BA History and Philosophy
About this course
BA (Hons) BA (Hons) History and Philosophy is an undergraduate degree spanning History and Philosophy. Core topics include Research Methods. The course culminates in a History Dissertation and a Philosophy Short Dissertation. The first year covers core foundations through Philosophical Analysis, Knowledge and Perception, Knowledge and Beliefs in World History, and Evidence and Methods. The second year focuses on Historical Thinking alongside various options in historical periods and philosophical traditions. The final year involves independent research through dissertations and a wide selection of optional modules covering topics such as Buddhism as Philosophy, Philosophy of Physics, Empires, and Violence.
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 including an A in either History or Classical Civilisation IB: 35 points, including 6 in History at Higher Level BTEC: DDD with an additional A Level or equivalent qualification in History or Classical Civilisation at grade A
See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for BA History and Philosophy (VV15) at the University of York for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 13 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 79%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 77%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 82%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 28 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 16%
- Administrative occupations: 11%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 10%
- Sales occupations: 8%
- Elementary occupations: 7%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 145 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 4%
- North West: 10%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 22%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 6%
- London: 33%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 6%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Philosophical Analysis
- Knowledge and Perception
- Knowledge and Beliefs in World History
- Evidence and Methods
- Political Communities in World History
- Societies and Economies in World History
- Logic
- Ethics
- Metaphysics and Humans
- Historical Thinking
- Aesthetics
- Applied Ethics
- Being and Reason: Spinoza's Metaphysics
- Knowledge and the Social Sciences
- Religious Ethics
- Politics and Freedom: Anarchism and Conservatism
- Metaphysics
- Logic and Paradox
- Love, Law, and Solidarity: Recognition from Rousseau to Honneth
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Science
- The Limits of Reason: Kant's Theoretical and Practical Philosophy
- Empire and Cultural Exchange in Asia 1500-1700
- Black Radicalism
- Ancien Régime France, 1610-1789
- Before the Mongols: Nomadic Empires of Central Eurasia, 900-1200
- Using and Abusing the Past in Britain, 1835-2018
- Gender, Enlightenment and Revolution in Eighteenth-Century Europe
- From the Global Shadows: Africa and the World since the 1950s
- Health for all? International Health from Colonial Medicine to Covid Vaccine
- Powerful Impressions: Culture and Politics in the Post-1945 United States
- Heterosexual Africa? Sexuality, Power, and Politics in Africa since 1900
- Persecution and Toleration in Early Modern Britain
- Catherine the Great
- Social Science and Modern Britain, c1880-c1970
- Crime and Society in Britain and Ireland since 1750
- Bankers, Merchants, and Poets: Florence and the Roots of the Renaissance
- Communist Europe: Crisis, Transformation & Memory after the Second World War
- Historical Fictions and Frictions: Fictionalising the Past
- Chivalry, Identity and Love 1350-1450
- Vikings and Historians: Historiographical Dialogues through the Ages
- The Scientific Revolution, 1500-1700
- Containing Multitudes: Inequality and the City in Britain and its Empire post-1800
- History Dissertation
- Philosophy Short Dissertation
- Action and Agency
- Buddhism as Philosophy
- Causation and Laws
- Cognitive Anomalies, Decision-Making and Democracy
- Consciousness
- Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
- Experimental Philosophy: The Philosophy of Psychology
- Foundations of Mathematics
- German Idealism: Moral, Legal & Political Philosophy
- Mind and Morality
- Nine Art Works, Nine Philosophical Problems
- Philosophy of Christianity
- Philosophy of Physics
- Property and Self-ownership
- Theories of Social Justice: Rawls and Beyond
- The Nature of Time
- Topics in Feminist Philosophy
- World and Mind
- Empires
- Violence
- Animals
- Commemorations
- Travel
- Beauty
- Communisms
- The First Islamic Empire
- From Colonial to Post-Colonial States? The Twentieth-Century Caribbean
- Imperial Japan, 1890-1950
- Popular Politics? The History of British Political Culture since 1945
- The French Wars of Religion
- Race, Place and Health in Britain and its Empire, 1880-1960
- Hong Kong: Decolonisation and Development, 1945-97
- Thomas More: Learning, Politics and Religion in England, 1500-35
- Ploughing the Sea? The Spanish American Wars of Independence, 1750-1830
- Rome Reborn: Culture and Society c.1575-c.1655
- Prussia and the Unification of Germany, 1815-1918
- Mao and Maoism
- Reading and Writing in Medieval England
- Exiled Lives: English Nuns in Catholic Europe, 1600-1800
- Poverty and the Welfare State in Post-War Britain
- Joan of Arc
- Revolution in the Streets: Faith, Poverty, & Religious Ferment, c.1200
- Francis Bacon: Myth, Magic and Morals
- Black British History and Decolonisation
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History and Philosophy at University of York earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £33,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £24,500 and £45,500. The £33,000 median after five years is £2,500 more than the UK median for History.
What do graduates of BA History and Philosophy at University of York do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA History and Philosophy at University of York?
92% 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 Philosophy at University of York?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 140 UCAS points.
Does BA History and Philosophy at University of York 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 Philosophy at University of York?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.