Overview
Preparing for your future by understanding the past.
Summary
History at Ulster will stimulate your intellectual curiosity and challenge you to think critically about the world around you. You will develop a wide range of written, verbal, and analytical skills through the study of the historical processes that have shaped modern society. You will explore topics such as Film and the Vietnam Conflict, Witchcraft and Magic, the Russian Revolution, United States’ Foreign Policy and many more.
We are the highest ranked History course in Northern Ireland and amongst the highest ranked in the UK for student satisfaction meaning you will study with leading historians who are nationally recognised for the quality of their teaching.
We present History in unique and exciting ways. You will learn mainly in interactive workshops rather than in lectures and seminars. You will create podcasts and digital presentations, design websites, organise conferences and produce research portfolios.
Our recent graduates are in high demand from employers who recognise the fundamental skills of writing and presentation, research and time management, critical thinking and independence, that our History degree provides. If you have a passion for knowledge, are a critical thinker and want to better understand the past and its influence on the present and the future then this course is for you.
If you are interested in teaching as a career you may decide to add Education to your degree ‘mix’ at undergraduate level before applying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education after you have completed your degree. Each Education module usually involves a two hour lecture plus a one hour seminar each week. In addition, you will have the opportunity for undertaking directed independent learning, which will enhance your potential for self-motivated study.
We’d love to hear from you!
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
- Course specific information
- Fees and Finance
- Admissions
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
About this course
About
Our History course gives you the freedom to choose the topics that interest you most. We teach early modern, modern and contemporary histories and provide a broad range of optional modules. You can study the histories of Britain and Ireland, the United States, Russia and the Soviet Union, the Middle East, and many more. In your final year, you can design your own research project We have expertise in medical history, gender history and social and political history.
Associate awards
Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS
Attendance
3 years (or 4 years if you take the option of a year abroad or a placement)
- You will take 6 modules per year (3 per semester)
- You will have approximately 3-4 hours per week of class time for each module (9-12 hours per week in total)
- Typically, you will be in class 3 days per week
- The remainder of your time will be devoted to independent study (200 hours per module)
Start dates
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
- Our course is taught and assessed in a more innovative and student-friendly way than most History courses in the UK and Ireland.
- This is because our teaching takes place in 3-hour workshops as opposed to the traditional lecture/seminar model.
- The workshops allow for greater flexibility and include short lectures, small and large group work, source analysis, and much more.
- Each module takes place on a single day, allowing you to easily plan your work/life balance.
- You will not have to sit any examinations as all our modules are 100% coursework.
- Our assessments include preparing research portfolios, creating vlogs and blogs, website design, conference planning and presentation, producing your own ‘History Research Project’.
Attendance and Independent Study
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
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Attendance and Independent Study
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
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Assessment
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
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Calculation of the Final Award
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Academic profile
Our course is taught by leading historians. We publish books and articles, create digital content, and provide expert analysis for national and international media outlets. Some recent examples include:
- Dr Ian Miller was lead creator of the medical history digital learning resource, ‘Epidemic Belfast’: https://epidemic-belfast.com
- Dr Andrew Sneddon's research on the Islandmagee Witch Trials of 1711 has created a graphic novel, a video game, a play, exhibitions, and much more: https://w1711.org/
- Dr Leanne McCormick leads the ‘Bad Bridget’ project exploring the lives of criminal and deviant Irish women in North America which has featured on the BBC, RTE, The Guardian, The Irish Times and many more: https://badbridget.wordpress.com
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Modules
Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
Year one
Contemporary Educational Issues
Year: 1
Status: C
This module provides an orientation to central educational concepts and values with the intention of providing a critical foundation for later reflection and learning.
Facilitating An Effective Learning Environment
Year: 1
Status: C
This module encourages students to reflect on and assess a variety of approaches to teaching and learning in creating effective learning environments. The module offers a theoretical and practical approach to exploring the educational policies and practices that foster the key conditions for creating an effective learning environment.
Making History: Skills for Historians
Year: 1
Status: C
This module is designed to introduce students to the practical skills required for studying history at degree level and the methods and approaches that inform historical practice.
Defining America: Themes in American History, C17th -C20th
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
The module will illustrate and analyse the key themes and issues in American history from colonial times to the present day. Patterns and problems in the development of America will be discussed, and consideration of differing interpretations and source evaluations are implicit throughout the course. By the end of the module students should understand how the history of America has been shaped by the key events and debates that have taken place over the last four hundred years.
