Enter OTP
If you’re curious about how today’s politics connects to the big events of the past, Newcastle’s Politics and History BA could be a perfect fit. The degree blends the study of political ideas, systems, and international affairs with deep exploration of revolutions, slavery, radical movements, religion, and public health—giving you the tools to understand both the past and the present.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1 – Building Foundations
Your first year gives you the essential grounding in both disciplines. You’ll take core modules like Evidence and Argument and Order and Disorder: The Shaping of the 21st Century, which teach you how to think like a historian and political analyst. Alongside these, you can choose from options such as UK Politics: Westminster and Beyond or Global Middle Ages, letting you explore different places, time periods, and big political debates.
Year 2 – Specialising and Expanding
By your second year, you’ll start shaping your degree around the themes that interest you most. Politics options could include Power and Inequality: How to Study Global Politics … and Change the World or Becoming a Political Researcher, while history options range from Colonial Worlds to Slavery in Greco-Roman Antiquity. You can also take part in a work placement or study abroad, gaining valuable real-world experience.
Year 3 – Independence and Expertise
Your final year is all about independence and applying what you’ve learned. Most students choose to write a dissertation or major research project in either history or politics. You’ll also have access to advanced modules such as Politics of Citizenship, Public Policy: Theories, Cases, Skills, or Public History in Practice. By the end, you’ll not only have strong academic knowledge but also transferable skills in research, critical thinking, and communication.
Focus Areas
Politics ⋅ International Relations ⋅ Comparative Politics ⋅ Global Justice ⋅ Public Policy ⋅ Revolutions ⋅ Slavery ⋅ Colonial & Post-colonial Histories ⋅ Religion ⋅ Radicalism ⋅ Public Health
Learning Outcomes
You’ll graduate with the ability to analyse political systems, interpret historical evidence, argue and debate with confidence, and conduct independent research. Just as importantly, you’ll learn to communicate complex ideas clearly—skills that employers value across many industries.
Professional Alignment
Although this course doesn’t carry a formal accreditation, it’s highly vocational in practice. Many students take part in placements, public history projects, or community engagement, which give you the chance to apply your learning directly to real-world settings. The skills you develop are ideal for careers in government, policy, law, media, NGOs, and beyond.
Reputation
Newcastle University is a member of the prestigious Russell Group, known for high-quality teaching and research. Politics and history graduates go on to careers across public service, international organisations, education, journalism, and business. The Careers Service and the ncl+ initiative make sure you’re supported every step of the way with employability skills, mentoring, and employer connections.
One of the best things about this degree is that you don’t just study politics and history in the classroom—you get to experience them in action. From exploring original archives to working in professional organisations, the course is designed to help you build practical skills and apply your knowledge in real settings. You’ll learn in modern, purpose-built spaces, while also taking advantage of Newcastle’s incredible historic collections and opportunities to go out into the world.
Here’s what this looks like in practice:
Professional Placements – You can spend 9–12 months on a placement between your second and third year, working with government departments, NGOs, policy organisations, museums, or cultural institutions.
Specialist Buildings – You’ll study across the beautiful Armstrong Building (home to History, Classics & Archaeology) and the newly refurbished Henry Daysh Building (for Politics, Geography & Sociology), both in the heart of campus.
Libraries & Archives – The Philip Robinson Library gives you access to hundreds of thousands of books and over 1.8 million e-resources, while the University’s Special Collections & Archives let you work directly with rare manuscripts and historical sources.
Museum Access – The on-campus Great North Museum: Hancock houses world-class artefacts, including Greek, Roman and Etruscan collections, which directly support your history studies.
Together, these experiences mean you’ll graduate with much more than a degree—you’ll leave with the confidence, research skills, and professional experience that employers are looking for.
A degree in Politics and History from Newcastle opens the door to an exciting mix of career options. Many graduates step straight into roles such as parliamentary researchers, policy analysts, or public affairs consultants, while others move into fields like media, law, finance, education, and consultancy. Whatever path you choose, the strong research, analytical and communication skills you’ll develop here will set you apart in the job market.
What makes Newcastle stand out is the support you’ll receive and the connections you can build:
Personalised career support: The Careers Service is with you from day one—offering CV workshops, interview coaching, and placements during your degree, plus free support for three years after graduation.
Practical experience: You can take a full placement year or career development modules for credit, giving you the chance to test out career paths and build a strong CV before you even graduate.
Strong networks: Our Politics staff work closely with organisations like the UK Parliament, HM Treasury, local government, and even international bodies such as NATO and the EU. These connections bring real-world insight into your learning and often lead to exciting opportunities.
Proven outcomes: 94% of Newcastle graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of leaving university, showing the value of your degree in the job market.
Long-term value: With a qualification that’s nationally recognised and built to UK academic standards, you’ll carry forward skills that are highly transferable across both public and private sectors.
Newcastle graduates have gone on to become MPs, fast-stream civil servants, political researchers in Westminster and Brussels, and consultants shaping public policy. Many also find fulfilling roles in media, marketing, education, business, and law.
Further Academic Progression:
If you’re considering further study, you’ll be in a great position to continue onto a master’s degree in areas like Politics, Public History, or International Relations. Some graduates choose research-focused MAs that lead naturally into a PhD, often supported by national research partnerships. Whether your goal is an academic career or senior-level policy work, Newcastle gives you the foundation to take that next step.
A-Level AAB including History. General Studies accepted.International Baccalaureate A minimum of 34 points including History at Higher Level grade 6.An 80% average in Standard XII is considered equivalent to AAB at A Level, accepted from CBSE, CISCE, NIOS, state boards, and autonomous schools.3 APs (5,5,4). SAT 650/650 or ACT 26 = B; SAT 700/700 or ACT 28 = A. No GPA required; AP Research/Seminar not accepted.IELTS 6.5 or equivalent with no less than 5.5 in each of the four elements of the test.TOEFL 90 overall (with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking, and 17 in writing)BarristerCivil Service fast streamerHealth service managerLocal government officerMarketing executiveNewspaper journalist
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