BA Hons History

at University of Stirling

In Semesters 1–3, students will take History, plus two other subjects. In Semesters 4 you will take the compulsory module HISU9X4, ‘Back to the Future: putting history and heritage to work’, one other History module from a list of options, and a module in another subject. In Semesters 5 and 6 you can study three History modules per semester from a varied list of topics, including: Environmental; Computing; Social; Political; African; European; American; British and Scottish. Examples of actual modules include, ‘Black People in Britain 1750-1950: racism, riot and reaction’ (taken in semester 5), and ‘Death and Destruction: a history of violence in modern Europe, 1890-1945’ (taken in semester 6).
 

In Semesters 7–8, you'll choose a special subject that involves the use of printed documentary collections and other source material. Students enjoy a choice of topics, including Revolutionary America, Apartheid in South Africa, or Immigration to Britain, 1800–1971.
 

To complete the course, students will also write a supervised dissertation of between 12,000 and 14,000 words on a research topic of your own choice supervised by a member of staff. 
 

Year 1, Semester 1

Compulsory module

Select 20 credits from HISU9A1, HISU9B1 list
 

• For the Lion: Scotland in the British Isles and Europe 1100-1542 (HISU9A1)    20 credits

• The Making of Modern Britain 1707 to 2000: An Introduction (HISU9B1)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 40 credits from list
 

• Accounting and Finance for Managers (ACCU7M1)    20 credits

• Our Blue Planet (AQUU1OP)    20 credits

• Introduction to Cell Biology (BIOU1CE)    20 credits

• Ecology: An Introduction (BIOU1IE)    20 credits

 

Year 1, Semester 2

Compulsory module

Select 20 credits from HISU9A2 OR HISU9C2 list
 

• Renaissance Reformation and Revolution: Scotland 1542-1715 (HISU9A2)    20 credits

• Concepts of History: Themes and Transformations (HISU9C2)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 40 credits from list
 

• Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2)    20 credits

• Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP)    20 credits

• Introduction to Physiology (BIOU2PH)    20 credits

• Making the Most of the World Wide Web (CSCU9F2)    20 credits

 

Year 2, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Reputations in History (HISU9S3)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 40 credits from any module (Arts programmes) list
 

• Accounting and Finance for Managers (ACCU7M1)    20 credits

• Our Blue Planet (AQUU1OP)    20 credits

• Introduction to Aquatic Environments (AQUU3AE)    20 credits

• Arts & Humanities - Career Launch Pad (ARTU9C3)    20 credits

 

Year 2, Semester 2

Compulsory module

Select 20 credits from Level 9 modules in History list
 

• Europe in the Long Nineteenth Century 1789 - 1914 (HISU9B4)    20 credits

• American History from 1787-1890 (HISU9D4)    20 credits

• Africa between c.1800 and 1939 (HISU9E4)    20 credits

• Scotland in the Age of Wallace and Bruce (HISU9Q4)    20 credits
   

Compulsory module

• Back to the Future: putting history and heritage to work (HISU9X4)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from any semester 4 exc History list
 

• Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2)    20 credits

• External Reporting (ACCU9A4)    20 credits

• Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP)    20 credits

• Science of Diving (AQUU4DS)    20 credits

 

Year 3, Semester 1

Option module

Select 20 credits from Menu 1 History options list
 

• Death, Disease and Disability:The State and the Hazardous Working Environment 1800-1914 (ARTU9H5)    20 credits

• Heritage Protection: Theory & Practice (ARTUHT5)    20 credits

• The Museum: History, Theory, Practice (ARTUMU5)    20 credits

• Interwar Europe: Communism, Fascism and Democracy (HISU9B5)    20 credits

 

Option module

Select 20 credits from Menu 2 History options list
 

• Death, Disease and Disability:The State and the Hazardous Working Environment 1800-1914 (ARTU9H5)    20 credits

• Heritage Protection: Theory & Practice (ARTUHT5)    20 credits

• The Museum: History, Theory, Practice (ARTUMU5)    20 credits

• Africa since 1939 (HISU9E5)    20 credits

 

Option module

Select 20 credits from Menu 3 History options list
 

• Death, Disease and Disability:The State and the Hazardous Working Environment 1800-1914 (ARTU9H5)    20 credits

• Heritage Protection: Theory & Practice (ARTUHT5)    20 credits

• The Museum: History, Theory, Practice (ARTUMU5)    20 credits

• Africa since 1939 (HISU9E5)    20 credits

 

Year 3, Semester 2

Option module

Select 20 credits from Menu 1 History options list
 

• Safer Spaces: Environment in 20th Century Britain (ARTU9H6)    20 credits

• From Glasgow to New York: The Modern History of the World’s Greatest Cities (HISU9B6)    20 credits

• Medieval Archaeology and Heritage (HISU9H5)    20 credits

• Islands in the Sea: the maritime world of the Atlantic archipelago (HISU9R6)    20 credits

 

Students intending to complete an honours degree must select HISU9X6 from one of the lists in spring. Only those on an approved variant programme arising from a period of study abroad may substitute HISU9X5.
 

