History at UEA
Find out more about studying History at UEA, and browse our other courses.
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UEA is ranked 3rd overall for research quality in History
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisImagine decoding the Bayeux Tapestry, examining Henry VIII’s armour, or exploring the social and political power of jazz. These are some of the paths you could choose on BA History with a Placement Year. From the Roman Empire to Thatcher’s Britain, you’ll study the political, social, economic and cultural forces that have shaped the world.
You’ll be taught by a team of internationally recognised historians and learn about developments around the globe: from Britain and its empire, across continental Europe and the Middle East, to South and East Asia and North America. You’ll learn how to develop and communicate your own ideas, and how to interpret historical sources.
Choice will be at the heart of your degree. Building on a firm grounding in your first year, in your second and fourth years you’ll choose from a wide range of optional modules. You’ll decide how to build your course, tailoring your studies to your interests. On BA History with a Placement Year, you’ll normally spend 9-12 months of your third year in a placement, gaining valuable work experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice.
Norwich is an ideal place to study history, with a wealth of medieval buildings nestled inside a lively modern city. On our beautiful campus, you’ll benefit from our strengths in British, European and global research, including internationally renowned centres in Eastern European history and East Anglian studies. Partnerships with local heritage organisations such as Norfolk Museums give you hands-on experience of history.
The skills you learn will be invaluable in the workplace. Our graduates have gone on to careers as varied as the Civil Service, media, local government, international organisations, law, marketing, finance, heritage,teaching and many more besides. And if you’re thinking of taking your study of history further, our degree will provide a vital foundation.
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Find out more about studying History at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreWant to graduate with professional experience? On this course, you’ll normally spend 9-12 months of your third year* in a placement, gaining invaluable work experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice. You’ll be expected to seek your own work placement and will be supported in doing so by UEA’s Career Central Service and your School. Support for you to find your placement will start early in the first year and will be tailored to the needs you’ll have at various stages of the process.
The field in which you do your placement will depend on your own interests, and some of the preparatory workshops will help you to have a clearer idea of what these are, what your values are, and which careers they may lead to. History graduates go into a wide range of sectors, and placements can be done in fields such as heritage, business, the public sector, creative industries and many more. We will, however, require that the tasks you’ll conduct as part of your placement meet the required learning outcomes and are complex enough to help you develop a range of skills that you’ll be able to translate and use during the final year of your degree and your post-graduation career.
*Placements may be shorter on some occasions, or take place during different years of the degree, but this must be agreed by the Placement Director and Learning and Teaching Services.
Have a business idea? If you’ve an idea you think would make a great business, you may be able to turn your Placement Year into a ‘Year in Enterprise’*. Your idea (business plan, budget etc.), motivation and academic record would have to be assessed by our team. Should you be given the go-ahead, you could use the year to start your business in a structured and supportive environment, accessing numerous training courses and extensive mentoring.
*Note that if you’re studying with us on a Student Visa, you can’t currently undertake a Year in Enterprise due to Visa rules.
This version of the degree gives you the opportunity and support to greatly enhance your employability by securing and undertaking a year-long placement in the third year of your degree. Find out more about this exciting opportunity on our 'Placement Years in Arts and Humanities' page.
Examples of careers you could enter include:
Discover more on our Career pages.
History graduates have the world at their fingertips. As well as subject-specific skills and knowledge, you’ll develop all kinds of transferable skills and qualities, including communication skills critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, self-management, and sophisticated digital literacy. Such attributes open doors to a wide variety of professions and careers.
History at UEA has a proven track record of leading to careers in law, finance, teaching, local government and administration, the heritage and tourism sector, Civil Service, political lobbying, non-governmental organisations, think-tanks and many more. Or you could further your research by going on to postgraduate study.
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual: DMM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Contextual: DD plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
Contextual: D plus BC at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3
Not accepted
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - BA (Hons) History with a Foundation Year
32 points overall
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
AAABB
BBC A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
ABB
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Extended Diploma: DDM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
32 points overall
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
The cost of individual field trips will vary, and all such trips are optional.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
History with a Placement Year starting September 2025 for 4 years