To apply you’ll need to:
Have further questions? How to apply | Entry requirements
Finances for studying abroad on exchange
Are you interested in the evolution of political ideas and institutions, and the history behind the world's major powers?
Taught by experts from the Schools of History and Politics and International Relations, our joint honours degree in History and Politics examines the close links between these two disciplines.
This degree is designed to help you understand the modern world and uncover the history of political thought. You'll get an excellent grounding in both history and politics - covering a variety of historical periods, regions and ideas, as well as political theory, ideas and ideologies, and government and institutions.
You can choose from a range of option modules in both subjects, giving you the opportunity to explore specialist areas as diverse as colonisation in African history, the Russian Tsars and Bolsheviks, Britain in the Second World War, building the American Nation, comparative European politics, and the twenty-first century War on Terror.
You can complete your History and Politics degree in three or four years.
Choose from:
Remaining choices from:
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Compulsory
Choose one from
Choose from over 30 modules, such as
Special subjects may include
Choose from over 20 modules, such as
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our History and Politics BA with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).
Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Queen Mary and what the progression requirements are.
The variety of modules offered was the main reason I chose Queen Mary. Within my degree I want to fully enjoy the modules, to be engaged to the highest level. I think the more you enjoy something the better you will do.
You'll receive approximately two hours of weekly contact time per module, typically comprising a one-hour lecture followed by a one-hour seminar. Formal teaching is supplemented by one-to-one discussions in staff office hours and feedback sessions.
For every hour spent in class, you'll complete a further two to three hours of independent study. This time is spent reading, preparing for study sessions, working on projects and revising for exams.
Assessment is designed around a series of programme-level essays. These are based around your teaching and learning in modules, along with additional support outside modules. You choose which modules to write essays on, and deadlines are spaced so you can receive feedback on each essay before writing the next one.
In addition, module-level assessment can involve a wide range of assessment activities, including source analyses, book reviews, blog posts, learning logs, and presentations.
In your final year you’ll work on a dissertation worth 25% of your final year mark, researching a specialised area of history that particularly interests you.
The Schools offer excellent resources to aid your studies, including:
Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.
For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq
Our standard contextual offer: BBC at A-Level.
Our enhanced contextual offer: BCC at A-Level.
More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page.
Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Our History and Politics graduates are highly employable, with invaluable political knowledge and research, analytical and communication skills that open doors to a huge variety of roles. They move into domestic and international careers in areas such as government, policy research, education, journalism, publishing, media and business.
Recent History and Politics graduates have been hired by:
While studying with the School of History and the School of Politics and International Relations you'll have access to bespoke careers support every step of your degree, including one-to-one academic guidance.
The annual ‘History Futures’ alumni event will give you the opportunity to meet with former students, and discover how their studies have helped them progress their career.
Our careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
History and Politics - BA (Hons)
History and Politics with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
The School of History is one of the top 100 in the World according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021. Our staff are at the forefront of research in their respective fields - world-leading scholars engaged in innovative teaching and bringing history to the wider public on TV and radio.
We’re a growing School invested in high-quality teaching, and we pride ourselves on our friendly and informal approach. Our London location is home to the nation’s Parliament, political think tanks and economic powerhouses, we host high-profile speakers, and we offer students regular contact with Westminster, Whitehall and the third sector.
Our staff are active researchers with diverse interests, from British politics to the Middle East, which is reflected in our teaching and the breadth of our programmes.