The Making of Modern Britain and Ireland, 1800-1945
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the histories of modern Britain and Ireland. It explores key themes such as migration; industrialisation and urbanisation; reform and revolution; class and identity; religion, nationalism and unionism; war and empire. It utilises the latest historical scholarship and key primary sources delivered by research-active scholars via interactive workshops. The module brings to light the key events and historical processes which have shaped the Britain and Ireland of today.
The Ages of Extremes: International History 1914-2020
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module is designed principally for students studying History and provides an introduction to some of the main developments in world and international history from the First World War to the post-September 11th world.
Disenchanted Land? Culture and Society in Early Modern Europe
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module tackles the social and cultural realities of early modern Europeans from all social strata. The various issues studied include: urban development; social problems involved in rapid urbanization; daily lives, material culture, and dissimilar forms of social existence of the various heterogeneous groups that constituted early modern society; the complex interaction between elite and popular groups; and the attitude of urban society towards marginal and deviant groups.
Revolutionary Russia, 1894-1939
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module examines Revolutionary Russia from the last Romanov ruler through to the establishment of Stalinism in the USSR. Key historiographical debates will be examined and assessed. The political, economic, and social and cultural aspects of this period will be covered
Year two
Industrial Educational Placement
Year: 2
Status: C
The module offers students an industrial placement (usually in a school context) where they contribute to the development and delivery of the host intuition's project. Students develop their skills at communicating with both staff and learners, contribute to a learning exercise and where appropriate take a lead role in delivering learning to small groups. Students develop their reflective capabilities through a community of practice in the University's VLE. Presentational skills are also developed through the end of semester showcase event summarising the learning journey.
Employing History: Understanding the Past, Preparing for the Future
Year: 2
Status: C
This module combines theory, historical content, primary source analysis, and self-reflection to enable students to think effectively about the practice of history and the ways in which historical study can augment and enhance key transferrable and employability skills.
Learning and Teaching with Technology
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module will equip students with the skills and understanding to collaborate online with other students, focusing on the application of ICT in teaching and learning at macro and micro levels. They will be required to assess their own personal style of learning and discuss the implications for online learning. They will also develop their research and information seeking skills, as well as their written and communication skills, enabling them to present assessed work to an appropriate standard.
Physical Health and Wellbeing
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
The module will introduce students to an appropriate range of theory connected to physical health and well-being in the context of children and young people's education. Students will have the opportunity to explore issues through practical based workshops where the emphasis will be on applying theory to practice. Assessment will comprise of one written assignment and one individual presentation.
Exchange programme 1 - History Abroad
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
These modules provide an opportunity to undertake an extended period of study outside the UK and Republic of Ireland. They are required modules for all History students on an intercalary study abroad semester or year during second year. They are not open to non-study abroad students. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of the academic discipline of History whilst generating educational and cultural networks.
Politics and Society in early modern Britain and Ireland
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
The module tracks the emergence of an internationally powerful British nation state by examining key issues and events from c.1630-1730. It will explore governance in contested kingdoms and diverse societies, the rise of the fiscal-military state and parliamentary monarchy, religious confessionalism and religious pluralism. It will also examine the early modern family, the emergence of the middle class, social and economic improvement, and the Early Enlightenment.
War and Peace: the Ying and Yang of human history
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module is designed, primarily, for History students, and will introducing them to both side of the coin of human development: war and peace; promoting an understanding of the patterns in war and peace & advancement in the course of human history, with a particular focus on the post-1648 & post-1815 periods, but especially, post-World War One, post-World War Two and post-Cold War/post-9/11 history and systems.
Film and the Vietnam Conflict
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
The module explores the history, media, film and political culture in the context of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. The module explores major debates in the historiography of the era. Film representations of the war are subject to scrutiny for what they reveal about American society, and how they depict the changing perspectives of the "history" of the conflict. The module also follows the way in which the war developed and the changing attitudes it provoked at home and abroad.
The Myth and Reality of Imperial Spain, 1492-1700
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module examines the rise to power of the Spanish Empire in the sixteenth century, and its subsequent decline from the seventeenth century onwards. The following issues will be emphasized: Spain's Empire building; its image in the European political discourse; the military, economic, and social crises of the seventeenth century; the importance of honor and religion in all realms of society; and the cultural impact of Spain in the early modern world.
Death, Disease, and Medicine in Britain, 1800-1914
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module introduces students to key themes and topics on the history of death and illness in the long nineteenth century. Drawing from social, medical and Victorian history, students will explore themes such as murder in the Victorian city, ghosts, asylums, suicide, Victorian funerals and bodysnatching. Students will examine interdisciplinary sources including literature and art, as well as standard historical sources.
