COURSE OVERVIEW
*Subject to revalidation
- Develop an informed awareness of the contemporary world and a clear understanding of the historical roots of its ideas and problems, as well as its social, economic and political structures
- Our accessible and committed staff teach and research across a wide range of topics, from medieval to modern periods and across all the continents
- Develop a range of transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of rewarding careers
- Visit and engage with historic and political sites and communities, both nationally and internationally; recent fields trips have included Washington DC and Auschwitz
Understanding the past is crucial to facing the political challenges of the future. Our History and Politics degree challenges you to interpret the history of societies and political cultures critically and imaginatively. Studying these two complementary subjects together will not only help you understand how the world works but why it works that way.
This versatile programme examines compelling global issues such as the world economy, religions, environmentalism and international relations, covering Britain, Western Europe, the USA, Eastern Europe and East Asia.
As well gaining a firm academic grounding in the workings of history and politics, you select modules from a stimulating range of global concerns and historic periods. The course culminates with a written project, bringing together the skills you acquire over three years of study.
In Year 1, you assess a variety of historical periods and cultures around the world, including Asia, Europe and America. Politics topics include international relations, political philosophies and political economy. You also examine contemporary issues in global studies such as America’s role as a hegemonic power and current and future challenges to its pre-eminence.
You choose from a range of optional modules in Year 2, focusing on reading original documents and giving oral presentations. Optional History modules focus on global issues in the modern world based around cultures, societies or themes.
Study in Year 3 is more in-depth – you complete a supervised dissertation and study Research Methods and Debates in Globalisation. In History, you can explore topics such as genocide and the Holocaust. The Politics modules deepen study of contemporary issues, debates and controversies such as Political Islam in the Middle East, and environmental concerns.
Our tutors pride themselves on the quality of their teaching and their commitment to developing your academic potential as an individual.
History and Politics students garner a range of transferable skills which can be applied to a variety of rewarding careers. These skills include: effective research methods, clarity of expression, critical thinking and the capacity for argument and debate.
Our graduates pursue careers in heritage and museums, politics, journalism, nongovernment organisations (NGOs), charities, interest groups and lobbying, consultancy, the civil and foreign service and teaching.
Some of our graduates go on to postgraduate study at Winchester or elsewhere; there is a clear pathway from graduation to our existing MAs in Managing Contemporary Global Issues and in History.
Find out more about the Department for Applied Social Science, Forensics and Politics
Careers
Graduates pursue careers working in museums and heritage sites and seek employment working in civil and foreign service or local, regional and national Government, charities, lobbyists and think- tanks.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021, HESA.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours degrees with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
*Subject to revalidation
This course is subject to revalidation. 'Revalidation' is the process by which the University refreshes its existing provision. Revalidation assesses the quality and standards of the programme to ensure it continues to provide a distinct, high quality academic experience for students, enabling them to acquire the necessary academic knowledge, understanding, general and subject-specific skills required to pursue a graduate level career.
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Suitable for applicants from:
UK, EU, World
Work placements
You have the opportunity to undertake professional practice placements during the programme for three months, six months or one year. Three or six month placements can be taken as part of credit bearing modules, allowing you to undertake a work placement and still graduate within three years.
Study abroad
Our BA (Hons) History and Politics course provides an opportunity for you to study abroad in the United States of America (USA) or Europe via Erasmus.
For more information see our Study Abroad section.
Learning and teaching
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc., you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 192 hours
- Independent learning: 1008 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 204 hours
- Independent learning: 996 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 168 hours
- Independent learning: 1032 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Location
Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.
Teaching hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
- 46% coursework
- 50% written exams
- 4% practical exams
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
- 89% coursework
- 6% written exams
- 5% practical exams
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
- 66% coursework
- 34% written exams
- 0% practical exams
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Further information
This programme is currently being validated. This is an internal process of ensuring our programmes offer students the best learning experience and can result in changes to the content of the course.
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
2023 Entry: 104-120 UCAS tariff points
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Merit in a T Level
In addition to the above, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
- GCSEs in Mathematics and English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
Course enquiries and applications
Telephone: +44 (0) 1962 827234
International students
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at International@winchester.ac.uk or calling +44 (0)1962 827023
Visit us
Explore our campus and find out more about studying at Winchester by coming to one of our Open Days.
