Program Overview

• Develop an informed awareness of the contemporary world and a clear understanding of the historical roots of its ideas and problems, as well as its social, economic and political structures
• Our accessible and committed staff teach and research across a wide range of topics, from medieval to modern periods and across all the continents
• Develop a range of transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of rewarding careers.

In Year 1, you assess a variety of historical periods and cultures around the world, including Asia, Europe and America. Politics topics include international relations, political philosophies and political economy. You also examine contemporary issues in global studies such as America’s role as a hegemonic power and current and future challenges to its pre-eminence.

You choose from a range of optional modules in Year 2, focusing on reading original documents and giving oral presentations. Optional History modules focus on global issues in the modern world based around cultures, societies or themes.

Study in Year 3 is more in-depth – you complete a supervised dissertation and study Research Methods and Debates in Globalisation. In History, you can explore topics such as genocide and the Holocaust. The Politics modules deepen study of contemporary issues, debates and controversies such as Political Islam in the Middle East, and environmental concerns.

History and Politics students garner a range of transferable skills which can be applied to a variety of rewarding careers. These skills include: effective research methods, clarity of expression, critical thinking and the capacity for argument and debate.

Our graduates pursue careers in heritage and museums, politics, journalism, nongovernment organisations (NGOs), charities, interest groups and lobbying, consultancy, the civil and foreign service and teaching.

Some of our graduates go on to postgraduate study at Winchester or elsewhere; there is a clear pathway from graduation to our existing MAs in Managing Contemporary Global Issues and in History.