History Undergraduate Courses

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_Top5for learning opportunitiesHistory - National Student Survey 2024

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With particular emphasis on modern and contemporary history, this course is academically rigorous, intellectually stimulating and politically relevant. As well as covering broad historical themes, you will explore a wide range of specific topics - everything from the Enlightenment, Totalitarianism, the history of the body, and the British Country House.

You will also explore the history of non-European societies, with modules spanning the history of China, India, the Cold War and the impact of European imperial rule.

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Undergraduate History courses

History - your questions answered

In the below video, Lecturer, Oliver Godsmark, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about History at the University of Derby.

Career opportunities

Our history degrees are relevant, informative, designed to develop communication skills and to give you the best start in your career.

Career opportunities open to graduates include:

Education
Law
Civil service
Management
Marketing

“My time at Derby has been wonderful”

“My time at Derby has been wonderful. I started with the clear goal to become a teacher, not really knowing that I would gain so much from the experience. I cannot fault the history lecturers for their guidance, patience and kindness. I was so pleased to win the award just before my graduation. It was such an honour to see all my research, hard work and passion for history recognised. From the archive research to the writing, this piece of work was immensely enjoyable and exciting to create.”

Rebecca graduated with a First Class Honours in History and English and was awarded the Royal Historical Society/History Today Undergraduate Dissertation Prize for her dissertation: Cutting Through the ‘Gordian Knot’: The British Military Service Tribunals During the Great War.

Rebecca Pyne-Edwards Banks, History and English

What to expect when studying History at the University of Derby

You will be able to study a wide variety of approaches to the past, including social, cultural, economic and political history
You will apply your learning through community projects as well as a variety of visits and fieldtrips to a range of locations from country houses to industrial cities
We encourage to think about how your skills as a historian can be applied in the modern world, and have embedded throughout the degree opportunities for you to share your passion for the past with the wider community, including at our annual public conference
Our lecturers are highly regarded experts across different aspects of history with a number of books and published articles to their name.