BA History and Politics
About this course
BA (Hons) History and Politics, a politics and international relations and history degree examining the interplay between historical developments and political structures. Core topics include Research Methods. The course spans three years of full-time study, incorporating a range of specialized historical periods and contemporary political systems. The first year establishes core foundations through compulsory modules such as Political Communities in World History, Political Analysis, Arguments and Analysis, Knowledge and Belief in World History, and Evidence and Methods, with additional optional choices available. Year two introduces Historical Thinking and Theories of the State as compulsory elements alongside a wide selection of optional modules covering diverse global and thematic topics. In the final year, students complete a dissertation in either history or politics, complemented by specialized options ranging from international politics to specific historical eras.
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: AAA including an A in either History or Classical Civilisation IB: 36 points including 6 in History at Higher Level BTEC: DDD with an additional A Levels or equivalent qualification in History or Classical Civilisation at grade A
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Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 5 UCAS decisions for BA History and Politics (VL12) at the University of York for 2027 entry so far: 5 offers. The published offer is AAA at A level. The first offer was posted on 8 October.
What students say
Based on about 31 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 81%
- Assessment and feedback: 79%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 76%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 80%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 65 students who started
- Continued on course: 92%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 3%
What graduates do next
Based on about 18 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Finance Professionals: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 10%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 20%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 330 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 4%
- North West: 7%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 20%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 13%
- London: 27%
- South East: 10%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 45 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Political Communities in World History
- Political Analysis
- Arguments and Analysis
- Knowledge and Belief in World History
- Evidence and Methods
- Introduction to Political Theory: The State, Liberty and Revolution
- Introduction to International Politics: Global Hierarchies and Global Order
- York Policy Lab
- Historical Thinking
- Theories of the State
- Things Fall Apart
- Politics of Development
- European Union Politics
- War and Peace
- IR Theory and Planet Politics
- The Politics of Gender
- Politics in the United Kingdom
- The Rising Powers
- Human Rights and Wrongs
- Research Design
- 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
- Politics Dissertation
- Africa and International Politics
- Constitutional and Territorial Ideologies in Britain and Ireland
- Contemporary Politics of South Asia
- Democracy and Emergency
- Development Paradigms
- Ethics and International Politics
- Gender, War and Militarism
- Governing the Global Economy
- Governmentality: Foucault and the Analytics of Power
- Green Politics
- International Crisis Diplomacy
- Political Psychology and Public Opinion
- Politics of Peace after Civil War
- The Global Food System
- "We, the People": Ideas of Democratic Representation
- Britain in a Changing Global Political Economy
- Ethnicity and Conflict
- From War to Peace? Statebuilding and Political Transition in Southeast Asia
- Global Politics of Nuclear Weapons
- Global Sustainability and Energy Policy
- Karl Marx
- Knowledge and Democracy
- Political Transition in the Middle East: A Century of Conflict
- Regionalism in World Politics
- Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
- The European Far Right
- The Labour Party and Socialism
- The Politics of (Post-)Colonialism
- Empires
- Violence
- Animals
- Commemorations
- Travel
- Beauty
- Communisms
- 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 Politics at University of York earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 15 months, £25,500 after 3 years, £32,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,000 and £43,500. The £32,000 median after five years is £2,000 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA History and Politics at University of York 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 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 Politics at University of York?
The typical offer is AAA at A level, or 36 points in the IB. The average entrant had 157 UCAS points. Applicants who posted offers on UniScout for 2027 entry were most often predicted A*A*A.
When does the University of York send offers for BA History and Politics?
For 2027 entry, applicants have posted 5 decisions for this course on UniScout. The first offer was posted on 8 October, and the most decisions so far arrived in October.
Does BA History and Politics 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 Politics at University of York?
92% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.