History and Politics (Placement Year) BA Hons

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Lancaster University

Program Overview

This four-year degree is perfect for students who want to understand the world through both its past and its politics — and experience it firsthand. You’ll build a strong foundation in history and political analysis, then take your learning international with an exciting year abroad that expands your confidence, perspective and global outlook.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year is all about discovering how historians and political thinkers make sense of the world. Through modules like Controversy in History, Modern Britain and Parties, Populism and Protest, you’ll learn how to analyse evidence, understand modern political debates and start forming your own voice as a researcher and thinker.

Year 2

In your second year, the course takes you deeper into the ideas and systems that shape societies. You’ll explore Human and Environment, examine how power works in Theories of Power and the State, and build practical research skills in Understanding Political Research. This year helps you connect historical change with the political institutions we see today.

Year 3 – Study Abroad

Your third year is your chance to step outside your comfort zone and study at one of Lancaster’s partner universities around the world. You’ll experience a new academic culture, explore specialist modules offered by your host institution and gain the kind of international perspective that employers find incredibly valuable.

Year 4

In your final year, you bring everything together. You’ll work on a supervised dissertation in Politics or International Relations and choose advanced modules like Politics of Policy, Russia and China or Technology and Social Justice. This is where you shape your own path and show how far you’ve come academically and personally.

Focus Areas

Historical change | Global politics | Power & the state | Comparative international relations | Cross-cultural learning

Learning Outcomes

Global perspective, strong analytical and research skills, confident communication, the ability to connect past events to modern issues, and the independence gained through a structured international experience.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

There’s no single accreditation body for this degree, but the combination of politics + history + study abroad gives you a versatile, career-ready profile suited for roles in government, policy, journalism, NGOs, research and international organisations.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Lancaster is consistently ranked among the UK’s top universities, and History is ranked in the UK Top 20 in the Complete University Guide 2026 — giving you a degree backed by strong academic and employability recognition.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the biggest strengths of this degree is how much you learn by doing. Lancaster makes sure you’re not just studying political ideas or historical change in theory — you’re applying them in real settings, building confidence, and gaining experience that employers genuinely value. With hands-on workshops, political simulations, rich research resources and a full year working in a professional environment, you’ll grow both academically and personally throughout your time here.

To help you picture what this looks like in practice, here are the real experiential opportunities built into the programme:

Here’s how you’ll gain practical, real-world experience:

Live political simulations — including mock select committees, citizens’ assemblies and Prime Minister’s Questions-style debates where you practise decision-making, argumentation and analytical thinking in a dynamic environment.
Interactive workshops in data and source analysis — teaching you how to evaluate historical documents, interpret political evidence and build strong, research-backed arguments during seminars and group activities.
A full placement year (9–12 months) — where you work in a graduate-level role with organisations such as heritage institutions, NGOs, think-tanks or charities, giving you real professional experience before you even finish your degree.
Access to Lancaster’s world-class Library and digital research tools — including extensive archives, subject-specific collections and research support that help you thrive in your dissertation and project work.
Exposure to real policy and research environments — with academics connected to government bodies such as the UK Parliament, and opportunities to work on live projects with external partners.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Completing this degree with a full placement year gives you something incredibly valuable: academic depth and real-world experience. By the time you graduate, you’ll understand how historical change and political decision-making shape everyday life — and you’ll have professional experience to prove you can apply that knowledge in the workplace. Many graduates move into careers such as Policy Analyst, Research & Insights Officer, Public Affairs Executive, or Heritage and Museum Professional, taking on roles where they communicate insights, interpret evidence and influence meaningful discussions.

To help you get there, Lancaster surrounds you with strong career support and practical opportunities:

Here’s how Lancaster prepares you for life after graduation:

Dedicated placement support: You’ll receive one-to-one help from Lancaster’s Careers & Placements team — from finding the right employer to preparing for interviews and building a polished CV.
A full 9–12 month placement in a graduate-level role: This is your chance to gain real experience, build a professional network and often secure job offers even before finishing your degree.
Highly employable skill development: The university highlights that you’ll develop “highly employable skills in research and analysis,” especially in areas like public policy, political behaviour and comparative politics — skills that are relevant across so many fields.
Flexible, long-term career value: Even without a formal accreditation body, this degree’s combination of history, politics and professional experience prepares you for opportunities across government, charities, consultancy, journalism, heritage, and public service.
Strong graduate outcomes: The programme prepares you to handle complex political and historical challenges — making you someone who can analyse issues, communicate clearly and contribute to meaningful decision-making.

Further Academic Progression:

If you’re excited to keep studying, this degree sets you up beautifully for postgraduate options such as International Relations, Public Policy, Political Economy, Peace & Conflict Studies, Heritage Studies, or even a PhD. Your placement experience and research training give you a strong competitive edge for advanced study in the UK or abroad.