BA Politics and Modern History / Course details

BA Politics and Modern History is one of the longest established programmes of its kind in the country, combining an investigation of the historical development of the modern world with a study of its political machinery and an examination of its political thought in a historical setting.

Broad course units in history, government institutions and political thought constitute the core of the degree in the first two years, with more specialist options in Year 3, including a 12,000-word thesis.

Studying politics and modern history together aims to give you a unique insight into how societies work in both past and present.

The course combines two complementary ways of looking at the world and will give you the tools to understand the workings and history of political systems, international relations, conflict and cooperation in Britain, Europe and beyond.

The degree will take you through various stages, at each step developing both your background knowledge in politics and history and, crucially, the skills of critical analysis and logical argument.

Throughout, you will engage with a broad range of themes in both subjects, ranging from globalisation in historical perspective to the politics of modern China.

• Give students a unique insight into how societies work in both past and present by combining two complementary ways of looking at the world.
• Give you the tools to understand the workings and history of political systems, international relations, conflict and cooperation in Britain, Europe and beyond.
• Help you develop good habits of self-management, independence and collaborative work.

Placement year option

Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a  placement year  in your third year of study, enabling you to enhance your employment prospects, clarify your career goals and build your external networks.  

Study abroad

You may apply to spend one semester studying abroad during the second year of your degree. Exchange partners are offered in Europe, through the Erasmus Exchange scheme, or via the Worldwide Exchange scheme, in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore.

Connect with like-minded students

Join the dedicated Politics and Modern History Society, which organises social events and invites a range of speakers to campus, or the History Society, which plays a key role in building a community among History students at Manchester by organising trips (in the UK and on the continent), hosting social events, and coordinating the student magazine, The Manchester Historian .

You will learn through:

• lectures;
• seminars;
• web-based seminars;
• small group tutorials.

You will spend approximately 12 hours a week in formal study sessions. For every hour spent at University, you will be expected to complete a further two to three hours of independent study. You will also need to study during the holiday periods.

We will encourage you to undertake supervised, independent study and original research at every level of the course.

The individual study component could be spent reading, producing written work, or revising for examinations.

You will be assessed in various ways, including:

• written and oral examinations;
• coursework essays;
• research reports;
• practical tests;
• learning logs;
• web contributions.

Many course units are assessed through a mixture of techniques.

In your final year, you will write a dissertation which provides 22% of the final mark.

Politics and History are subjects that fit together so well and overlap so often. The course at Manchester allows me to take modules in both disciplines and stretch myself in both subjects which I really enjoy. I love my degree and usually it's hard to get me to stop talking about some of the modules I study. The history department is a really comforting place where everyone can feel at home and I always feel really well taken care of. Muneera Lula, Politics with Modern History

Manchester is a living history book, from Peterloo to the anti-slavery movement, from Roman and Anglo-Saxon forts to medieval monuments.

As a student in this historically rich city, you'll have the opportunity to draw on the abundant library, archive and museum holdings of the local area, including Chetham's Library, The Museum of Science and Industry, The People's History Museum and the Working Class Movement Library.

You'll also have access to one of only five National Research Libraries, including the special collections of The John Rylands Library, as well as the exclusive holdings of Manchester Museum.

The University of Manchester owns the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Museum and Tabley House, giving you unique access to outstanding cultural and historical resources.

For more information, see Facilities .