Bachelor of Arts (BA)

BA Politics and Modern History

Examine the historical development of the modern world and its political systems.
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Year of entry: 2026
  • UCAS course code: VL12 / Institution code: M20

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Overview

Course overview

  • Gain unique insight into how societies work in both the past and present.
  • Explore the workings and history of political systems, international relations, conflict and co-operation in Britain, Europe and beyond.
  • Ranked a UK Top 10 for History and Politics by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
Telephone
+44 (0)161 509 2871
Email
Website
http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/history/
School/Faculty overview

See: About us

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

A-level

AAA including History or Politics.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

A-level contextual offer

ABB including grade A in History or Politics.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Contextual offers are available for applicants who:

  • live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
  • live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
  • have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

UK refugee/care-experienced offer

ABC including A in History or Politics.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:

  • have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
  • have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

International Baccalaureate

36 points overall. 6,6,6 in Higher Level subjects including History or Politics.

Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.

GCSE/IGCSE

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade B or 6 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and C or 4 in Mathematics.GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.

Other entry requirements

Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.

Country-specific entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see accepted entry qualifications from your country .

English language requirements

All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:

GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade B/6, or;

IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component, or;

An acceptable equivalent qualification.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.

If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found  here .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years.

Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

Home-schooled applicants

If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.

You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.

We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.

If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you.

Non-standard educational routes

Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.

Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.

The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates.

If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

Further information for mature students can be found on our How to apply page.

How your application is considered

We read the personal statements and references of all applicants paying particular attention to A-level (or IB etc.) predictions or achieved grades.

Interview requirements

Normally, we only interview applicants who are applying with non-standard entry requirements.

Returning to education

Applications from mature students are welcomed and considered on an individual basis.

Suchapplicants will be required to produce a piece of written work, for assessment by the Admissions Tutor.

Once you have applied, the Admissions Administrator will contact you with a list of topics/questions.

You will be asked to choose one and produce a piece (1500 words) on that subject, for submission by the deadline given by the Administrator.

Deferrals

We welcome applications for deferred entry and feel a gap year benefits many students.

We do ask applicants to let us know as early as possibleif they are intending to defer.

This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in orderto achieve the required number of students in a given year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.

Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.

In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.

We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course.

If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements.

In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.

Transfers

We will consider applications to transfer to Manchester from other universities and would normally ask for a letter explaining why a transfer was needed,relevant transcripts, a copy of the applicant's UCAS form and a confidential reference from one of the applicant's current university tutors.

We will consider applications to transfer from other degrees within the University of Manchester but applicants are required to have the A-level grades (or other qualifications) needed for entry to that degree programme.

Both of the above are subject toour having enough places to accommodate such applicants.

Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details).

Course details

Course description

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 dissertation.

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 around the world.

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.

Special features

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, 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) and hosting social events.

You can also get involved with the student magazine, The Manchester Historian .

Teaching and learning

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.

Coursework and assessment

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.

Course content for year 1

Designed to assist students with the intellectual transition to university study, level 1 modules focus on introducing students to key conceptual and theoretical issues in relation to Politics and History.

All students take History in Practice, in which students learn important skills in research and writing to equip them for historical study at university level, and compulsory modules in Politics that provide foundational understandings of key theoretical issues.

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
HIST10101 20 Mandatory
POLI10202 20 Mandatory
POLI10601 20 Mandatory
POLI10702 20 Mandatory
AMER10002 20 Optional
CAHE10011 20 Optional
CAHE10022 20 Optional
CAHE10101 20 Optional
CAHE10132 20 Optional
CAHE10232 20 Optional
CAHE10281 20 Optional
CAHE10651 20 Optional
DIGI10031 20 Optional
DIGI10082 20 Optional
HIST10151 20 Optional
HIST10172 20 Optional
HIST10182 20 Optional
HIST10191 20 Optional
HIST10261 20 Optional
HIST10302 20 Optional
HIST10312 20 Optional
HSTM10721 20 Optional
HSTM10772 20 Optional
JAPA10111 20 Optional
JAPA13222 20 Optional
MCEL10001 10 Optional
MCEL10002 10 Optional
MEST10041 20 Optional
MEST10092 20 Optional
MEST10711 20 Optional
MEST10911 20 Optional
RELT10192 20 Optional
RELT10711 20 Optional
RUSS10251 20 Optional
SALC10002 20 Optional
SALC10411 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 36 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

Modules become increasingly specialist and the programme offers significant choice and flexibility.

Students get to choose between a History or a Politics Independent Research Project, which is an extended piece of coursework supervised on a one-to-one basis on a topic of the student's choice.