Option module

Select 20 credits from Menu 2 History options list
 

• Safer Spaces: Environment in 20th Century Britain (ARTU9H6)    20 credits

• From Glasgow to New York: The Modern History of the World’s Greatest Cities (HISU9B6)    20 credits

• Medieval Archaeology and Heritage (HISU9H5)    20 credits

• Islands in the Sea: the maritime world of the Atlantic archipelago (HISU9R6)    20 credits

 

Option module

Select 20 credits from Menu 3 History options list
 

• Safer Spaces: Environment in 20th Century Britain (ARTU9H6)    20 credits

• From Glasgow to New York: The Modern History of the World’s Greatest Cities (HISU9B6)    20 credits

• Medieval Archaeology and Heritage (HISU9H5)    20 credits

• Islands in the Sea: the maritime world of the Atlantic archipelago (HISU9R6)    20 credits

 

Year 4, Semester 1

Dissertation

• History Dissertation (HISU9X7)    60 credits

• Continued in semester 8. The topic chosen for the dissertation must not overlap with the topic of the Special Subject.
   

Compulsory module

• History and Scottish History Special Subject (topics to be assigned by Faculty - students will be emailed separately) (HISU977)    60 credits

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
 

SQA Highers

• AABB - by the end of S5

• AABBB - by the end of S6
   

GCE A-levels

• BBB
   

IB Diploma

• 30 points
   

BTEC (Level 3)

• DDM
   

Widening access students

• Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

• Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
   

Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
 

SQA Advanced Highers

• ABB – one sitting
   

GCE A-levels

• ABB
   

IB Diploma

• 35 points
   

Essential subjects

• History 
  ​​​​​​​

Direct Entry to 1st Year:
 

Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 65% and above from the following state boards:
 

• CBSE

• ISC/ICSE

• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

• Students from other state boards will require Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75%.
   

  Advanced Entry to 2nd Year:
   

  Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75% and above from the following state boards:
   

• CBSE

• ISC/ICSE

• Advanced entry is possible on a range of courses. Student applications will be considered on a case by case basis.Please note that advanced entry options for students who have scored 35 in the International Baccalaureate or GCE A-Levels ABB in one sitting will also be considered on a case by case basis.
  
  Students who score 70% in English in Year 12 from the following exam boards won't be required to submit IELTS, if studied within the last 5 years of our course start date:
   

• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

• Students from other state boards will either need 80% in English if studied within 5 years of the course start date, or a UKVI SELT, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic, depending on the state board, taken within 2 years of our course start date.
  
  English language requirements
  
  If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
   

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill

• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill

• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill

• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill

• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

• IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

• Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills

• Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills

• Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills

• LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator -  Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill

• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)

Academic year:	2022/23	2023/24
Overseas students (non-EU)	£15,900	£16,400

Overseas students (non-EU)
 

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

A History degree from the University of Stirling opens up career opportunities in a range of sectors, from museums and heritage trusts to the civil service and worlds of marketing and journalism. Jobs directly related to a history degree include:
 

• Heritage manager
• Historic buildings inspector or conservation officer
• Museum education officer
• Museum or gallery curator
• Museum or gallery exhibitions officer
• Secondary school teacher
• Civil Service fast streamer
   

Jobs where a history degree could be useful include:
 

• Academic librarian
• Archaeologist
• Journalist
• Civil Service administrator
• Editorial assistant
• Politician's assistant
• Solicitor
• Primary School Teacher
• Barrister
• Marketing Executive
• Business Consultant
   

In the most recent National Student Survey (NSS 2021), History at Stirling scored an overall satisfaction rate of 85%, above the UK average of 81%. This reflects our desire to teach History in a way that stretches you, and fosters skills that employers value most. You’ll graduate with the ability to argue a persuasive case, work independently, manage your time and communicate clearly. Studying History also helps you to understand the complexities of the modern world and use critical analysis to solve problems – another skill that is always in demand with businesses and organisations of all kinds.