Studies and History (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £25,500 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £38,500. The £30,500 median after five years is £1,000 more than the UK median for American and Australasian studies.
What do graduates of BA American Studies and History (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA American Studies and History (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA American Studies and History (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 120 UCAS points.
Does BA American Studies and History (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA American Studies and History (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.