'Good Trouble': Struggle, Resistance and the African American Experience
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
Race remains one of the most contentious issues in United States society. It has had a profound impact on America's domestic political process and culture and the way in which the US is perceived by the rest of the world. This module seeks to provide insight and understanding into the questions raised by the African American struggle and race relations in America and the continuing problems faced by Black Americans. The module proceeds chronologically through Black history from slavery through to the present day. This module also assesses the cultural contribution of African Americans in the United States in the twentieth century, and explores the legacy of the slave experience. It is interdisciplinary in method and will examine such issues as rebellion and assimilation, black nationalism, family, gender, film and popular culture.
Sport and identity in post-partition Ireland
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to key themes within an emerging strand of Irish historiography, with a particular focus on sport and identity. It utilises those themes to engage students in both large and small-group teaching methods which provide a chance to test and further develop some of the key elements of the historians' skill-set.
Year three
Inclusive Educational Practices
Year: 3
Status: C
This module is about exploring inclusive education in a world that is ever increasing in diversity. It focuses on practical and theoretical knowledge in inclusive education settings. The module makes links between marginalised groups, society, education and culture. It explores theories about inclusive societies and education to promote understanding and respect. It explores pedagogies and approaches to supporting the teaching and learning of people in genuinely inclusive educational settings.
Multicultural education and language learning
Year: 3
Status: C
This module is about exploring learning and teaching in a world of increasing linguistic and cultural diversity. It focuses on practical and theoretical knowledge in multilingual and multicultural education settings. The module makes links between language, culture and identity; it explores theories about intercultural competence, multilingual learning processes and identifies and evaluates pedagogies and approaches to supporting the teaching and learning of people in multilingual and multicultural educational settings.
International Academic Studies - English
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module provides an opportunity to undertake an extended period of study outside the UK. It is a required module for all History students on an intercalary study abroad year between second (level 5) and final year (level 6). It is not open to non-study abroad students. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of the academic discipline whilst generating educational and cultural networks.
Industrial Placement - Diploma in Professional Practice (DPP)
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain structured and professional work experience, in a work-based learning environment, as part of their inter-calary programme of study. This experience allows students to develop, refine and reflect on their key personal and professional skills. The placement should significantly support the development of the student's employability skills, preparation for final year and enhance their employability journey.
Late Soviet Communism, 1953-1991
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module examines the attempts of the post-Stalin leadership to manage, reform, and improve the prosperity of Soviet domestic communism. The political, economic, and social and cultural policies of the three main general secretaries - Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and Gorbachev - will be examined and assessed critically.
United States Foreign Policy Since 1945
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module is designed principally for students studying History and will promote and in depth understanding of U.S. foreign policy post-1945, and its significance vis-à-vis the rest of the world. It seeks to examine the complex interaction between the United States and the wider world by looking at key events, issues and debates in U.S. Foreign Policy. The chronological approach will focus on the Cold War, Post-Cold War, and post-September 11th eras, analyzing the administrations of Presidents from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama.
Saints and Sinners: Women in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Ireland
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module will use the study of women in Irish society from 1850-2000 to consider the role of women in areas such as politics, religion, culture, work and sexuality and how their role and experiences changed over the period. It will allow students to gain an alternative historical perspective on the major political and societal changes of the period. Though the use of oral history students will gain a personal understanding of female experience in the past.
Imperial Retreat: The Decline and Fall of the European Overseas Empires
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module will examine the historical process since 1945 whereby European colonial powers either withdrew This module will examine the historical process since 1945 whereby European colonial powers either withdrew or were driven from formal occupation of their overseas possessions. The module will not only examine various interpretations of imperial disengagement but will also provide an in-depth study of the actual mechanics of European decolonisation for particular territories in South and South East Asia, Africa and the Pacific. It also aims to enhance student skills in evaluating interpretations put forward by historians through allowing them to make a detailed study of one particular colonial possession.
America in the Depression, 1929-1941
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This is an interdisciplinary study of one of the most significant events in the history of the United States since 1900, the Depression that began in 1929 and lasted until the USA entered the Second World War in 1941. This course will examine the turbulent years of the Great Depression and the New Deal. It will cover political, social, economic, and cultural aspects of the events and circumstances that led to the Depression, the election of FDR in 1933, and the formulation of the New Deal as national policy. It will then look at various aspects of New Deal policies and will assess the achievements and limitations of those policies.
