BA (Hons) Contemporary History and Politics

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Salford

Program Overview

If you’re fascinated by how the modern world was shaped — from global conflicts and revolutions to intelligence, security and political power — this degree gives you the perfect space to explore those stories. It’s designed for curious, independent thinkers who want to understand the forces behind world events and build strong analytical skills that open doors to careers in government, policy, media, and international affairs.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Exploring the Foundations of Modern History & Politics

Your first year introduces you to the major events, ideas, and political structures that shaped the 19th to 21st centuries. You’ll study modules like International History I (featuring the rise of empires, world wars and shifting global power), International History II (covering the Cold War, decolonisation, and the rise of China and Japan), and International Politics II, where you explore how global actors make decisions. Alongside this, modules such as Introduction to Comparative Politics and The Cold War help you develop essential research and critical-thinking skills using real historical sources.

Year 2 – Deepening Your Political & Historical Insight

In your second year, you’ll start connecting deeper themes across politics and history. Modules like Theories of Power and Domination and Age of Revolution: International History 1775–1914 push you to analyse how societies transform and how political power is exercised. You’ll also strengthen your research skills through either Researching in Politics or Researching in History, while choosing exciting optional modules such as Political Communication: Media and Democracy, Intelligence, Security & Politics in Britain 1909–94, or Contemporary Information Warfare, depending on your interests.

Year 3 – Specialising and Creating Your Own Voice

Your final year is all about applying what you’ve learned and shaping your own academic identity. Your 12,000-word dissertation lets you explore a topic you’re passionate about with one-to-one academic support. You’ll also choose from a wide range of modules — including The First World War, Corruption in Contemporary Politics, Social Media and Politics, Threats to Democracy, and Global Environmental Politics — allowing you to specialise in themes that connect with your career goals.

Focus Areas

“Modern global history · international politics · intelligence and security · revolutions and power · research methods · political communication.”

Learning Outcomes

“You’ll graduate able to analyse complex political and historical events, carry out independent research, interpret archival and digital sources, and communicate ideas clearly in academic, policy or professional settings.”

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

While the programme is not tied to a specific external accreditation, it is built to develop real professional skills. You’ll have opportunities to gain work experience, develop analytical and communication expertise, and build the research abilities that employers in politics, government, heritage, and media look for.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

The University of Salford is ranked 3rd in the UK for Politics in the Guardian University Guide 2025 — a strong indication of teaching quality and student satisfaction.
Politics and history graduates from Salford earn around £26,000 within 15 months of finishing their degree, according to Discover Uni.
The School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology has strong links to political organisations, heritage bodies, and research communities, helping you connect your learning to the real world.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What makes this degree truly stand out is how much of your learning happens through real experiences, not just textbooks. At Salford, you’ll explore history and politics by engaging directly with archives, digital tools, primary sources, and real-world political environments. Field trips, hands-on research activities, and optional placements help you see how historical events and political ideas play out in practice, giving you the confidence and practical skills employers look for.

To give you a clear picture of what your learning journey will look like, here are the specific experiential opportunities built into this programme:

Access to the Clifford Whitworth Library, the university’s main academic library, with rich collections of political science and historical sources, digital archives, and specialist databases—perfect for building strong research skills.
Field trips connected to your modules, including both UK-based and international visits that help you explore historical sites, political institutions, and real case studies directly linked to what you’re studying.
Optional work placements or a study-abroad year, giving you the chance to gain professional experience or explore international political environments and cultures.
Small workshops using original historical sources, especially in modules like The Cold War and Researching in History, helping you learn how historians and political analysts handle evidence and interpret real documents.
Free travel across Salford and Manchester using the student bus service, making it easy for you to access facilities, attend research activities, and explore the wider academic community.

Progression & Future Opportunities

By the time you finish this degree, you’ll have the analytical confidence and research skills to move into roles where understanding people, power and global events truly matters. Many graduates step into careers such as researcher or historian, policy advisor, civil service officer, or communications specialist, where they apply their ability to evaluate information, study patterns and understand political behaviour. Employers value the depth of insight and critical thinking this degree develops, giving you a strong foundation for a wide range of professional paths.

The University of Salford also offers structured support to help you make the most of these opportunities:

askUS student support and career guidance helps you with employability, placements, mentoring and preparation for graduate roles.
Graduates from this course typically earn around £26,000 within 15 months of completing their degree, with many moving into roles in government, NGOs, charities and local councils.
The programme links you with organisations across Greater Manchester and the wider public sector, helping you build networks and practical experience while you study.
Although there is no formal accreditation, the course’s strong performance—ranked 3rd in the UK for Politics by the Guardian University Guide 2025—demonstrates the quality and long-term value of the degree.
You’ll graduate with deeply transferable skills: critical analysis, research, communication, evidence evaluation, and independent thinking — the kind of skills that make you employable across multiple industries.

Further Academic Progression:

If you choose to continue your studies, this degree gives you a solid foundation for postgraduate pathways such as International Relations, Public Policy, Intelligence and Security Studies, Museum and Heritage Studies, or History. Your dissertation experience and research training make you well-prepared for both taught Master’s programmes and future doctoral study.