Year 1 (Level 4)
Modules Credits
| Introduction to Politics and Global Studies 1 | 15 | |
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This module – the themes of which are continued and developed into the second semester of Level 4– introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts in Politics and Global Studies, and aims to develop an initial understanding of the methodologies and practices of the discipline of Politics where it comes into contact with related subject areas such as international relations, economics, the environment and religion. This is achieved via a pattern of work presented via lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminars. |
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| Introduction to Politics and Global Studies 2 | 15 | |
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This module – continued from the first semester of Year 1 – aims to develop the understanding of Politics given in Introduction to Politics and Global Studies I. It introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts via a more detailed examination of specific examples relevant to the study of politics in a global context. Topics covered will be on contemporary areas of international relations and global politics, such as the rise of China and India, environmental and energy security challenges, and debates on the decline of US hegemony. Many of these topics will have greater coverage in single modules offered at Levels 5 and 6. This learning is achieved via a pattern of work presented via lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminars. |
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| Reading and Writing History | 15 | |
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This module introduces History as a discipline that now treats the past dimension of everything that interests society today. History makes sense of the past by analysing surviving evidence. Such evidence is either secondary, which requires in-depth critical reading, or primary or original, which demands critical contextualisation and analysis All such evidence has uses to the historian, not necessarily obvious, and all contains bias, which historians are trained to overcome. Students encounter such evidence and problems through concrete examples (5 week case-studies), learn to apply first principles to its use, and undertake timed documentary extracts (gobbets). Students are made aware of the skills necessary for the practice of history, their relevance to future employment, and the careers available to historians. Students are instructed in class, through directed tasks and immediate feedback sessions on the conventions (e.g. bibliographical), skills (e.g. research) and expectations (e.g. essay writing) fundamental to the practice of History. Following feedback, these tasks are corrected and collected in a journal that is assessed. |
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| Introduction to Global Political Economy | 15 | |
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This module introduces students to Global Political Economy, its scope, history and debates. The module aims to help students develop a firm starting point in the study of critical understanding in the numerous theoretical approaches and practical issues. Students will examine the wide spectrum of institutions, actors and processes in the Global Political Economy and assess the inter-related links to key issues and events. The module begins with an analysis of the emergence of industrial political economy in the fifteenth century through the industrial revolution to the post-1945 world order up to contemporary issues in global political economy including globalisation, gender and diversity. The intention throughout the module is to demonstrate how theories in global political economy can be applied to politics and global studies. |
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| Creating and Consuming History | 15 | |
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Creative and Consuming History is a compulsory module, which follows on explicitly from Reading and Writing History in Semester 1. Whereas that module introduced students to the basic practical skills required for studying history at University; this module asks to students to engage with the process of accessing the past both through History as an academic discipline and alternatively in public history. Through the study of a variety of routes to the past students will begin to engage with the methodological problems and nuances in studying History at degree level. |
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| Year 1 Optional Modules | ||
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Optional Credits
| Introduction to Politics and Global Studies 1 | 15 | |
|
This module – the themes of which are continued and developed into the second semester of Level 4– introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts in Politics and Global Studies, and aims to develop an initial understanding of the methodologies and practices of the discipline of Politics where it comes into contact with related subject areas such as international relations, economics, the environment and religion. This is achieved via a pattern of work presented via lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminars. |
||
| Introduction to Politics and Global Studies 2 | 15 | |
|
This module – continued from the first semester of Year 1 – aims to develop the understanding of Politics given in Introduction to Politics and Global Studies I. It introduces significant themes, theoretical perspectives and concepts via a more detailed examination of specific examples relevant to the study of politics in a global context. Topics covered will be on contemporary areas of international relations and global politics, such as the rise of China and India, environmental and energy security challenges, and debates on the decline of US hegemony. Many of these topics will have greater coverage in single modules offered at Levels 5 and 6. This learning is achieved via a pattern of work presented via lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminars. |
||
| Reading and Writing History | 15 | |
|