The Post-War Body: Medicine and Society in Britain and America, c.1945-90
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module examines the dramatic changes in experiences of health and illness that occurred in the twentieth century. Focusing on Britain and America, it explores how our attitudes to matters such as sex, death, eating, disability and mental health were revolutionized in the twentieth century. The module also looks at ethical problems issues such as Cold War human experimentation. Students will engage with broader themes such as class, gender and race relations.
Witchcraft and magic in early modern Europe and Colonial New England, c.1550-1780
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
The early modern period in Europe saw around 40-50,000 people executed for the crime of witchcraft, and many more prosecuted, imprisoned or otherwise punished. This module will examine the many facets of the witchcraft experience in Europe and New England using a variety of contemporary sources: from artwork, to printed books and pamphlets, court records and private correspondence. It will examine patterns of witchcraft accusation and prosecution, the intellectual context of witchcraft beliefs, the connection between witchcraft and women, the decline in educated belief, and the continuation of popular notions and traditions. Early modern witchcraft will be located in its wider magical context by exploring both popular magic (cunning-folk, magical healers and fortune-tellers) and elite magic (astrology, alchemy and angelology). Developments in witchcraft and magic in the early modern period will also be linked to wider societal, cultural and religious changes..
The Northern Ireland Troubles
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module examines the origins, course and legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland using innovative learning and teaching methods that promote transferrable skills. Workshops cover the key events and issues of the conflict and its impacts on everyday life, while weekly case studies demonstrate the spatial aspects of issues like urban violence, segregation, and changes in society before, during and after the Troubles.
Year four
History Research Project
Year: 4
Status: C
This module is based on the preparation and completion of an extended piece of written work or digital composition which demonstrates a student's capacity to work independently and to apply the skills of planning, research, writing, analytical and critical thinking, and presentation which they have learned during their studies.
Standard entry conditions
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
A level
Grades CCC.
Applicants may satisfy the requirement for the final A level grade C by substituting a combination of alternative qualifications to the same standard as defined by the University.
Applied General Qualifications
*** To note that only qualifications defined as “Applied General” will be accepted for entry onto any undergraduate course at Ulster University.***
BTEC Awards
QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma (2012 Suite)
Award profile of DMM
RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma (2016 Suite)
Award profile of MMM
QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma(2012 Suite)
Award profile of Distinction Merit plus A Level Grade C or award profile of Distinction Merit plus A Level Grade C
RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (2016 Suite)
Award profile of Merit Merit plus A Level Grade C
QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma / OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Introductory Diploma (2012 Suite)
Award profile of Merit plus A Level Grades CC
RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Certificate (2016 Suite)
Award profile of Merit plus A Level Grades CC
Diploma, National Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma applicants may satisfy the requirement for an element of the offer grade profiles (equating to the final A-level grade stated in the standard 3A level offer profile - Grade C) by substituting a combination of alternative qualifications to the same standard as defined by the University.
Irish Leaving Certificate
96 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at higher level) to include English at H6 if studied at Higher level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
Preference may be given to candidates with a H4 at higher level in History.
Irish Leaving Certificate UCAS Equivalency
Tariff point chart
Scottish Highers
The Scottish Highers requirement for this course is grades
CCCCC
Applicants may satisfy the requirement for an element of the offer grade profiles (equating to the final A-level grade stated in the standard 3A level offer profile - Grade C) by substituting a combination of alternative qualifications to the same standard as defined by the University.
Preference may be given to candidates Grade C in History.
Scottish Advanced Highers
The Scottish Advanced Highers requirement for this course is grades;
DDD
Applicants may satisfy the requirement for an element of the offer grade profiles (equating to the final A-level grade stated in the standard 3A level offer profile - Grade C) by substituting a combination of alternative qualifications to the same standard as defined by the University.
Preference may be given to candidates with Grade D History.
International Baccalaureate
Overall International Baccalaureate profile is minimum 24 points (including 12 at higher level.
Access to Higher Education (HE)
Overall profile of 55% (120 credit Access Course) (NI Access course)
Overall profile of 45 credits at Merit (60 credit Access course) (GB Access course)
GCSE
For full-time study, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or above English Language.
Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication will be accepted as equivalent to GCSE English.
English Language Requirements
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Additional Entry Requirements
HND - Overall Merit with distinctions in 15 Level 5 credits for entry to Year 1.
