History and Politics BA Honours

Course summary

Studying History and Politics at Westminster will equip you with the analytical tools to explore and understand societies, both past and present. History and Politics are deeply complementary disciplines: history and the writing of history are entrenched in politics and political frameworks, while contemporary politics and political organisations and movements can only be fully understood when examined in longer historical patterns.  We teach History and Politics in a truly global framework, listening to previously marginalised voices and questioning long-standing beliefs surrounding power and identity. We give our students the scope to study the topics that matter to them and to tailor their learning journeys through a broad array of engaging topic choices. This puts our degree at the cutting edge of each discipline. 

In our course, you'll explore the factors that have shaped the modern world since 1789 – including war and revolution, nationalism and liberalism, democracy, socialism, and fascism – from both historical and political perspectives. 

As well as learning the main themes, skills and approaches in both History and Politics, you'll be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules, which give you a truly global outlook, focusing not only on as Britain, Europe, and America but also areas such as the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Asia and America. Our innovative Special Subjects in History offering in the second and third years allows you to choose from a host of master classes in exciting and diverse topics such as the fall of the Soviet Union, Victorian sexualities, transitional Palestine, the Titanic, imperial politics in the Caribbean and the history of emotions to name but a few. 

Our unique West End location puts us in the heart of historical London and close to many of the country’s leading libraries and archives. You’ll explore the streets of the capital, learn how to conduct your own archival research, and graduate as a well-trained, experienced scholar of History and Politics, ready to enter the world of work.  

You’ll be taught by a team of passionate academics who are regularly recognised for their teaching excellence and commitment to their students. Our staff are also published researchers, introducing you to the newest research and approaches. In your final year, you’ll be supervised by one of these specialists to develop your dissertation on a topic that matters to you.  

London is our campus, but as students of a joint degree, you are also given the opportunity to travel to international destinations from Europe to Asia. 

You’ll graduate as a confident, independent thinker with the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong development. You’ll be prepared for a career in a variety of engaging fields, including the law, education, the Civil Service, NGOs, the police force – or for postgraduate study. 

Top reasons to study with us

• Our focus on modern global history and politics allows you to understand the processes that have shaped today’s world 

• The exciting opportunity to choose from a wide range of topics that matter to you – As well as the wide range of Politics option modules available to you, the Special Subjects offering in Years 2 and 3 enables you to select from many diverse and innovative six-week-long topics. 

• Our focus on equality, diversity and inclusion in the study of History and Politics and our emphasis on unearthing the lives and voices of those people who have previously been marginalised within academia. 

• Our Regent Campus means exceptional resources are within walking distance, and London’s museums and archives offer first-class research opportunities and unparalleled options on work placement modules 

• Our small group tutorials develop students academically and enhance employment potential 

• Our emphasis on employability; you’ll have access to our award-winning Careers and Employability Service, the chance to develop professional mentorships, participation in the Humanities Hackathon or the option to do work placement modules 

• Our study abroad and work placement opportunities, whether for a semester or a whole year 

• Our inclusive, compassionate community, where we believe everyone’s heritage and experiences are important 

Course structure

Over three years, you’ll be exposed to a range of topics in modern history and politics. Initially, you’ll start with core modules to help you develop a solid grounding in modern global history from 1789 to 1989, and in key methods and approaches in both History and Politics. As the course develops, you’ll have more opportunities to choose your own option modules and Special Subjects according to your personal interests. By your final year, you’ll write a dissertation on a topic of your own choosing. 

We have a wide range of assessments including essays, document and artefact analysis, oral presentations, policy briefing papers, portfolios, blogs, podcasts, reflection journals and political reports. Through these, you’ll learn essential skills that enhance your employability. To help support you in your assessments and learning journey, the course also includes weekly Tutorials in the first two years. These are very small groups designed to help you develop your academic and employability skills with your own Academic Tutor. You’ll benefit from close supervision and learn to develop independent research projects, and how to develop your skills in all of your modules that year. 

You’ll have the chance to take a credit-bearing work placement module in one of London’s hundreds of archives, museums, galleries, libraries and other repositories. Previous interns have had placements in the Imperial War Museum, the House of Lords Record Office and many other London institutions. You can also study an optional module from a range of interdisciplinary topics across the University in each year, such as the study of material culture, globalisation or sexual histories of London, or from our language options, which include French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese. 

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.