University of Portsmouth
History BA (Hons)
University of Portsmouth

Course modalities offered

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Overall student satisfaction
91 /100
20 total respondents
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 £23000 £22500 £28000
25-75 percentile range £19500 - £27500 £19000 - £28500 £22500 - £34000


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

Overview

Explore the past to understand the now. Dive into moments of challenge, change and everyday life across six centuries and four continents.

Uncover the ways in which diverse groups of people were shaped by, and themselves shaped, the world they lived in. In doing so, you can reflect on your own values and better understand how history is about the present, and the future.

The city of Portsmouth has its own rich stories to tell, connecting to local, national and global history. Past and present meet on every corner - from its Tudor Castle to the millennial Spinnaker Tower. It's the ideal place to create your own immersive and relevant BA (Hons) History degree.

Course highlights

  • Study in a city that’s always been a gateway to the wider world, with options to explore the past of Britain, Europe, Africa, Asia and North America
  • Get closer to history thanks to close links with Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, and the Portsmouth Museum and Records Service
  • Tailor your studies to times and themes you find most fascinating - from the British Civil Wars to the Opium War, from Victorian cities to modern Germany, from persecution and migration to anti-racism in the 20th century
  • Learn in a place where historians collaborate with linguists, sociologists and political scientists to answer deep and complex questions
  • Develop demonstrable skills in research, analysis and argument that are highly valued by all kinds of employers
  • Apply your new expertise in a CV-boosting work placement at a museum, heritage site, charity or other organisation of interest

Optional pathways

You can follow optional Sociology or American Studies pathways through this degree, or include History as a pathway in our English Literature or International Relations courses. It'll lead to one of these awards at the end of the course:

  • BA (Hons) History with American Studies
  • BA (Hons) History with Sociology

Careers and opportunities

Studying history will give you transferable skills in critical thinking, collaboration, research, analysis and argument, all of which are highly valued by many kinds of employers.

What can you do with a History degree?

As a qualified historian, you can move forward to further study and research or put your degree to work in areas such as:

  • archives and information management
  • corporate governance
  • creative industries
  • heritage
  • law
  • primary and secondary schools
  • higher education providers
  • publishing and media
  • trade unions

Graduate roles and destinations

Roles our graduates have taken on include:

  • administrator for social enterprise
  • barrister
  • case worker for MP
  • development editor in publishing
  • exhibitions project manager
  • founder of a digital solutions company
  • researcher and writer for TV
  • teacher
  • workplace financial education consultant

Portsmouth alumni have worked with organisations including:

  • central and local government
  • higher education providers
  • National Trust
  • National Maritime Museum
    • NHS
  • the probation service
  • Royal Navy

Work experience and career planning

To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course. We can help you identify placements, internships and voluntary roles that will complement your studies and build your portfolio.

We'll also be available to help, advise and support you for up to 5 years as you advance in your career.

This course allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option. This means you can earn credits towards your degree for work, volunteer and research placements that you do alongside your study.

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 University of Portsmouth

25% Elementary occupations
15% Information Technology Professionals
10% Process, plant and machine operatives
10% Finance Professionals
10% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Sales occupations
5% Customer service occupations
5% Artistic, literary and media occupations
5% Elementary occupations
5% Information Technology Professionals

You’ll be assessed through a variety of formats. The emphasis is on giving you a range of ways to demonstrate what you’ve learned and how your thinking has developed. Your history degree with us is weighted more towards coursework than traditional exams. Assessment types include: **written essays** **written reports** **blogs** **podcasts** **individual presentations** **group presentations** **dissertation** You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so that you can continue to develop and improve The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows: **Year 1 students:** 8% by written exams, 10% by practical exams and 82% by coursework **Year 2 students:** 22% by practical exams and 78% by coursework **Year 3 students:** 24% by practical exams and 76% by coursework

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Minimum Required UCAS Tariff

104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent, to include a relevant subject.

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A Level at the A Level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.

If Mathematics is not taken beyond GCSE, a grade 7, (or A) in GCSE Mathematics, or Core Mathematics grade B is essential

Access to HE Diploma

Including one in a relevant subject/science (80 UCAS tariff points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Including one in a relevant subject/science (90 UCAS tariff points)

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: DD plus A Level English at grade B. Preferred:- Performing Arts, Art & Design, Digital Film and Video Production,Business IT, Applied Science,Sport, Sport and Exercise Science

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: D plus AB in two A Levels to include English. Preferred:- Performing Arts, Art & Design, Digital Film and Video Production,Business IT, Applied Science,Sport, Sport and Exercise Science

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

PTE Academic 54

An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.

TOEFL (iBT) 79

79 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.

Cambridge English Advanced

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.

Cambridge English Proficiency

Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.

Trinity ISE

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

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)

EU £9250 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
International £18100 year 1

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship

Placement Year and Year abroad:

UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £925 |

EU – £925 (including Transition Scholarship)|

International (Non-EU) – £2,000

Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice.

Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation

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)
  • year 2
  • year 3

University Rankings

Positions of University of Portsmouth in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Portsmouth in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #35 
    • #45 
    History
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #44 
    • #52 
    History
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of University of Portsmouth

About University of Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth is located on the United Kingdom’s only island city, Portsmouth. This public university, which was previously known as Portsmouth Polytechnic, forms part of the University Alliance, an organisation whose aim is to promote growth and innovation in the UK by putting an emphasis on links with business and industry.

List of 234 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Portsmouth - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Portsmouth

undergraduates:
18085
postgraduates:
5005
Total:
23090
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Where is this programme taught

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