University of Bristol United Kingdom

BA History

Integrated Masters with deeper specialization and research focus
Taught in English
Duration 3 Years
Mode On Campus
Level Undergraduate
Degree Bachelors Degree
Closing soon September 2026

Course Overview

The BA History at the University of Bristol offers you a comprehensive exploration of the past, equipping you with the critical analysis and research skills essential for understanding contemporary society. This undergraduate degree is ideal for those fascinated by how historical events, from medieval times to the modern era, have shaped our world. You will engage deeply with diverse historical periods and global regions, including the British Isles, Europe, the Americas, and Africa, developing a nuanced perspective on human experience and societal change. This program provides a robust academic grounding for a wide array of future paths.

This full-time, on-campus degree is studied over three years, immersing you in a dynamic learning environment. You will attend lectures, seminars, and workshops, working with primary source materials and engaging with cutting-edge historical scholarship. The syllabus allows you to tailor your studies through a wide selection of optional units, focusing on areas such as slavery, modern revolutions, or global empires, and culminates in a substantial dissertation project. You will graduate with advanced research, writing, and analytical skills, prepared for careers in archives, museums, education, policy, journalism, and beyond.

Course Curriculum & Details

Detailed information for serious evaluators

Program Overview

This BA History program offers a comprehensive exploration of historical periods and themes, from the medieval and early modern worlds to revolutions and the American century. Students will engage with mandatory foundational modules like "Approaching the Past" and "Rethinking History," alongside a wide array of optional courses covering diverse global contexts, social issues, and cultural phenomena. The curriculum culminates in advanced studies and dissertations, allowing for in-depth research into specialized historical topics.

1 Year 1 (2024/25 entry cohort)

The Early Modern World: The British Isles Optional
The Early Modern World: Europe and the Wider World Optional
Modern Revolutions Optional
The American Century Optional
War and Society Optional
Approaching the Past Mandatory
The Medieval World: The British Isles Optional
The Medieval World: Europe and the Wider World Optional
Slavery Optional
'Fight the Power': Democracy and Protest Optional
Gender in the Modern World Optional

2 Year 2 (2024/25 entry cohort)

Rethinking History Mandatory
Africa in Global Perspective Optional
The Americas in Global Context Optional
Asia in Global Perspective Optional
Fear and Loathing Optional
Outlaws Optional
The Tudor World Optional
Crusading Cultures Optional
The Politics of the Past Optional
The Public Role of the Historian Optional
Brief Encounters: Love, Labour, and Loneliness in Modern London Optional
Everyday Life in Tudor and Stuart England Optional
Remembering Transatlantic Enslavement Optional
The Smugglers' City (Level I Special Field) Optional
The Norman Conquest Optional
Under the Covers: Sex and Modern British Print Culture Optional
Health and Medicine in African History: Actors, Institutions, Ideas Optional
Travel and Trade in the Global Middle Ages Optional
The F Word: Understanding Italian Fascism Then and Now Optional
Speaking with Authority: Women and Power in the Middle Ages (Level I Special Field) Optional
Rebels, Runaways, and Revolts: Agency, Resistance, and Slavery in the United States Optional
The Age of Revolutions 1776-1848 in Global Perspective Optional
Mental Health in Modern Britain, 1959-present Optional
Political Culture and Communication in Britain, 1867-1939 (Level I Special Field) Optional

3 Year 3 (2024/25 entry cohort)

Bristol and Slavery (Level H Special Subject) Optional
Kingship and Crisis during the Wars of the Roses. (Level H Special Subject) Optional
Race and Health in America Optional
Teenage Kicks: Youth and Subcultures in Britain since 1918 Optional
The Age of the Human Optional
Red Power and Beyond: American Indian activism since 1944 Optional
Race and Resistance in South Africa (Level H Special Subject) Optional
American Dreamers: Radicalism in the United States from 1776 to the Present Optional
The Italian Renaissance Optional
Once Upon a Crime: Law and Popular Cultures in the Age of Empire Optional
Rage against the Machine: Technology and Anti-Technology in Modern Britain Optional
Aftermath: The Wake of War, 1945-1949 Optional
Iran, 1901-51: Oil, Racial Capitalism, and Decolonisation Optional
Britain's Long Nineteenth Century, 1789-1914 Optional
Memory Optional
Picturing the Twentieth Century Optional
Horrible Histories And All That Optional
Global Empires Optional
Millennial Britain Optional
Dissertation Optional
Practice-Based Dissertation (History) Optional
Race Optional
Sexualities Optional
Capitalism Optional

Cost & Affordability

A clear picture of what this course will cost you

Program Costs

First Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 38,117.00
Second Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 38,117.00
Third Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 38,117.00
Total Program Cost Estimated total tuition
USD 114,353.00

Currency note: Program costs shown in USD based on the available tuition breakdown.

Living Costs

Accommodation
USD 1,285.00 - USD 2,164.00
Food & Groceries USD 1,048.00 - USD 1,402.00
Transport USD 355.00 - USD 693.00
Utilities & Bills USD 10,471.00 - USD 13,967.00
Estimated Total USD 11,874.00 - USD 16,062.00

Living cost estimates are based on Clifton campus.

Outcomes & Employability

What happens after you graduate

95%
Graduate Employment Rate Within 6 to 12 months of graduation

Common Graduate Roles

Adult & Continuing EducationCommercial & Industrial ConstructionConstruction Technology & Digital SolutionsEdTech & E-LearningEducation Policy & AdministrationLive Events & ConcertsProject & Construction ManagementResidential ConstructionSecondary & High School EducationTalent & Artist Management

Top Employers Hiring for this course

European commission

National Trust

United Nations

Why Study BA History at University of Bristol

What makes this program stand out

September 2026 Closing soon

Next intake is in September 2026

Life at University of Bristol in United Kingdom

What daily life looks like for international students

Language

English

Primary language everywhere

Climate

Mild & Rainy

10-20°C average, pack layers

Safety (Numbeo Safety Index)

Very Safe

Exeter is one of UK's safest cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about BA History at University of Bristol

Can I work while studying?

International students enrolled in degree courses can work up to 20 hours per week during term time. Full-time work is permitted during breaks.

What English language score do I need for this course?

To meet English language requirements, international students must achieve specific scores in tests like TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. For instance, TOEFL requires an overall score of 95 with specific minimums in listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

What jobs can I get after studying this course?

Possible job titles include historian, museum curator, archivist, cultural resource manager, and researcher.

What will I actually study in this course?

At Bristol you will become part of our community of historians. You will work with a wide range of primary source materials and archives and engage with both classic and cutting-edge historical scholarship. As a large department, we are able to offer a broad and diverse curriculum and students take a mix of broad survey units, specialist option units, and independent research projects. With a large number of optional units at every level, we encourage our students to find and pursue their

When can I start — what are the intake months?

The BA History program intake begins in September. Ensure you apply before the specified deadline to secure your place.
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