HNC – Overall Merit with distinctions in 45 Level 4 credits for entry to Year 1.
You may also meet the course entry requirements with combinations of different qualifications to the same standard as recognised by the University (provided subject requirements as noted above are met).
Foundation Degree
An overall mark of 40% in Level 5 modules for Year 1 entry.
APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning)
The University will consider applications on the basis of experiential learning for those who do not hold the normal entry qualifications.
Transfer from degree level study at other institutions
Those applicants seeking entry with advanced standing, (eg. Transfer from another institution or year 2 entry) will be considered on an individual basis.
Exemptions and transferability
- You may be able to transfer from another institution should you satisfy our entry requirements.
- It is possible to transfer between our single honours History course and our History with combination courses at the end of your first year.
Careers & opportunities
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course are now working for:
- Education Authorities
- Police Service of Northern Ireland
- Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
- Ulster University
- The BBC
- The NI Assembly
- Santander
Job roles
With this degree you could become:
- Banking
- Civil Servant
- Librarian
- Retail Management
- Teacher
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- Trainee Accountant
Career options
- History at Ulster does not confine you to one career path. Our course develops talents which are transferrable across a variety of professions and industries.
- You will enhance your general knowledge and hone your writing and digital presentation skills, learn how to research and assess material, and present evidence-based, fact-checked arguments.
- You will develop excellent time management skills, learn how to think critically and reach logical conclusions. You will be able to work independently and as part of a team.
- These skills are valued by employers in all businesses and professions.
- Our recent graduates are working in media, education, civil service, retail, banking and finance, the heritage sector, and in law.
- Others have gone on to postgraduate study: some with our own Masters in History programme and others in law, journalism, conflict studies, teaching, and politics at numerous universities including King’s College, London; University College, London; University of Liverpool; University of Pennsylvania.
- We have a dedicated 'employability' module in year 2 which features workshops from employers, careers’ specialists, and former History graduates, and provides practical help on seeking and securing graduate employment.
Work placement / study abroad
- We have partnerships with universities throughout North America, Europe and Asia and you can choose to study abroad for one semester or for a year. Some of our current students have studied in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and many more. See: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/goglobal
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You can choose to take one-year placement (between years 2 and 3) with a range of professional employers or to develop your own business ideas. Some of our current students are on year-long placement with Mid Ulster District Council and the Students' Union.
- We provide full careers support, from CV preparation, to interview skills, and help with applications to all graduate internships, apprenticeships and full-time positions. You can continue to make use of our extensive careers support services for up to three years after you graduate. For more information: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/campus-life/careers
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·Our new optional module in year 2 'History in the Workplace: Work-based Learning' allows you to undertake short periods of workplace experience or complete ‘real-world’ tasks with professional employers.
Fees and funding
2025/26 Fees
Undergraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2025/26 fees will be announced in due course.
See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2024/25 entry.
Scholarships, awards and prizes
We offer prizes to award our highest achieving students across all three years of study. As examples,
- the ‘J.L. McCracken Prize in History’ recognises the best performance in first year;
- the ‘Jackie McKinney Memorial Prize’ awards the best overall performance in a combined History and English degree;
- and the ‘Honourable Irish Society’s History Prize’ awards the student with the best overall performance in final year.
- The recipients are presented with trophies and cash prizes at a special awards ceremony each year.
Additional mandatory costs
Education as a minor is a ‘regulated and/or care position’ within the meaning of the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order 2003 (POCVA) and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007. Depending on the modules you select you may have access to children and/or vulnerable adults and therefore you will be subject to a criminal history check costing approximately £33.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
Disclaimer
- We prepare our prospectus and online information about our courses with care and every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate. The printed version of the prospectus is, however, published at least a year before the courses begin. Information included in the prospectus may, therefore, change. This includes, but is not limited to changes to the terms, content, delivery, location, method of assessments or lengths of the courses described. Not all circumstances are foreseeable, but changes will normally be made for one of the following reasons:
- to meet external, professional, or accredited body requirements;
- to provide for exceptional circumstances due to reasons beyond our reasonable control;
- to improve or enhance your experience, or to adopt changes recommended in student feedback, with the aim of improving the student experience and or student outcomes; and/or
- to ensure appropriate academic standards are met, for example in response to external examiners feedback.
- If there are insufficient enrolments to make a course viable, it may be necessary for the University to withdraw a course. If you have received an offer for a course that we subsequently have to close, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss alternative courses. If you do not wish to study any alternative courses at the University, you may withdraw your application by informing us by email to admissions@ulster.ac.uk.
- Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses, campuses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
- We will include a durable PDF when we send you an offer letter which will highlight any changes made to our prospectus or online information about our courses. You should read this carefully and ensure you fully understand what you are agreeing to before accepting a place on one of our courses.
- The University will always try to deliver the course as described in the durable PDF you receive with your offer letter.
- At any point after an offer has been made, students will be notified of any course changes in writing (usually by email) as soon as reasonably practicable and we will take all reasonable steps to minimise their impact where possible. The University will, where possible and reasonably practicable, seek the express consent of the student in regard to any changes concerning material or pre-contract information.
- The University website will be updated to reflect the changed course information as soon as reasonably practicable.
- If, after due consideration, you decide that you no longer want to study your course or to study at the University, because of the changes, you may withdraw your application or terminate your contract with the University. In order to do so, you should notify us in writing by emailing admissions@ulster.ac.uk (and update UCAS if applicable). We will, on request, recommend alternative courses that you could study with us, or suggest a suitable course at an alternative higher education provider.
- Providing the University has complied with the requirements of all applicable consumer protection laws, the University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any modification, relocation or cancellation of any course, or part of a course, offered by the University. The University will give due and proper consideration to the effects thereof on individual students and taken the steps necessary to minimise the impact of such effects on those affected.
- The University is not liable for disruption to its provision of educational or other services caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control providing it takes all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to such services.
Testimonials
Robert Hunter (recent History graduate)
‘I am really enjoying studying History at Ulster. It offers lots of interesting modules that cover a wide variety of eras and cultures, taught by helpful expert staff. It has taught me transferable skills such as how to analyse, interpret and present information that will be valuable when it comes to seeking employment after graduation. History at Ulster has also given me access to amazing travel opportunities. In my second year, I was awarded a bursary to work in the “In Flanders Fields Museum” in Ypres, Belgium for three weeks where I helped to digitise the records of Irish soldiers who died during the First World War’.
Karolina Stonkute (recent History graduate)
‘During my three years on the History course at Ulster, I have never felt unsupported. The History lecturers have continuously provided me with help whether it was academic or personal. They strive to push their students to achieve grades that they believe best represents their skills. I would not have the experience nor the confidence to enter the next chapter of my career without them.’
Orin McIvor (recent History graduate)
‘At the end of my second year studying History at Ulster, I applied for the ‘study abroad’ programme and spent a year at university in America. I had an incredible time. It was truly a life changing experience that boosted my self-esteem and confidence. It was amazing being able to experience different cultures and to meet people that I would become friends with that I would have had no opportunity to do so before. I miss the experience a little more every day and still catch up with the friends I made. It was an experience that I feel anybody with even a hint of interest in studying abroad should go for it as they will not regret it’.
Jordan Bertuccelli (PhD student in History)
‘Studying History at Ulster was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The staff go above and beyond to ensure you have the best experience possible. The modules on offer are diverse and allow for a wide-reaching examination of historical concepts and themes, many of which I had never had the opportunity to study before going to university. While that may seem like a daunting prospect, it was actually a relief as finally it felt like I could study the history that I had an interest in and not just what a school textbook dictated. The freedom and range of topics meant that every day was a learning day and I can safely say that I enjoyed every minute of every module.
History at Ulster is about more than just gaining a degree. It encourages you to reach goals that you maybe thought were unattainable. The lecturers are exceptional, and they often provide opportunities for students to do something a little different, all they ask in return is that you challenge yourself to do them. I served as a course representative and always felt that staff valued my comments and suggestions. I was encouraged to come out of my shell and I have gained vital skills and confidence, including establishing a History advice centre in the university, organising conferences, and creating websites and exhibitions. I went on to complete a Masters and am now in my first year of a PhD. I never would have thought this possible when I first started studying here.
If you choose History at Ulster you will be embarking on a journey of exploration and discovery, one that is fulfilling, challenging and provides great rewards. Whether you are new to History, an avid historian or simply someone who has an interest in History, this is the course for you!’
Sorcha Belallia (recent part-time History graduate)
‘I am in my fifth year at Ulster and studying History here has been an enjoyable experience due to the wide variety of modules on offer. The part time study option has provided me a great degree of flexibility in completing the course. I still study the same modules and receive the same degree as the full-time students and I have access to the same facilities and opportunities. I am a course representative and I have been on the organising committee of the final-year conference.’
Sustainability at Ulster
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.