Understanding the past is essential to making sense of the modern world.
Our course equips you with this knowledge and with a range of intellectual and personal skills. You’ll gain an awareness of how different societies across the world have changed over time, by studying areas such as Scottish, British, European, American and African history. You’ll engage with different types of history: political, social, cultural, gender, computer and environmental.
Entrance requirements
Year 1
Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.
Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.
Year 2
A-levels or Advanced Highers ABB to include History.
Scottish HND in Social Sciences to include 4 History units with Bs in graded units.
General entrance requirements apply.
Other information
If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.
Required subjects
English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
Related degrees
Scottish History
Funding
Modes of study
Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).
February entry also available.
Course Director
Dr Alastair Mann
Alternative routes
History welcomes Year 2 entrants either from HND or through A Levels and Advanced Highers (see criteria above). Such students are often especially motivated and committed to their studies, even though the induction semester provides a better opportunity to meet fellow students and to grow accustomed to the new surroundings.
Find out more
http://www.stir.ac.uk/arts-humanities
Degree course
Students take History plus two other subjects in Year 1.
Semesters 1 – 3
You will take the following modules:
- People, Politics and Empire: Britain 1780 – 1914 or Kingship and Nationhood, c1100 – 1513
- Empire to Europe: Britain 1914 – 1990 or Renaissance to Revolution: Scotland 1513 – 1689
- Reputations in History
Semesters 4 – 8
In each of these semesters you will normally choose one, two or three modules from a varied list of options, which include:
- Survey courses in 19th – and 20th-century African, American, British, European, Irish and Scottish history
- Courses in historical sub-disciplines, including black history, environmental history, gender history, history and computing, political thought and revolution studies
- Specialist courses in particular countries and periods, such as South Africa, the modern Balkans and early modern Europe (1500 to 1700)
In addition, Honours History students and those taking a Combined Honours degree with Education must take the Semester 6 module Approaches and Methods.
In Semesters 7 and 8 Honours students take a ‘special subject’ involving the use of printed documentary collections and other source material. Single Honours History students also write a supervised dissertation of between 14,000 and 16,000 words on a chosen research topic.
The range of special subjects includes, for example:
- The American Revolution
- Race, Class and Gender in Early America
- Revolutionary Europe, 1776-1804
- The Modern History of the Balkans, 1821-1995
- Apartheid in South Africa, 1948-94
- Immigration to Britain, 1800-1971
- Britain in the Age of the American and French Revolutions
- Bruce and Stewart Scotland, 1329-1406
- The ‘Golden Age’ of the Scottish Parliament:1600 – 1707
- Environment, Landscape and Improvement in the North Atlantic World c.1500 to c.1900
Module titles
The following is the provisional History course for 2013-14, which is subject to change for administrative and research reasons:
Semester 1
- People, Politics and Empire: Britain 1780-1914
- Kingship and Nationhood. Scotland. c.1100-1513
Semester 2
- Empire to Europe: Britain 1914-1990
- Renaissance to Revolution: Scotland 1513-1689
Semester 3
Semester 4
- Modern European History 1789-1918
- American History, 1787-890
- Social History of the Victorian City: Computer Approaches
- War, Famine, Disease and Death, c.1250-c.1650
- Scotland in the Age of Wallace and Bruce
Semester 5
- Modern European History, 1918-2001
- The United States since 1890
- Gender in Britain, 1750-1930
- The Stewart Kings of Scotland, 1424-1513
- Nineteenth Century Scotland, c.1800-1914
Semester 6
- Evolution of the British Welfare State, c.1890-1990
- Freedom, Violence and Repression: the People in Revolution
- Environment, Politics and People in Colonial Africa
- For God, King and Parliament: the Birth of Modern Europe, 1500-1700
- Approaches and Methods in History
Semester 7 and 8 (special subjects)
- The Modern History of the Balkans, 1821-1995
- Apartheid in South Africa, 1948-94
- Revolutionary Europe, 1776-1804
- Race, Class and Gender in Early America
- Government and Society in Scotland 1800-1918
- The ‘golden age’ of the Scottish Parliament: Parliament and Politics in Scotland, 1660-1707
Teaching and assessment
Each semester’s work is assessed separately. Assessment is based on a combination of essays, examinations and oral performance. The Honours classification is based on grades obtained in Semesters 5 – 8.
Reading list
Recommended reading suggestions by module are listed and can be viewed in the History Handbook which is available via the History and Politics website at www.historyandpolitics.stir.ac.uk/
Example timetable
The timetable below is a typical example, but your own timetable may be different.