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
AMER21001 20 Optional
CAHE20042 20 Optional
CAHE20052 20 Optional
CAHE20061 20 Optional
CAHE20531 20 Optional
GERM20262 20 Optional
HIST20182 20 Optional
HIST20251 20 Optional
HIST20392 20 Optional
HIST20422 20 Optional
HIST20481 20 Optional
HIST21122 20 Optional
HIST21182 20 Optional
HIST21192 20 Optional
HIST21202 20 Optional
HIST21211 20 Optional
HIST21241 20 Optional
HIST21251 20 Optional
HSTM20081 20 Optional
HSTM20592 20 Optional
HSTM20801 20 Optional
ITAL20502 20 Optional
ITAL21011 20 Optional
MEST20272 20 Optional
MEST20501 20 Optional
POLI20311 20 Optional
POLI20332 20 Optional
POLI20521 20 Optional
POLI20531 20 Optional
POLI20602 20 Optional
POLI20711 20 Optional
POLI20722 20 Optional
POLI20742 20 Optional
POLI20802 20 Optional
POLI20881 20 Optional
POLI20902 20 Optional
POLI20961 20 Optional
POLI20982 20 Optional
POLI21001 20 Optional
POLI21041 20 Optional
RELT20121 20 Optional
RELT21082 20 Optional
RUSS20242 20 Optional
RUSS20472 20 Optional
RUSS20841 20 Optional
UCIL24002 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 46 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

Students may specialise in the periods and subjects that they have found most interesting.

Students get to choose between a History or a Politics Dissertation, which is an extended piece of coursework based on independent research and supervised on a one-to-one basis on a topic of the student's choice, which our students generally find to be the most enjoyable and fulfilling part of their studies.

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
AMER30022 20 Optional
AMER30811 20 Optional
CAHE30881 20 Optional
GERM30722 20 Optional
HIST30970 40 Optional
HIST31052 20 Optional
HIST31202 20 Optional
HIST31362 20 Optional
HIST31491 20 Optional
HIST31522 20 Optional
HIST31551 20 Optional
HIST31591 20 Optional
HIST31671 20 Optional
HIST31721 20 Optional
HIST31842 20 Optional
HIST31941 20 Optional
HIST31992 20 Optional
HIST32012 20 Optional
HIST32152 20 Optional
HIST32171 20 Optional
HIST32221 20 Optional
HIST32241 20 Optional
HIST32251 20 Optional
HIST32321 20 Optional
HIST32342 20 Optional
HIST32351 20 Optional
HIST32362 20 Optional
HIST32372 20 Optional
HIST32391 20 Optional
HSTM30342 20 Optional
HSTM31121 20 Optional
HSTM31712 20 Optional
HSTM32511 20 Optional
HSTM33501 20 Optional
HSTM40332 20 Optional
MCEL30001 10 Optional
MCEL30002 10 Optional
MCEL30052 10 Optional
POLI30032 20 Optional
POLI30191 20 Optional
POLI30231 20 Optional
POLI30242 20 Optional
POLI30262 20 Optional
POLI30272 20 Optional
POLI30281 20 Optional
POLI30292 20 Optional
POLI30300 40 Optional
POLI30721 20 Optional
POLI30791 20 Optional
POLI30862 20 Optional
POLI31032 20 Optional
POLI31061 20 Optional
POLI31091 20 Optional
POLI32041 20 Optional
POLI32062 20 Optional
POLI32132 20 Optional
POLI32162 20 Optional
POLI32172 20 Optional
RUSS30601 20 Optional
SPLA31151 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 60 course units for year 3

Facilities

Manchester is a living history book, from Peterloo to the anti-slavery and suffragette movements, 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 the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre, 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 .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Study History at Manchester and you will come away with a degree that is well-regarded by employers for the outstanding analysis and critical thinking skills you will develop.

The University of Manchester is the second most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2024).

Our graduates enjoy success in a wide range of careers, reflecting the high regard in which employers hold a History degree from Manchester, including the BBC -with whom we have well-established links -as well as KPMG, Deloitte, Marks and Spencer, Aviva, Accenture and Barclays.

Typical professions for History graduates include:

  • teaching and academia;
  • heritage and museums;
  • the Civil Service;
  • policy and thinktanks;
  • creative industries;
  • media and journalism;
  • marketing and public relations;
  • law and accountancy;
  • finance;
  • NGOs.

Many of our graduates go on to undertake further study such as master's and PhD degrees, PGCEs or law conversion courses before taking up their careers.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.