BA Hons History with Education

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Ulster University

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) History with Education blends a deep dive into history — its societies, events and their impact — with education studies that introduce you to teaching, learning theory and inclusive educational practice. It’s ideal if you love understanding the past and also want to keep open pathways into teaching, education, social policy or heritage work.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

You start with core history skills through a module like Making History: Skills for Historians, where you learn how to analyse sources, research, read critically and write with clarity. Optional history modules let you explore broad topics — for example, modern Britain & Ireland (1800‑1945), international history (1914‑2020), or American history themes — helping you understand how different periods and regions connect. On the Education side, you begin with modules such as Contemporary Educational Issues and Facilitating an Effective Learning Environment, offering foundational ideas about teaching, learning environments and how education shapes individuals and societies.

Year 2

You deepen your historical understanding with more advanced or specialised modules — which might include areas like medicine and society, imperial Spain, or key global conflicts depending on your choices — broadening your perspective on global history. On the Education side, you may study modules about using technology in learning or explore how education interacts with social change; together these help you understand how history and education connect in the real world.

Year 3 (Final Year)

In the final year you'll often get to choose optional history modules that match your interests — for example modern political history, social history, or conflict studies. You’ll also have the opportunity to carry out a substantial independent research project, building skills in research design, critical thinking and extended writing — a strong preparation for postgraduate work or professional research. On the Education side, modules cover inclusive practices and multicultural education, preparing you to understand diverse learning needs and cultural contexts, which is valuable if you want to move into teaching or education-related careers.

Focus Areas

History (global, British/Irish, social, political, cultural, medical history), source analysis and historical methods, historical research and presentation; Education (learning theory, inclusive education, teaching environments, multicultural education, educational policy and practice).

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will have strong analytical, research and writing skills; ability to understand complex social, political and cultural change through history; and grounding in educational theory and practice. You’ll be prepared to critically interpret the past, communicate effectively, and engage with education, heritage, community or social sectors — or continue into teacher training or postgraduate study.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Ulster’s History with Education degree meets the national benchmarks for honours-level history and education-related studies. The mix of history and education equips you for roles requiring broad knowledge, strong communication, research, and awareness of educational and social contexts.

Reputation (Quality & Student Satisfaction)

History at Ulster is ranked among the top in Northern Ireland and is highlighted for high student satisfaction and quality teaching. The programme is taught by experienced historians, offering interactive workshops, coursework-based assessment (no exams), and a modern, student-friendly learning style. Graduates are sought after by employers across media, heritage, education, public service and more.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Ulster, the History with Education programme isn’t just about memorising dates — you learn to think critically, communicate clearly, research deeply, and understand how people and societies have evolved. The degree combines serious historical study with training in education — giving you tools to interpret the past and to engage with learning and teaching contexts.

From early on, the course uses an interactive, workshop‑based teaching style (rather than relying solely on traditional lectures). This means you’ll be creating podcasts and digital presentations, designing websites or organising conferences, and producing research portfolios — all as part of your assessments. That’s a real‑world skillset: writing, presenting, analysing, and communicating to different audiences.

Because Education is included as part of your degree, if you’re interested in teaching (or working in education-related fields later), this degree gives you early exposure to educational theory, learning environments, and pedagogical thinking — a good foundation if you plan to pursue a teaching qualification after graduation.

What you’ll study & how your learning works

When you join the History with Education degree at Ulster, here’s what to expect in terms of academic content and learning style:

Wide-ranging historical topics: From early modern to contemporary history, covering British & Irish history, global/international history, areas like social, political, medical, gender history — depending on your choices.
Skills-based and creative assessments: Rather than traditional end-of-term exams, many modules are assessed by coursework: research portfolios, digital media (podcasts/blogs), website design, presentations, or even conference-style outputs.
Education modules alongside history: As part of the “with Education” combination, you study modules such as Contemporary Educational Issues and Facilitating an Effective Learning Environment, which explore how teaching and learning works, what makes good learning environments, and educational theory/practice.
Flexibility & optional specialisation: In later years you’ll be able to choose from a wide array of optional history modules — for example social history, political history, medical or gender history, or international relations history.
Optional placements or study‑abroad / professional practice: The course offers opportunities for a placement year or study abroad— a chance to gain work experience or international exposure.

What this degree prepares you for — and why it’s valuable

A History with Education degree gives you a versatile skill set: you're trained to research, write, analyse, and communicate — and, with the education component, you’re already familiar with learning theory, teaching environments, and education‑related thinking. That makes you suited for a range of paths:

Roles in education: teaching (after additional teacher-training), educational support, tutoring, heritage or museum education, community outreach, or youth services.
Careers that value strong analytical, writing, research, and communication skills: media, journalism, content creation, research, civil service, public policy, heritage sector, cultural institutions, archives.
Opportunities in public service, administration, research — because history graduates tend to have well-honed critical thinking, independent working, and project‑management skills.
Further study: postgraduate degrees in history, education, public history, heritage management, social policy, or related disciplines.

Because Ulster’s History course is well regarded — strong academic reputation, high student satisfaction — employers know that graduates come with a solid foundation of thinking, writing, and research.

What makes Ulster University’s History with Education degree stand out

The teaching style is more interactive and student‑friendly than many history courses: workshop-based, creative assessments, mixed-media outputs — giving you modern skills beyond traditional essays and exams.
Flexibility to tailor your historical interests — wide range of optional modules across different periods and geographies, including medical history, social and political history, global/international history, and more.
The combination of history + education gives you a dual perspective: deep understanding of the past, plus awareness of teaching/learning and how knowledge is passed forward — valuable for roles in education, heritage, youth work, or public engagement.
Opportunities for real-world/work-based experience: optional placement or study-abroad gives you both academic credentials and practical exposure.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this programme develop expertise in historical research, critical analysis, and education, preparing them for careers in teaching, research, heritage, and education-focused roles. Typical job roles include:

History Teacher or Classroom Educator
Museum, Archive, or Heritage Officer
Educational Content Developer or Learning Coordinator
Research Assistant or Historian for schools, universities, or cultural institutions

This combination of history and education equips graduates to communicate complex ideas effectively and engage learners in historical and social contexts.

What supports your employability:

Practical and Academic Learning: Modules in historical research, historiography, and education prepare students for teaching and other professional applications.
Work Placement Opportunities: Students can gain experience in schools, museums, archives, or community education programmes, developing practical skills and professional networks.
University Facilities: Access to libraries, archives, and learning spaces supports applied historical research and teaching preparation.
Industry Partnerships: Collaborations with local schools, museums, and heritage organisations offer placements, mentoring, and career development.
Graduate Outcomes: Graduates from similar programmes report strong employability, with many securing roles in teaching, research, heritage, or educational organisations within 15 months of graduation.
Long-Term Qualification Value: Combining history with education gives graduates versatility, making them suitable for roles in teaching, heritage management, research, or educational programme development.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this BA (Hons) History with Education, students can:

Pursue postgraduate study in history, education, heritage management, or research
Undertake professional teacher training, such as a PGCE, to qualify as a history teacher
Explore leadership or curriculum development roles in schools, museums, archives, or cultural institutions
Engage in research, consultancy, or policy roles in education, heritage, or public history sectors