Combined degrees
History can be studied with: | Course | UCAS Code |
| English Studies | QV31 |
| English Studies/Professional Education | QXHC |
| Film and Media | PV31 |
| French | RV11 |
| Journalism Studies | VP15 |
| Law | MV11 |
| Philosophy | VV15 |
| Politics | LV21 |
| Politics/Professional Education | LX21 |
| Education | VX11 |
| Religion | VV16 |
| Religion/Professional Education | VXC1 |
| Sociology | LV31 |
| Sociology/Professional Education | VXD1 |
| Spanish | RV41 |
| Sports Studies | VC16 |
(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)
Related degrees
History at Stirling offers two unique aspects not found in other universities. Firstly, in Semester 3 a core module Reputations in History is offered and which must be taken by all History and Scottish History students. This provides a fascinating insight into historical characters and their reputations, from William Wallace to Nelson Mandela, taking in male and female figures from world history over a thousand years.
Secondly, at advanced level and in the final year we offer special subjects that last the whole academic year (Semesters 7 and 8). These allow students to benefit from the enthusiasm and interest, and indeed the most recent research, of staff committed to their field of study. This level of in-depth study runs in parallel with the dissertation which must be taken by all History and Scottish History Honours degree students. At Stirling the final year is quite an experience.
Study abroad
You may apply to study in the US under the University’s exchange scheme with a wide range of American universities and colleges. Students doing a Combined Honours degree with French or Spanish are normally required to study in the appropriate country for one semester.
Rating
Teaching provision in History has been assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and achieved the highest possible rating of 'commendable' in all aspects. In addition, at the last RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) whereby research quality is audited by external auditors, History was commended for the international quality of its research.
Strengths
History retains strong connections with a range of historical and heritage industries and former students who have achieved employment in such areas. Contacts are also strong with SATH, the Scottish Association of Teachers of History. In addition, History offers a popular and much valued Master’s of Research course which is often taken by students seeking to develop historical skills at postgraduate level or who wish a stepping-stone to a research degree (PhD).
Academic Strengths
History has a range of academic expertise nurtured by a strong research ethos sustained by the staff. In particular, late medieval, early modern, environmental impact, computer applications, gender, race relations, revolution studies and political and social change are taught within the wide geographical spread of Europe, America, Africa, Britain and Scotland.
Our students
I feel extremely lucky for having had the opportunity to study at the University of Stirling. The History and Politics department is a welcoming, supportive and exciting place to study. During my Honours degree I was given the opportunity to study a wide range of areas and over the course of four years studied Scottish, British, African and American history.
The variety of courses available to undergraduate students in the department is fantastic; particularly valuable is the range of specialist subjects offered to undergraduate students in their final year. This year of specialist study provides the chance to discover a niche upon which to potentially build an academic career and provides the opportunity to refine the skills learnt during the earlier years of the degree. I enjoyed my time as an undergraduate at Stirling so much that I stayed on at the University to complete my MRes.
Lesley Hislop BA (Hons) History, graduated 2010.
There are many reasons why I think History became the fundamental component of my academic career. Firstly, History at Stirling is one of the finest departments in the UK both in terms of teaching and subject choice. The staff are fantastic and deserve recognition for their hard work, enthusiasm, and most of all encouragement; always friendly and approachable it’s easy to find help with any problem, be it academic or otherwise.
Secondly the range of subjects taught - from early medieval Scotland to twentieth century Africa and modern Europe - reflects a wide range of expertise among staff who are at the forefront of research in their respective fields. Students have a genuine abundance of choice in both core and optional units. All in all, the department is friendly, diverse and engaging, vibrant and dynamic it has been a pleasure to have studied here.
Diane McClurg BA (Hons) History, graduated 2006.
Our staff
Dr Alastair Mann, the course Director, is an early modern Scottish historian with interests in political history, the Scottish Parliament and the press form 1500 to the present. He is himself a graduate of Stirling and returned to teach here in 2005. As well as Course Director he has had a range of administrative positions in the department including Learning and Teaching Officer and Registration Officer.
Dr Phia Steyn, the Admissions Officer, is an environmental and African historian, with interests in political, business and environmental history of the developing world, including South America as well as Africa. She is a graduate of University of the Free State of Bloemfontein, South Africa, and has been teaching at Stirling since 2003.
Success stories
Taking Single Honours in History at Stirling was a rewarding experience. There are a wide range of courses on offer, covering not just Scottish, British and European History, but American and African History. The first three semesters give you a good grounding in the basics of history at university level as well as teaching you skills which are useful in other subjects; such as the art of essay writing, research and oral presentation skills. The advanced courses give the student the chance to find a historical niche for themselves. I discovered American History, and I have since gone on to complete an MRes (part-time) and PhD (full-time) in that subject area, also at Stirling. I have even begun to do some teaching myself working as a teaching assistant and it is good to give back something to my own University.
Stuart Salmon BA (Hons) History, graduated 2000; History, PhD graduated 2010.
Career opportunities
A History degree has always been valued by employers because of the intellectual challenges it offers and the particular skills it fosters. These include the ability to argue a persuasive case, a capacity for independent work and effective time management, an ability to organise and solve problems, and a capacity to communicate clearly in writing and in speech. History graduates from Stirling, therefore, have been successful in obtaining a wide variety of posts, some in history-related areas such as teaching and work in museums and libraries; others in fields such as administration, commerce, the civil service, banking and insurance.
