Cardiff University
History BA (Hons)
Cardiff University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in History

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of History at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24000 £24000 £29000
25-75 percentile range £20500 - £27000 £18500 - £28500 £22500 - £36000


Salary of all UK Graduates of History

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24582 £22856 £27697
25-75 percentile range £20570 - £28247 £17647 - £28615 £20983 - £35780

Course Description

Investigate the past and expand your horizons with an inspiring degree designed for historians in the making.

Our exciting BA History degree lets you shape your passion for history according to your interests, using the latest approaches to study the past with a critical eye and make connections to debates in the public sphere.

Our expertise reaches an extraordinary breadth of societies, periods and places, spanning the British Isles, Europe (east and west), Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Our modules give you the opportunity to study both well-established areas, such as political, social, cultural and gender history, or explore areas that might be new to you, such as environmental history or digital history.

Criss-crossing this wide range of time spans and perspectives, our highly respected programme will train you to analyse topics from across the globe, allowing you to put into practice your skills as a historian. Moreover, prestigious collections in the University’s Special Collections and Archives give you access to a wide range of original texts and sources, including some of the world’s oldest printed books.

While sharing our own cutting-edge research in all our modules, we encourage you to re-evaluate existing understandings of the past and to create new and original interpretations of your own. You will become adept at exploring debates, creatively drawing on our robust grounding to examine history of all kinds. In the process, you will develop the skills so advantageous in our digital age: creativity, empathy, critical thinking, persuasive communication skills and the ability to challenge and question.

Your degree culminates with you writing original history, researching a topic of personal academic interest in your dissertation. Studying at Cardiff means engaging in historical and public debate - and becoming a historian in your own right.

Graduating with a range of academic and practical skills – including teamworking, leadership and communication – the confidence to use them and the ability to see the big picture, you’ll be valued by employers and ideally placed to progress into a range of careers. Taught by leading experts in the field, our BA History gives you the skills, training, and knowledge to succeed.

Distinctive Features of the Programme

Tailored to you

Develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the regions, periods and themes which interest you, whilst placing this knowledge into the bigger picture.

Global Relevance

Take modules with a wide global coverage and chronological depth which speak to world issues from social inequality and community belonging to the environment and inclusion.

‘Read’ and ‘do’ history

Learn from world-renowned historians and immerse yourself in projects as you ‘read’ and ‘do’ history and gain skills to communicate your ideas to diverse audiences.

Placement opportunities

Gain skills, confidence and connections through a variety of opportunities to engage with communities and other partners.

A Year Abroad

Expand your horizons; gain experience with study abroad options

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of History BA (Hons) at Cardiff University

30% Caring personal services
20% Welfare and housing associate professionals
10% Media Professionals
10% Managers, directors and senior officials
10% Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations
5% Customer service occupations
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Elementary occupations
5% Managers, directors and senior officials

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • MBA

Cardiff University has many scholarships on offer to our prospective students. Please see our website at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding/scholarships for further information.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study History, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees History BA (Hons)

Ireland £9000 year 1
Channel Islands £9000 year 1
EU £20450 year 1
England UK £9000 year 1
Northern Ireland £9000 year 1
Scotland £9000 year 1
Wales £9000 year 1
International £20450 year 1
EU £22700 year 1
International £22700 year 1

Additional fee information

Students from the UK and Islands:

Fees stated are for the 2024/25 academic year. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.

Fees for entry in subsequent years are subject to increase and will be confirmed by the end of October in the year preceding your start date of your programme.

Tuition fees cover all reasonable costs required for you to complete to the degree programme stated. Please note that you may choose to participate in study trips, associated placements or purchase equipment while studying on your degree programme which will be at your own cost. Tuition fees do not include living costs such as accommodation, subsistence or travel.

Students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland:

Students from the rest of the world (international):

Fees for entry in subsequent years are subject to increase and will be confirmed by the end of October in the year preceding your start date of your programme.

Tuition fees cover all reasonable costs required for you to complete the degree programme stated. Please note that you may choose to participate in study trips, associated placements or purchase equipment while studying on your degree programme which will be at your own cost. Tuition fees do not include living costs such as accommodation, subsistence or travel.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of Cardiff University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Cardiff University in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #1 
    • #35 
    History
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #3 
    • #56 
    History
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]
    • #1 
    • #83 
    History
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]
    • #1 
    • #151 
    History
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]

See all 33 university rankings of Cardiff University

About Cardiff University

Established in 1883, Cardiff University is located in the urban setting of the city of Cardiff, Wales. Some of the university’s most obvious advantages include world-leading research, a knowledgeable and proactive career services office, and the central location. Cardiff is a vibrant, modern city with a young and diverse population known for accepting people from all walks of life.

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Where is this programme taught

Main Site - Cardiff
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