Program Overview

Imagine reading Queen Victoria’s diaries, analysing Nazi reports on the Olympic Games, or considering the social and political power of African American jazz. This is just a glimpse of the sort of primary reading you might do as part of a Modern History degree at UEA.

In UEA’s School of History, you’ll be taught by cutting-edge specialists and discover their latest world-leading research. UEA is acknowledged to be at the forefront of History research in the UK, and in the Times Higher Education Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 Analysis, UEA was ranked 3rd overall in the UK for research quality in History. We have particular strengths in British, European, Russian and Balkan history, as well as in the history of the Atlantic world, the Middle East, and Asia.

Whether you’re interested in all areas of modern historical study or you’re looking forward to developing new specialisms, in your second and third years you will be able to tailor your degree by choosing from a huge range of optional modules.

For example, you’ll have the chance to delve deeper into topics such as the Cold War, Japan in modern times, and modern Germany. And you’ll be able to choose a special subject from a range of options as varied as Thatcher’s Britain, Japan’s First Modern Century, and Appeasement and War, all of which are led by academics currently researching in those areas.

You can then broaden your horizons even further with modules from other disciplines including languages and politics.

Whichever path you choose, you’ll develop a knowledge of the deep connections between history, memory, and the past and present. You will learn to explore and understand the forces that shape the modern world, be they political, economic, social or cultural. You’ll come to understand how knowledge is constructed and manipulated – how history is written – and you will engage with its interpretation and debate.