Modern and Contemporary History BA (Hons)

Bangor University

This course provides the opportunity to study British, European and American history from the modern period to the present day. Through the topics studied you will learn how to examine contemporary issues in their historical context, exploring the development of modern society and politics. You will delve deeper into more specialised topics, such as Nazi Germany or the Cold War. The essential skills of analysis, argument and communication acquired are highly valued by employers.

This course aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of human History, concentrating on the period after 1750. It encourages you to take an analytical approach to the modern and contemporary eras, so that you can understand and contribute to historical controversies, and can understand ways in which the past is at least partly constructed in the present. It therefore hopes to train you intellectually so you can explain the relevance of the past in the present, understand the problems of interpreting written and other evidence, and gain skills of research, analysis, problem-solving, construction of argument and communication.

History is one of the most inspiring, dynamic and relevant subjects that can be studied at degree level, and so it is no surprise that History remains one of the most popular degree subjects in the UK. It has an established range of concerns, but it is always expanding and changing as it responds to new themes or ideas raised by other disciplines. It is also a very practical subject, and during your degree you will develop various transferable skills that employers value highly. Surveys consistently indicate that History graduates obtain employment more rapidly than graduates in many apparently more 'vocational' subjects.

‘Placement Year’ and 'International Experience Year’ options are available for this course. You will have the opportunity to fully consider these options when you have started your course at Bangor and can make an application for a transfer onto such a pathway at the appropriate time. You can find more information about these options on our website and if you have any questions, please get in touch.

If you don’t have the required qualifications for this degree-level course or are looking to re-enter education after time away from study, then a Foundation Year Programme might be the right choice for you. Please see History (with Foundation Year) V10F.