Program Overview

Our committed team of historians are passionate about their subjects, which cover a broad range of cultures and traditions spanning 3,500 years. They will help you to explore the past seeking answers to pressing questions from the classical to the modern period in Britain, in the British Isles, Europe, the Americas (North and South) and Asia, including Japan. Within their fields of expertise you could investigate topics as diverse as: Ancient Greek Drinking Culture, Norman Sicily, The Middle ages in Computer Games, Imperial Japan, and the Post-War Teenager.

A Foundation Year is the perfect way to build your academic skills, boost your confidence and develop your wider subject knowledge so you can bridge any gaps between school and undergraduate level, including in our academically stimulating degree courses. This course offers an extra year of study at the start (Year 0) which leads onto a full degree programme (Years 1, 2 and 3).

A Foundation Year is ideal if you are returning to education after a break; haven’t quite achieved the entry qualifications required; are wanting more support during the transition to studying at university; or are unsure about which subject you wish to pursue.

During the year, you will study a set of modules from across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. This broader focus in your first year introduces you to studying at university level and provides you with a better understanding of History and related subjects.

You will get a taste of a variety of teaching methods including lectures, discussion-based seminars and independent study. You will also receive support to boost your academic skills to prepare you for the rest of your time at Winchester. Find out more and hear from our Foundation Year students at winchester.ac.uk/foundation

In Year 1 (second year of study), you are introduced to the study of history at degree level. We help you to gain a good grounding in historical periods and cultures from around the globe, including Asia, Europe and the Americas. You explore the nature of history as a discipline, its changing assumptions, methods and definitions, and the current concerns of historians.

A Foundation degree opens you the door to all our History undergraduate pathways: BA History, BA Modern History, BA Classical Studies, BA Medieval History, BA History with Year Abroad, BA Modern History with Year Abroad, BA Medieval History with Year Abroad.

This degree is ideal if you want to experience an extensive range of historical subjects and have the maximum flexibility of choice.

Our History degrees offers a broad-and-deep experience that can open up multiple career paths. Throughout your degree, you develop transferable skills such as undertaking oral presentations, both as part of a group and individually, and work on shorter assignments like the creation of posters and blogs.