BA Modern and Contemporary History
Queen Mary University of London
About this course
BA (Hons) in Modern and Contemporary History, a history degree centred on nineteenth and twentieth-century developments in global society, politics, and culture. Core topics include Research Methods. The course concludes with an independent dissertation in the final year. The first year covers foundational historical approaches through compulsory modules such as Europe in a Global Context since 1800, History in Practice, Unravelling Britain: British History since 1801, and Global Encounters: Conquest and Culture in World History, alongside optional choices exploring the Middle Ages or science controversies. The second year centres on the History Research Project as a compulsory element, complemented by optional studies in topics such as human rights, French cultural history, or American history. The third year requires students to complete a History Research Dissertation. Optional modules in the final year allow specialisation in areas ranging from international politics and British social history to American fiction and the Soviet empire.
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
Modern and Contemporary History - 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 220 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 87%
- Left higher education: 6%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 7%
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: 16%
- Teaching Professionals: 11%
- Elementary occupations: 9%
- Administrative occupations: 9%
- Sales occupations: 9%
- 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 120 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 87%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Access course: 3%
- Foundation course: 1%
- A degree: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
- Other qualifications: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Europe in a Global Context since 1800
- History in Practice
- Unravelling Britain: British History since 1801
- Global Encounters: Conquest and Culture in World History
- Building the American Nation: 1756-1900
- Europe 1000-1500: The Middle Ages and their Legacy
- 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
- Controversies of Science and Technology in the Making of the Modern World
- History Research Project
- London on Film: Representing the City in American and British Cinema
- Human Rights in History: Origins, Foundations, Prospects
- Marie-Antoinette to Coco Chanel: A Cultural History of France from the Revolution to the Second World War
- The Soviet Union: Red Flag Unfurled, 1917-1991
- The American Century: The History of the United States, 1900-2000
- Kingdoms, Empires and Colonisation in African History
- Women and Gender in Medieval Islam
- Violence in Early Modern Europe
- Piracy and Civilisation: Antiquity to the Golden Age
- Life and Death on the Middle Sea: The Mediterranean, 1453-1803
- History Research Dissertation
- Internationalisms: People, Power and Politics Beyond Borders
- Making Thatcher's Britain: the Thatcher Revolution, 1975-1997
- Race, Ethnicity and Immigration: Britain from the 1905 Aliens Act to Brexit
- The 'Heart of Darkness'? Identity, Power, and Politics in the Congo c.1870-2010
- The Kennedy Years
- The War on Terror
- Colonial Fascism: A Global History from Blackshirt Invasion to Black Power Antifascism
- From Pinny to Hot Pants? Women in Britain, 1945-1970
- The Germans and the Jews since 1871
- The Supernatural in Modern Britain
- The Modern Caribbean: Migration, Radicalism and Revolt
- Gotham: the Making of New York City 1825-2001
- American Horror Stories: The Fiction and Film Worlds of Stephen King from Carrie to It
- The Bear Hug: Belarus and Ukraine in the Soviet Empire, 1917-1991
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Modern and Contemporary History 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 £3,000 more than the UK median for History.
What do graduates of BA Modern and Contemporary History 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 Modern and Contemporary History 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 Modern and Contemporary History at Queen Mary University of London?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 140 UCAS points.
Does BA Modern and Contemporary History 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 Modern and Contemporary History at Queen Mary University of London?
87% of students continued into their second year, and 6% left higher education.