BA (Hons) History Bachelor's degree at Aston University
BA (Hons) History at Aston University. You'll engage with core historical theory and research methods, apply that learning to real-world contexts, and pursue specialist options aligned with your interests.
About this course
Critical thinkers, cultural navigators and master communicators - our history graduates are ready to shape the future by understanding the past. Location: Aston University, Birmingham From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) History is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Aston University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for History, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 13 modules
- Global History in PerspectiveCore15 credits
- Making Histories I: Methods, Theories, ControversiesCore30 credits
- Contemporary Britain: from the Boer War to BrexitCore15 credits
- Archive and Museum ProjectCore15 credits
- War and GenocideCore15 credits
- Inventions, Discoveries, and Cures: Science, Technology, and Medicine since 1750Core15 credits
- Identities and Inequalities IOptional15 credits
- Introduction to Social TheoryOptional15 credits
- Introduction to Discourse AnalysisOptional15 credits
- The Novel through TimeOptional15 credits
- Rewriting ShakespeareOptional15 credits
- Law for BusinessOptional15 credits
- Introduction to Marketing ManagementOptional15 credits
Year 2 15 modules
- Case Studies in Global HistoryCore30 credits
- Making Histories IICore15 credits
- Humanitarian Action and Foreign Intervention, 1915 - TodayCore15 credits
- The Atlantic World: Slavery and EmancipationCore15 credits
- Bullets, Bombs, and Bitcoin: History and Technology since 1900Core15 credits
- Birmingham and Midlands History ProjectCore15 credits
- East Asian Politics and Society: China and JapanOptional15 credits
- North American Politics and SocietyOptional15 credits
- South Asian Politics and SocietyOptional15 credits
- West European Politics and SocietyOptional15 credits
- Politics and Society of the Middle EastOptional15 credits
- Post-apocalyptic FictionOptional15 credits
- Literature in FilmOptional15 credits
- Professional CommunicationOptional15 credits
- Health and SocietyOptional15 credits
Placement year 1 modules
- Integrated Placement YearOptional120 credits
Final year 7 modules
- Dissertation (History)Core30 credits
- History WorkshopCore30 credits
- Twin Periods? The Interwar Years and post-1989 HistoryOptional15 credits
- Teaching History in the 21st CenturyOptional15 credits
- Emotions, International Politics, and Culture, from the 19th Century to the PresentOptional15 credits
- Reinventing the World: Industrial and Technological TransitionsOptional15 credits
- The History of Internationalism: From Karl Marx to Greta ThunbergOptional15 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
A History degree at Aston develops critical thinkers who understand the past to engage with the present. You'll usually begin with foundations in historical method, learning how to work with sources, archives and historical arguments, before surveying medieval, early modern and modern worlds. From Year 2 onwards, you'll move into focused study of particular periods or themes through primary documents, and explore how historical interpretations evolve. Year 3 takes you to advanced depth, specialist options and an original dissertation based on your own research. Throughout, you'll encounter specialisations such as medieval studies, modern history, global and imperial history, social and cultural history, public history and heritage, and archival research.
Who it's for
You're drawn to understanding how societies, events and ideas have shaped the world, and you're ready to examine evidence critically rather than accept easy narratives. You enjoy writing clearly and arguing persuasively, skills history develops relentlessly. This course suits you if you want to build a foundation in research, analysis and communication that opens doors across law, policy, education, media, heritage, journalism and public sector roles. Studying history here means sustained intellectual engagement with primary sources, debate with peers and tutors, and real ownership of your learning through your final project.
Careers & job market
Across History graduates nationally, 85% are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those in work, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Starting earnings typically fall between £23,500 and £31,000 at 15 months; after five years, graduates earn between £25,500 and £36,000. These figures reflect the broader graduate labour market (Graduate Outcomes and LEO data) rather than outcomes specific to this institution.
University & format
This is a full-time BA (Hons) History degree taught at Aston University, a public university in Birmingham, over 3 years in English. Aston is a recognised UK degree-awarding body. The university holds a Gold award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Contextual offer criteria. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Aston University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What History graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in history · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs History nationally
National figures for History graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How History graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where History graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Museums & archives
- Heritage bodies
- Schools
- Civil service & media
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit History graduates.
History & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingChartereastdulwichHistory & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingThe Charter Schools Educational TrustHistory Teachers in Kirklees and HalifaxCV-LibraryHistory TeachersSABIS NETWORK SCHOOLSIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 94.9% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Aston University
Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Aston University
4,326 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is History right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Aston University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £22,575 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Aston University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Aston University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Aston University
Common questions
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What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
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