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History with Politics

BA (Hons)

Our History with Politics degree isn’t just about learning what happened in the past. It’s about exploring why those events still matter today.

UCAS Code: VL22

Single Honours

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Student examining a historical map in the Hive Library, surrounded by shelves of books and documents.

You’ll be taught by lecturers who are active researchers, working on real-world projects that connect history and politics to current issues. With modules covering everything from Westminster politics to global conflicts, this course offers a lively mix of historical understanding and political awareness that will open doors to a wide range of careers.

90%

of graduates go on to work or further study after 15 months

Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024

University of the Year finalist

Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.


Overview

At Worcester, you'll explore the dynamic relationship between historical events and political systems, gaining a deep understanding of how the past shapes the contemporary political landscape.

Our History courses are taught in small, informal groups. This means you'll get a lot of individual support in a very friendly atmosphere. You’ll develop critical thinking, analytical, and research skills by examining topics such as Nazi Germany, British Imperialism, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and gender and welfare history. You’ll benefit from expert-led teaching, including lecturers who are published historians and political scholars, and have opportunities to contribute to their research.

Practical experience is also a core part of this degree. Attend guest lectures, writing retreats, and field trips to sites like the Imperial War Museum, Parliament, and the Slavery Museum.

Studying History with Politics will equip you with transferable skills for careers in law, journalism, teaching, public service, heritage, and political consultancy. With access to specialist resources such as the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service and Cathedral libraries, you’ll be supported in developing a strong academic and professional profile.

Work experience

In your second year of study, you can choose to take a work experience module. Past students have completed their work experience in archives, museums, schools, community organisations, or with political parties and campaigns.

You’ll also be given the chance to take part in volunteering activities throughout your studies. Voluntary opportunities with local and regional historical organisations are regularly publicised to all history students.


Course content

At Worcester, you can shape your History with Politics BA to suit you, with a wide range of optional modules to choose from in your second and third years.

We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant.

Optional modules will run if enough students choose to study them. It is not guaranteed that all modules will be offered every year.

Mandatory modules


Careers

A History with Politics degree is a great way to prepare for your future. You’ll learn how to do in-depth research, analyse complex evidence and communicate clear arguments – valuable skills that can be applied to lots of different careers.

This history degree could be the first step toward your career as a:

  • Policy officer
  • Heritage manager
  • Social researcher
  • Teacher
  • Museum curator
  • Archivist
  • Librarian
  • Historian
  • Political risk analyst
  • HR officer
  • Civil servant
  • Lawyer
  • Local Government officer

These are just some of the varied jobs History with Politics graduates go into.

If you do choose to become a teacher, you can train to teach with a one-year Primary or Secondary PGCE at Worcester.



Course highlights

Worcester Cathedral on the banks of the River Severn
Student looking into glass cases of historic medical equipment
History alumni visit
Students writing in notebook on table
View of the Imperial War Museum in London
A historic city

Worcester played a central role in the English Civil War and was the scene of its final battle.  During your degree you can visit the cathedral library with its priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts.


Teaching and assessment

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of guided lectures, independent study and one-to-one tutoring sessions.

Our course has been designed to prepare you for your future career, so evaluation is not all about exams. You’ll also be assessed through fieldwork reports, document analyses, article and book reviews, oral presentations, and blogs.

Teaching and assessment contents

Modules are delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and directed learning. Lectures introduce you to the relevant historiography and/or political research/data and identify appropriate learning materials. Seminars encourage you to discuss their views on topics introduced in lectures, supplemented by the additional research they have undertaken.

In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least four occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of the course.

Meet the team

A small selection of the Humanities lecturers who teach on this course.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Professor Neil Fleming

Neil Fleming's research and teaching focusses on aspects of British, Irish and imperial history since the late nineteenth century.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Professor Darren Oldridge

Darren Oldridge is a specialist in sixteenth and seventeenth-century religious history. His interests include witchcraft and the Devil, the supernatural, and the religious context of the English Civil Wars. A recurring theme of his work is the rationality underpinning apparently strange beliefs: this is reflected, most recently, in the new edition of Strange Histories (Routledge: 2017). More broadly, he is interested in the relationship between poetry and film and the past.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Professor Suzanne Schwarz

Suzanne Schwarz’s teaching at the University of Worcester focuses on the transatlantic slave trade and West Africa in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She also focuses on developing historical research skills for students through the study of regional and local history. She was the recipient of two student-led teaching awards in 2013 and 2014.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Dr Luke Devine

Luke is currently Course Leader for Sociology. His teaching specialisms include sociology of religion, political philosophy, antisemitism, Freud and psychoanalytic sociology, and Jewish history and literature. 

His research is primarily focused on fin de siècle Anglo-Jewish literature, particularly Amy Levy, on representations of Shekhinah in Jewish mystical literature, and on Sociology of Religion.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Professor Neil Fleming

Neil Fleming's research and teaching focusses on aspects of British, Irish and imperial history since the late nineteenth century.

University of Worcester logo on a light blue background

Professor Darren Oldridge

Darren Oldridge is a specialist in sixteenth and seventeenth-century religious history. His interests include witchcraft and the Devil, the supernatural, and the religious context of the English Civil Wars. A recurring theme of his work is the rationality underpinning apparently strange beliefs: this is reflected, most recently, in the new edition of Strange Histories (Routledge: 2017). More broadly, he is interested in the relationship between poetry and film and the past.


Entry requirements

UCAS tariff points required: 104

Typical Offer
QualificationGrade
A-levelBCC
BTEC National Extended DiplomaDMM
T-levelMerit

We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.


Fees

Fees contents

UK and EU students

In 2026/27 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £9,535 per year (subject to changes in the government tuition fee cap).

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

International students

In 2026/27 the standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £17,200 per year.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.


How to apply

How to apply contents

Applying through UCAS

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.

Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.

History with Politics BA (Hons) - VL22

Apply now

Contact

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

No alt text provided

Professor Neil Fleming

Professor of Modern History

Admissions Office

01905 855111

More to explore

Open Days

Visiting us is the best way to get a feel for student life at the University of Worcester.

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The City of Worcester

Worcester is a welcoming university city with great transport links and plenty of student parking.

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Accommodation

Benefit from our accommodation guarantee. We have rooms on campus to suit every budget including en-suite options.

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