BA Modern History and Politics (Including Year Abroad)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Essex

Program Overview

This degree explores how historical events have shaped today’s political systems, ideologies, and global issues. It is ideal for students who enjoy debating current affairs, analysing power structures, and understanding how modern world history—from revolutions to wars—continues to influence politics today.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
You begin with core foundations in both disciplines. Modules such as Introduction to Politics, Foundations of Modern World History, and Becoming a Historian help you build core skills in political theory, historical interpretation, academic writing, and research analysis. You also explore modern revolutions in society, science, and governance.

Year 2:
You deepen your knowledge of political institutions and historical developments since the 18th century. Modules may include History Works: Doing History in Public, The World Economy in Historical Perspective, and political subjects like Comparative Political Analysis or International Relations. This year prepares you to evaluate political power, ideology, economic change, and nation-building.

Year Abroad (Year 3):
You spend a year studying at one of Essex’s partner universities in Europe, North America, Asia, or Australia. This year develops cultural understanding, independence, language skills, and global political awareness—without delaying your degree progression.

Final Year (Year 4):
You specialise in topics of your choice and complete an independent dissertation in either history or politics. Optional modules include themes such as Revolutionary China, The Cold War, Fascism and European Dictatorships, Global Empire, or Political Ideas in Context. This year emphasises critical thinking, archival research, policy interpretation, and advanced essay writing.

Focus Areas

Modern political thought; revolutions and ideologies; nation-building and war; international relations; global economic change; historical research methods; political systems and governance.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to critically analyse historical and political events, conduct independent research using primary and secondary sources, construct persuasive written arguments, and apply political/historical theories to real-world issues.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This course is not professionally accredited, but aligns with careers in:

Civil service and government policy
Journalism, diplomacy, international organisations (UN, NGOs)
Heritage, archives, museums, research, and teaching
Public relations, political consultancy, and campaigning

Reputation & Employability Rankings

Top 25 in the UK for Politics (Guardian University Guide)
Top 30 for History Research Quality (REF 2021)
91% of graduates from related Essex degrees are in employment or further study within 15 months (DiscoverUni).
Politics graduates report average earnings of £26,000+ after 15 months.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This course isn’t just about essays and lectures — Essex makes sure you actually experience history and politics in action. From working with real historical sources to studying in another country for a whole year, you’ll be encouraged to think, research and act like a historian and political analyst, not just a student. You’ll have access to archives, digital research platforms, expert-led workshops, and opportunities to get involved with museums, political debates and public history projects.

And because this is the Year Abroad version, you don’t just learn about the world — you go out and live in it.

Here’s how your learning becomes real at Essex:

Year Abroad (3rd Year): You’ll spend a full academic year studying at one of Essex’s partner universities in Europe, North America, Asia or Australia — a great way to experience politics and history from another country’s perspective while earning credit toward your degree.
Work with Real Historical Material: You can volunteer or apply for funded placements in local museums, archives and heritage centres — working with original documents, artefacts, and public history projects rather than just textbooks.
Seminar-Style Classes Instead of Just Lectures: Small group discussions, debates and source analysis sessions help you think like a researcher, collaborate with others, and communicate your ideas confidently.
Independent Research & Dissertation: In your final year, you’ll research a topic you’re passionate about — using primary sources, political texts, journals and guidance from academic supervisors.
Language Learning at No Extra Cost: Through the Languages for All scheme, you can learn languages like Spanish, French, Arabic or Mandarin — super valuable if you’re going abroad or considering careers in diplomacy, journalism or international organisations.
Digital and Library Resources: Essex’s Albert Sloman Library gives you access to online archives, government papers, historical newspapers, JSTOR, parliamentary records and more — ideal for assignments and dissertations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

This degree doesn’t just help you understand the past — it prepares you to influence the future. Essex graduates from History and Politics go into careers where research, critical thinking, debate, and global awareness really matter. Whether you want to work in government, diplomacy, media, education, or the heritage sector, this course gives you the skills and confidence to stand out.

Typical career paths include:

Policy Adviser or Civil Service Officer
Political or Parliamentary Researcher
Journalist, Media Correspondent, or PR Executive
Museum/Archive Curator or Heritage Consultant
NGO, International Development, or Diplomatic Services

And the outcomes speak for themselves:

91% of Essex History and Politics graduates are in work or further study within 15 months (DiscoverUni).
Politics graduates earn an average salary of £26,000–£31,000 soon after graduation.
You’ll get full support from the Careers & Employability Service (CareerHub) — including CV workshops, mock interviews, internship placements, employer networking events, and one-to-one guidance.
Your year abroad adds something extra to your CV — global experience, independence, intercultural skills, and possibly a second language.
Departments regularly host career talks from alumni and professionals working in Parliament, think-tanks, media, heritage, and international organisations.

Further Academic Progression:

If you decide to continue your studies after this degree, you’ll have strong academic foundations and real flexibility. You could go on to:

Master’s degrees such as International Relations, Global and Comparative History, Public Policy, Human Rights, Political Psychology, or Diplomacy.
Law conversion courses or Civil Service Fast Stream if you're considering legal or government careers.
PGCE or teacher training if you want to teach History, Politics, or Social Sciences.
PhD research in History or Politics, especially if you enjoyed your dissertation and want to go into academia, research, or museum/archival work.

Your dissertation and year abroad can be used as a launchpad — especially if you specialise in a specific country, political issue, or historical period.