This module introduces History as a discipline that now treats the past dimension of everything that interests society today. History makes sense of the past by analysing surviving evidence. Such evidence is either secondary, which requires in-depth critical reading, or primary or original, which demands critical contextualisation and analysis All such evidence has uses to the historian, not necessarily obvious, and all contains bias, which historians are trained to overcome. Students encounter such evidence and problems through concrete examples (5 week case-studies), learn to apply first principles to its use, and undertake timed documentary extracts (gobbets). Students are made aware of the skills necessary for the practice of history, their relevance to future employment, and the careers available to historians. Students are instructed in class, through directed tasks and immediate feedback sessions on the conventions (e.g. bibliographical), skills (e.g. research) and expectations (e.g. essay writing) fundamental to the practice of History. Following feedback, these tasks are corrected and collected in a journal that is assessed. |
||
| Introduction to Global Political Economy | 15 | |
|
This module introduces students to Global Political Economy, its scope, history and debates. The module aims to help students develop a firm starting point in the study of critical understanding in the numerous theoretical approaches and practical issues. Students will examine the wide spectrum of institutions, actors and processes in the Global Political Economy and assess the inter-related links to key issues and events. The module begins with an analysis of the emergence of industrial political economy in the fifteenth century through the industrial revolution to the post-1945 world order up to contemporary issues in global political economy including globalisation, gender and diversity. The intention throughout the module is to demonstrate how theories in global political economy can be applied to politics and global studies. |
||
| Creating and Consuming History | 15 | |
|
Creative and Consuming History is a compulsory module, which follows on explicitly from Reading and Writing History in Semester 1. Whereas that module introduced students to the basic practical skills required for studying history at University; this module asks to students to engage with the process of accessing the past both through History as an academic discipline and alternatively in public history. Through the study of a variety of routes to the past students will begin to engage with the methodological problems and nuances in studying History at degree level. |
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| Year 1 Optional Modules | ||
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Year 2 (Level 5)
Modules Credits
| US Foreign Policy: Institutions and Concepts | 15 | |
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The foreign policy of the United States has had far reaching impact and global ramifications. The contemporary position of the US as the “world’s only superpower”, and her dominance in terms of world trade, military capacity, and cultural output, means that the foreign policy decisions of the US government are hugely consequential and worthy of study. This module will seek to explain how and why these decisions are made by introducing the key foreign policy concepts and ideological positions present in the US polity, as well as charting the institutions and offices under whose authority it falls to make them. Expanding on this, an analysis will be made of extra-governmental institutions, such as the media and its impact on policy. Students will gain from the module an understanding of the processes involved in formulating America’s foreign policy, the extent of its impact in the arena of international relations, and the objectives and motivations that drive it. |
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| Past Historians and Current Practice | 15 | |
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This module principally examines the ways in which British historians have worked from the early medieval period to c.2000. It investigates the influences which shaped their approaches (including, e.g., the work of foreign scholars such as Leopold von Ranke and the historians of the French Annales School). It also investigates theories of history – e.g. Marxist ideas. It emphasizes the expansion of historical interests and the methodologies which have permitted fresh areas of study in the last thirty years and looks at the current practice of history. |
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| Independent Study Module | 15 | |
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The independent study module gives students an opportunity to do research of a critical nature, using both primary and secondary sources. The exact nature of the project will be negotiated with a tutor, with the outcome being an extended essay. Students will develop their own bibliography after initial guidance from the tutor and then move on to pursue research on their own. There will be a minimum of four and a maximum of six supervisory tutorials between the student and tutor. Whilst content of the study can be negotiated, it is expected that students will engage in historiographical debate and show an awareness of primary material, although original primary research is not expected at this level. Students will be barred from using the same topic for a Dissertation. |
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| Optional modules | ||
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Year 3 (Level 6)
Modules Credits
| Dissertation in History | 30 | |
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The Dissertation (Extended Independent Study) is an 8,000 -10,000 thesis on a subject of a student’s choice. It makes an original contribution to historical knowledge and understanding. It demonstrates an advanced capacity to work as a historian and to employ the conventions of a historian. Students must produce by due deadlines a proposal acceptable to internal scrutineers, evidence of substantial progress by the end of the first module as part of the assessment for the Research Methods module, and a record of supervision completed by the supervisor with the Dissertation. |
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| Research Methods | 15 | |
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This module is taught through small seminar groups only. In these groups, students will be able to explore the nature of historical research and historical debate through reflection on their own Final Year Project and the sharing of best practice with other students. It will allow a more supportive learning environment whilst ensuring a more active engagement with individual research. |
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| Debates in Globalisation | 15 | |
