History
Introduction
Any good history begins in strangeness. The past should not be comfortable. The past should be so strange you wonder how you and the people you know and love could come from such a time.
Canterbury is a unique city in which to study History– it has been permanently settled since Roman times and much of its medieval history is still apparent in its ancient streets and buildings. The School of History has a very close relationship with Canterbury Cathedral, and students have the opportunity during their degree to study at the cathedral and explore its priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts.
But History at Kent goes far beyond the local. Our British historians work on topics ranging from George III to chemical weapons testing at Porton Down, Wiltshire. World-class staff research around the globe, with specialists travelling to India to study the Plague Research Laboratory in Bombay, to Zambia for the archive of the United National Independence Party, and to the cattle towns of Montana, USA to look at hunting culture. We have close links with the National Army Museum, the British Library, and good links with the continent.
Our taught modules reflect the breadth of our research interests, from courses on medieval monsters to the American civil rights movement, from the history of the steamship to the evolution of tank warfare. In a recent National Student Survey our graduates rated the enthusiasm of our teaching most highly, and we have a commitment to using visual and multi-media sources in our teaching.
Our programmes also offer the opportunity of a work placement in a museum, a cathedral workshop or a year abroad in Europe. A History degree at Kent is a life experience to truly savour.
Degree Programme Options (including Joint degrees)
Single honours:
History (V100)
History with an Optional Deferred Subject (R401)
Joint honours:
These are some of the more popular joint honours degrees.
History and ...
Archaeological Studies (VV14)
Comparative Literary Studies (QV21)
Computing (VG14)
Drama (VW14)
English and American Literature (QV31)
Film Studies (VW16)
French (RV11)
German (RV21)
History & Philosophy of Art (VV31)
Law (VM1C)
Philosophy (VVC5)
Politics (LV21)
Religious Studies (VV61)
Social Anthropology (LVP1)
European programme:
European History (V221)
Modules
Stage 1
You take one core module of 30 credits and at least 30 other History credits from a total of 120 credits.
Core module:
Making History
Options include:
Army and Society: British Army, 1688-1963
Atlantic Exploration 1450-1700
Britain and the Home Front in the Second World War
Britain in the Age of Industrialisation
Cinema and Society: Europe and the USA in Depression, War and Affluence, 1930-1960
The Emergence of America from European Settlement to 1880
Introduction to Literature and Science
Introduction to the History of Medicine
Monarchy and Aristocracy
Picturing the Past
Politics and Culture of 19th Century Russia
Popular Religion and Heresy, 1100-1300
Renaissance Courts: Culture and Politics
Revolutionary and Napoleonic France
The Rise of the United States since 1880
Saints, Chroniclers and the End of Time: Narrative Art in England
Science Fiction
War in History: the Concept and Art of Warfare in Europe and North America, 1700-2001
Stage 2/3
You must take at least 60 credits of History at Stage 2 and 90 at Stage 3.
Special Subject options include:
Britain and the Seven Years War, 1756-1763
British Politics 1629-1642: A High Road to Civil War?
Brother Sun and Sister Moon: St Francis and St Clare of Assisi
The Dutch Golden Age in the 17th Century
Empire in Crisis: the Soviet Union and its Collapse
France in Civil War 1559-1598
The Great War: British Memory, History and Culture
The Legacy of the Second World War: Retribution, Reconstruction, Reconciliation in Europe since 1945
The Monster in Medieval Culture
Options include:
Options are drawn from a list of 30 available modules across the department in all areas of our expertise, including topics such as:
The Art of Death: Representations, Rituals and Records in England, 1300-1450
Churchill’s Army: the British Army in the Second World War
From Buffalo Bill to Bison Burgers: the American West
War, Revolution and Dictatorship in Europe, 1870-1945
Students on the European History programme have an opportunity to spend a year between Stages 2 and 3 studying at a university in France or Germany.
Entry Requirements
Offer levels:
History: A level 320 points including BB at A level (over 3 A level equivalents), IB 35 points (16 at Higher)
European History: A level BBC or 300 points including BB at A level (3.5 A level equivalents)
Joint honours: A level BBC or 300 points (3.5 A level equivalents)
Required subjects:
A level History grade B if taken or History to at least GCSE level
European History: GCSE grade C in chosen language