Modern History BA (Hons)

University of East Anglia

Overview

Study Modern History at UEA and witness the unfolding of events since the French Revolution of 1789. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the main developments of modern history, going right up to the era of Putin, Trump, and Brexit.

Your knowledge of modern history will give you a deeper critical insight into the problems of the present. You’ll graduate with a particular knowledge and understanding of the challenges of the modern world, especially in political and international contexts – as well as research, analytical, and communication skills which will prove invaluable in the workplace or if you choose to move on to postgraduate study.

“When I met the lecturers at UEA, I was really inspired by their enthusiasm for the subject.” Laura, History undergraduate.

About This Course

Imagine reading Queen Victoria’s diaries, analysing Nazi reports on the Olympic Games, or considering the social and political power of Cold War era pop music. This is just a glimpse of the sort of primary reading you might do as part of a Modern History degree at UEA.

In UEA’s School of History, you’ll be taught by cutting-edge specialists and discover their latest world-leading research. UEA is acknowledged to be at the forefront of History research in the UK, and in the Times Higher Education Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 Analysis, UEA was ranked 3rd overall in the UK for research quality in History. We have particular strengths in British, European, and global history, including the history of the Middle East, and Asia. Our research centres, dedicated to Slavic and East European history, and East Anglian studies, are a focus for interdisciplinary research activity, and have outstanding international reputations.

Whether you’re interested in all areas of modern history or looking forward to developing your own specialisms, in your second and third years you will be able to tailor your modern history course by choosing from a huge range of optional modules.

For example, you’ll have the chance to delve deeper into topics such as Japan in modern times, From Stalin to Putin, and Twentieth Century Sport History. And you’ll be able to choose a special subject from a range of options as varied as The Third Reich, The 1980s Beyond Thatcher, and Communism and Nationalism in Yugoslavia, all of which are led by academics currently researching in those areas.

You can then broaden your horizons even further with modules from other disciplines including languages and politics.

Whichever path you choose, you’ll develop a knowledge of the deep connections between history, memory, and the past and present. You will learn to explore and understand the forces that shape the modern world, be they political, economic, social or cultural. You’ll come to understand how knowledge is constructed and manipulated – how history is written – and you will engage with its interpretation and debate.

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