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The term globalisation is often recognised as 'Americanisation' due to America's economic and cultural dominance in the world order. This module examines this view, providing a critical analysis of its legitimacy as a 'global' trend by looking at the winners and losers of globalisation and examining contingent issues of global poverty and Third world development. The cultural aspect to globalisation will also be examined in the module, again involving aspects of the so-called Americanisation of global culture. Exploring these issues allows for a greater understanding of globalisation in theory and then in practice. Both advocates and critics of globalisation will be introduced throughout the module so a critical understanding of these issues can be realised. |
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| Year 3 Optional Modules | ||
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Optional Credits
| Dissertation in History | 30 | |
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The Dissertation (Extended Independent Study) is an 8,000 -10,000 thesis on a subject of a student’s choice. It makes an original contribution to historical knowledge and understanding. It demonstrates an advanced capacity to work as a historian and to employ the conventions of a historian. Students must produce by due deadlines a proposal acceptable to internal scrutineers, evidence of substantial progress by the end of the first module as part of the assessment for the Research Methods module, and a record of supervision completed by the supervisor with the Dissertation. |
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| Research Methods | 15 | |
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This module is taught through small seminar groups only. In these groups, students will be able to explore the nature of historical research and historical debate through reflection on their own Final Year Project and the sharing of best practice with other students. It will allow a more supportive learning environment whilst ensuring a more active engagement with individual research. |
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| Debates in Globalisation | 15 | |
|
The term globalisation is often recognised as 'Americanisation' due to America's economic and cultural dominance in the world order. This module examines this view, providing a critical analysis of its legitimacy as a 'global' trend by looking at the winners and losers of globalisation and examining contingent issues of global poverty and Third world development. The cultural aspect to globalisation will also be examined in the module, again involving aspects of the so-called Americanisation of global culture. Exploring these issues allows for a greater understanding of globalisation in theory and then in practice. Both advocates and critics of globalisation will be introduced throughout the module so a critical understanding of these issues can be realised. |
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| Year 3 Optional Modules | ||
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Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing, for full-time students entering the programme in Year 1. Optional modules are listed where applicable. Please note the University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. For further information please refer to the terms and conditions at www.winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions.
The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed above.
Progression from one level of the programme to the next is subject to meeting the University’s academic regulations.
2023 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £14,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £14,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £14,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £44,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,385 | £1,440 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,135 | £45,540 |
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2023, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don't have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year. If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £122.50 and a 15 credit module is £1,837.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year. To find out whether this course offers a sandwich year, please contact the programme leader for further information.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
Optional
Core texts
Multiple copies of core text are held within the library and e-books are identified where possible, however some students prefer to purchase their own copies. Core texts can be bought second hand, or as ebook which can often reduce the cost. Indicative cost is £150 per academic year.
Printing and Binding
The University is pleased to offer our students a printing allowance of £5 each academic year. This will print around 125 A4 (black and white) pages. If students wish to print more, printer credit can be topped up by the student. The University and Student Union are champions of sustainability and we ask all our students to consider the environmental impact before printing.
Field trips
Students will have the option to attend a week-long History field trip in Year 2. Costs will vary depending on location, however indicative cost based on previous trips, overseas trips have cost between £300 and £700.
Travel
Students working on dissertations in Year 3 as full-time students may incur costs (mainly travel) of visiting archives, dependent upon the specific nature of the dissertation and availability of online resources for a specific subject. This would typically involve either travel to a local archive (e.g. Southampton, Portsmouth or further afield if the student chooses to study a locality away from Winchester) or a national archive, usually in London (TNA, British Library, Women's Library, etc.). Cost varies depending on the individual student's research project.
Placement and volunteering
Both the History Work Placement and Volunteering Placement consist of approximately 12 visits and students are required to cover the cost of travel to their placement. Both opportunities are optional modules. Cost varies depending on the individual student's research project.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
Key course details
- UCAS code
- VL22
- Duration
- 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time
- Typical offer
- 104-120 points
- Location
- On campus, Winchester
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