BA History and Politics
Queen Mary University of London
About this course
BA (Hons) in History and Politics is a politics and international relations and history degree focused on the intersection of historical developments and political systems. Core topics include Research Methods, Global & Comparative Perspective. Students complete a designated history research project in the second year and undertake a dissertation in either history or politics in the final year. The first year establishes foundational disciplinary understanding through History in Practice and Thinking Politically: Introduction to Concepts, Theories and Ideologies, with optional study available in areas such as Global Encounters: Conquest and Culture in World History and Political Analysis. The second year continues with the History Research Project alongside specialized options covering historical and political themes. The final year involves compulsory study in modules including Global History of Pandemics from Plague to Coronavirus and The War on Terror, alongside a compulsory dissertation component. Further specialization is possible through numerous optional modules addressing topics such as international politics, global health, and specific regional histories.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
History and Politics - BA (Hons): A-Level: Grades BBB at A-Level. IB: International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 30 points overall, including 5,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects. BTEC: See our detailed subject and grade requirements. Access HE: We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. This must include at least 6 Level 3 credits in History modules at Distinction. GCSE: Both GCSE English and Maths at grade C or 4 or an acceptable equivalent will be required. EPQ: Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification. For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq. Contextualised admissions: Our standard contextual offer: BCC at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: CCC 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.
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What students say
Based on about 137 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 94%
- Organisation and management: 87%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 127 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 11%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 19%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Sales occupations: 6%
- Natural and social science professionals: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 69%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 54%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 41%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 215 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 69%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- History in Practice
- Thinking Politically: Introduction to Concepts, Theories and Ideologies
- Unravelling Britain: British History since 1801
- Global Encounters: Conquest and Culture in World History
- Background to British Politics
- Building the American Nation 1756-1900
- Controversies of Science and Technology in the Making of the Modern World
- Europe 1000-1500: The Middle Ages and their legacy
- Europe in a Global Context since 1800
- Global Histories
- Reformation to Revolution: Europe and the World 1500-1800
- Screening History: Representing the Past in the Contemporary Historical Film
- The Foundations of Modern Thought: Introduction to Intellectual History
- Political Analysis
- Introduction to International Relations
- Politics in Action
- History Research Project
- Human Rights in History: Origins, Foundations, Prospects
- Modernity: Theories of State, Economy and Society
- Politics of International Law
- Race in the United States: Plantation Slavery to #BlackLivesMatter
- The American Century: The History of the United States, 1900-200
- US Politics
- War in World Politics
- Totalitarianism: Authoritarian Politics in History and Theory, 1920 to the present
- The Soviet Union: Red Flag Unfurled, 1917-1991
- Globalisation: Capitalists, Colonisers
- Crises in the Long Twentieth Century
- Either a History special subject and dissertation or the Dissertation in Politics / International Relations
- Global History of Pandemics from Plague to Coronavirus
- Making Thatcher's Britain: the Thatcher Revolution, 1975-1997
- The Kennedy Years
- The War on Terror
- Internationalisms: People, Power and Politics Beyond Borders
- From Pinny to Hot Pants? Women in Britain, 1945-1970
- Africa and International Politics
- American Politics, Carceral State and Social Movements
- Gender and Politics
- Global Politics of Health and Disease
- Latin American Politics
- Parliamentary Studies
- Political Violence and Liberal Modernity
- Politics of South Asia
- Populism: A Global Perspective
- Race and Racism in World Politics
- Cold War America, 1945-1975
- The Modern Caribbean: Migration, Radicalism and Revolt
- Inner City: Race, Representation and Renewal in Urban Britain, 1968 to the Present
- The Bear Hug: Belarus and Ukraine in the Soviet Empire, 1917-1991
- Counterrevolutions: Mass Politics and the Birth of the Modern Right, 1790-1870
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History and Politics at Queen Mary University of London earn?
The median salary is £27,500 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £33,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,500 and £40,500. The £33,500 median after five years is £500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA History and Politics at Queen Mary University of London do next?
81% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA History and Politics at Queen Mary University of London?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA History and Politics at Queen Mary University of London?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 161 UCAS points.
Does BA History and Politics at Queen Mary University of London include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA History and Politics at Queen Mary University of London?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.