BA History and Sociology / Course details

The History and Sociology degree is designed to give students a unique training in two academic disciplines. 

By combining the skills and insights of History and Sociology, students achieve a thorough induction into studying the past alongside the approaches and theoretical frameworks relating to the study of society. 

This Joint Honours degree is designed to develop students knowledge of both disciplines, especially through core modules such as History in Practice, which equips students with the key intellectual tools for historical study at university level, and Researching Culture and Society, which develops student's understandings of a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods. 

Taught by Faculty members, who are both dedicated teachers and world-leading experts in their fields, and with whom students interact daily in lectures, seminars and one-to-one meetings, the course aims to develop a range of essential and transferable skills. 

By writing essays, projects and dissertations on both subjects, students learn how to develop their ability to write, present and discuss complex ideas and arguments. 

By engaging with an exciting and demanding course, students also develop habits of self-management, independence and collaborative work. 

History and Sociology students can develop further their interests by joining a wide range of student-led societies, including the Sociology and History Societies, as well as many others focused on politics, media or sport.

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 can apply to spend one semester studying abroad during the second year of your degree. Exchange partners are offered through the Erasmus Exchange scheme (in Europe) and the Worldwide Exchange scheme (eg USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore). 

Connect with like-minded students  

Join 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) and hosting social events, and get involved with the student magazine, The Manchester Historian .

Most course units feature formal lectures supported by smaller tutorials, seminars or web-based seminars, in which you will be able to explore the contents of lectures and recommended reading in greater depth. 

Tutorials and seminars are also key elements in improving your written and oral communication skills through group discussions, essay-writing and presentations. 

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. 

A significant part of your study time will be spent reading, taking notes, preparing presentations and writing essays (which examine aspects of a subject in greater depth). 

Classroom time is frequently supplemented by new media, such as the virtual learning environment, Blackboard. 

You will also have access to other digital resources to support your learning. 

For some course units you'll join in group work and other forms of collaborative learning.

You may 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 that constitutes 22% of your overall final mark.

The University of Manchester works in partnership with the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre and owns the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Museum and Tabley House, giving you unique access to outstanding cultural and historical resources. 

Find out more on the Facilities  page for History.