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Any study of history engages a natural human curiosity about the past. It’s an exciting and diverse subject, which is reflected in the flexibility and breadth of the History degree programme offered at Kent.
Overview
The School of History at Kent is one of the leading history departments in the country, where you are taught by passionate academics, active researchers and recognised experts.
History was ranked 14th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide.
Our degree programme
Our History programme allows you to tailor your degree to your own interests. These may be incredibly broad, or more focused within specific themes or historical periods.
There is a huge choice of modules on offer, which reflect the wide-ranging expertise of our academics. You can explore topics from the crusades to the Cold War; from the impact of science on 19th-century culture to the totalitarian regimes of Stalin’s Russia and Hitler’s Third Reich.
Study facilities
Facilities to support your studies include:
- the British Cartoon Archive, whose 20th-century collection can illuminate
many aspects of recent history
- a rare and complete set of British official histories of both world wars
- privileged access to rare books and priceless manuscripts at Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives.
We also have an extensive library collection of history books and journals, including online resources.
Welcoming community
The School of History has a lively community of students. You learn within an inspiring environment and can attend regular talks from visiting speakers.
You can also get involved with the student-run History Society, which organises lectures, social events and trips across Europe each year.
Our professional network
We have excellent links with the National Trust as well as local heritage organisations, including:
- Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives
- The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge
- Canterbury Archaeological Trust
- Royal Engineers Museum.
The School of History has also established strong links with academic institutions across Europe and beyond.
Your options
Our students have the chance to study abroad for a year, or for a term in their third year. Previous destinations include:
- Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Ottowa, Canada.
You also have the option to take a work placement between the second and third year of your degree – this can provide valuable work experience and the chance to gain new skills.
And don’t forget – at Kent, you can always enhance your degree studies by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Independent rankings
History was ranked 19th in The Guardian University Guide. In the National Student Survey 2016, 94% of History students at Kent were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
History was ranked 14th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide. Of History students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 92% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is by a combination of lectures, providing a broad overview, and seminars, which focus on discussing particular issues and are led by student presentations. Lectures and seminars use a variety of materials, including original documents, films and documentaries, illuminated manuscripts, slide and PowerPoint demonstrations.
The School of History uses a mixture of assessment patterns. The standard formats are 100% coursework or 60% examination and 40% coursework.
The School also has excellent student support arrangements. Alongside our Student Support Officer, each student is assigned an academic tutor. All module convenors keep regular office hours, and the School has a policy of returning at least one essay on each module in a one-to-one personal meeting allowing for additional verbal feedback and discussion.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide students with a firm understanding of the tradition and discipline of history as a means of understanding cultures different from their own and changes in society over time
- develop students' intellectual curiosity and initiative
- encourage independent critical thinking and judgement
- develop new areas of teaching and incorporate the research expertise of teachers into the programme
- provide stimulating learning opportunities based on well-planned teaching strategies and offer effective support for students from a variety of backgrounds
- prepare students for a range of careers and roles in a modern complex society or for further study
- develop a critical understanding of the past
- provide a flexible degree through which students can adopt a structure for their various interests.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the complexities of human existence in the past while recognising that history does not consist of 'a specific body of required knowledge'
- texts and other source materials, while addressing questions of genre, content, perspective and purpose
- the problems inherent in the historical record itself and the limits within which interpretation is possible
- the value of neighbouring disciplines, recognised through the interdisciplinary nature of history itself
- more than one country, period (medieval, early modern, modern) and analytical approach (social, political, economic, cultural history, history of science).
Intellectual skills
You gain intellectual skills in:
- conceptualisation: the ability to relate concept to empirical evidence, and the ability to recognise the relative and contested character of concepts themselves
- critical thought and independence of mind: the ability to challenge received conclusions and evaluate the work of others
- the ability to synthesise material from a variety of sources to gain a coherent understanding of issues
- reflexivity – an understanding of the nature of the discipline and our own involvement with it
- recognising and distinguishing between the different sources of historical knowledge (epistemological awareness)
- recognition and employment of what is required to solve particular problems.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in how to:
- apply a range of historical methods and analytical approaches with awareness of the relevance of other disciplines
- access a range of sources of information, including textual and non-textual material
- present the results of historical work to a critical audience or readership using standard notes, reference systems and bibliography
- marshall an argument: summarise, analyse and defend a particular interpretation or analysis of historical events.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in:
- communication – how to organise information clearly; respond to written sources; present information orally; adapt style for different audiences; use of images as a communication tool
- numeracy – how to make sense of statistical materials; integrate numerical and non-numerical information; understand the limits and potentialities of arguments based on quantitative information
- information technology – how to produce written documents; undertake online research; communicate using email; process information using databases
- working with others – how to define and review the work of others; work co-operatively on group tasks; understand how groups function
- improving own learning – how to explore personal strengths and weaknesses; time management; review your working environment; develop specialist learning skills (such as foreign languages); develop autonomy in learning
- problem solving – how to identify and define problems; explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them.
Careers
Of History students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 92% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
You graduate with an excellent grounding in historical knowledge and become adept at:
- research
- analysing large quantities of information from often conflicting sources
- assessing complex arguments.
To help you appeal to employers, you also learn key transferable skills that are essential for all graduates. These include the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions
- manage your time effectively
- work independently or as part of a team.
Graduate destinations
Our graduates are prepared for a wide range of career options in areas including
- journalism and the media
- management and administration
- civil service and local government
- museum and heritage management
- law, commerce and banking
- teaching and research
- library work
- armed services and defence analysis.
Examples of the positions some of our graduates have moved into include:
- Stonehenge Custodian
- Producer at the BBC
- Warden at Windsor Castle
- CEO of EasyJet.
Help looking for a job
The School of History runs employability sessions to help you hone your job hunting skills, which include input from highly successful alumni.
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Independent rankings
History was ranked 14th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide. The average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £19,000, according to Which? University.
What our graduates say
“The teaching at Kent is engaging and varied - the staff are committed to giving students the best possible experience.”
Charlie Hall
History graduate, now studying for a PhD
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB including History, Classics-Ancient History or Classics-Classical Civilisation grade B excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL including History 5 at HL or 6 at SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.