BA (Hons) History Bachelor's degree at Sheffield Hallam University
BA (Hons) History at SHU. You'll develop specialist knowledge through a combination of core historical theory, research methods, and applied practical work.
About this course
BA (Honours) History Full-time 2026 | Sheffield Hallam University Skip to content Close alert You’ve not added any courses yet! From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) History is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at SHU, based in City Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For History graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £27,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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 2022-23. Continuation 91% (2022-23; 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 4 modules
- Common People? Local Voices, Global HistoriesCompulsory60 credits
Module details
How have global events shaped local, regional and national histories, including the diverse communities from which we come? Focusing on the history of Sheffield in global context, you will explore topics such as protest and activism; popular culture; industrialisation, class and gender; race and empire; enslavement and abolition; migration and globalisation; and sex and sexuality. Integral to the module will be films, field trips and museum and archive visits, through which you will enhance your
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Empires: Expansion, Decline, LegacyCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The imperial past continues to shape our present. This module examines the history of modern empires, their expansion, governance, decline and legacies. Topics may include: Expansion, Racial 'science', Settler colonialism, Violence and Resistance, Colonial governance, Empire at home, Empire at war, Environmental impacts, Development, Decolonization, Socialism and liberation movements, Legacy and memory. The module aligns with the course emphasis on global connections and the making of the modern
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Sex, Gender And Sexuality In HistoryCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Revolution is not only political, it can also be personal. You will explore some of the key changes in gender relations and attitudes towards sexuality in the modern period. This module aligns with the course emphasis on hidden voices/'history from below' and explores themes which are very current in the modern world. Topics may include: C19th debates about prostitution, Suffrage and early feminism, Masculinity and femininity in wartime, 1960s 'sexual revolution', Second Wave Feminism and its Ex
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- The Global Age Of RevolutionsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The modern world has been shaped by tumultuous moments of revolutionary change. You will develop a familiarity with conceptions of revolution and extend debates about European ideologies of 'liberty' and rights into global contexts, to explore revolutions in the American colonies; France; the Caribbean; Latin America and India. This module aligns with the course emphasis on global connections and the making of the modern world. and introduces some of the course's key concepts: democracy, war, en
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
Year 2 5 modules
- Applied HistoryCompulsory60 credits
Module details
How will studying History prepare you for graduate-level employment and help you make a vital contribution to society? In this module you will choose from a number of placement opportunities to work with industry professionals from a variety of sectors, including education, museums, and heritage. Through this immersive experience you will gain valuable employability experience, including how to liaise with external partners, knowledge of project management, and understanding of workplace and pro
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Bodies: Shaping SocietiesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Does appearance matter, and why? Did you know that bodies have a history? In this module we will explore how bodies have been shaped, both conceptually and biologically. You will study a range of topics, such as eugenics, biopolitics, public health, race, sex and body mass/fat shaming. We will draw on a range of perspectives in the history of medicine, science, biopolitics, sport, and new fields such as the history of disability and the history of emotions.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Moving People: History Across BordersCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Migration is key to understanding the modern world. It touches upon a huge number of other issues explored on the course, including class, gender, nations, borders, transnational networks and exchanges, and labour exploitation and protest. On this module you will learn how the history of migration intersects with the changing relationship and entanglements between the 'global north' and the 'global south'. Topics may include: Displacement and resettlement, Migrant labour regimes, Humanitarian ne
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Popular Movements And The Fight For RightsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Since the late eighteenth century, popular movements across the world have sought to establish and expand human rights. In this module you will use global historical case studies to explore the goals, tactics and strategies that popular movements have used to challenge power structures. You will study the way different groups – e.g. working people, women, students, colonised peoples – have mobilised to fight for a range of rights.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Study Abroad - Creative IndustriesElective60 credits
Module details
This module is for undergraduate students to study abroad in their second year, Semester 2 (only for courses that offer this option). With this module, you can spend a semester at one of the University's approved partner institutions worldwide – from Europe to the Americas, Asia Australia or Canada. Study Abroad plays an important role in the University's commitment to an engaging, challenging, and thriving learning culture. It offers opportunities to experience other academic cultures and foste
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
Year 3 1 modules
- Undergraduate Sandwich Placement Applied Professional DiplomaCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to enhance students' professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s). A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will allow students to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course and enable students to enhance their
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
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
You'll study history as a discipline, learning how historians construct arguments from sources and archives. A course like this normally begins with foundations in medieval, early modern and modern world history, then moves into specialist subjects studied through primary documents. In Year 2, you'll examine how historical interpretations have changed over time and explore public history, museums, heritage and history beyond the university. By Year 3, you'll undertake advanced document-led study, choose from specialist options such as modern history, medieval studies, global and imperial history, social and cultural history, public history and heritage, or archival research, and complete an original research dissertation based on primary evidence. Throughout, you'll develop skills in source analysis, historical argument and independent inquiry.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you're intellectually curious about how societies, institutions and individuals have shaped the world, and if you think historically, asking why things happened, weighing competing interpretations and scrutinising sources. You should be comfortable with extended reading, analysis and sustained written argument. If you enjoy detective work in archives, exploring different perspectives and constructing evidence-based narratives, you'll find the independent project especially rewarding. Prior study in history helps but isn't essential; many entrants come with A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
Careers & job market
Across History degrees nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Starting salaries nationally range from £23,500 to £31,000; after five years, graduates earn between £25,500 and £36,000. Fifty-five per cent of working graduates are in highly skilled roles or further study. Many pursue careers in education, heritage, research, the civil service, journalism and cultural institutions. This degree is recognised nationally as a UK honours qualification and carries Gold recognition for teaching quality from the Office for Students.
University & format
This is a 3-year full-time degree awarded by Sheffield Hallam University, a university founded in 1992, based at City Campus. Teaching is delivered in English. The degree is a nationally recognised Bachelor's (BA Honours) award from a recognised UK degree-awarding body. The university holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
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.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
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 | 95% |
| an Access course | 3% |
| a foundation course | 2% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
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 SHU →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 earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £27,000 | £23,500 – £31,000 | 4205 |
| 3 years after | £20,500 | £18,000 – £25,000 | 155 |
| 5 years after | £26,000 | £21,500 – £31,000 | 160 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 4,205. Cohort 2021-22.
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: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 4,205. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with History courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,423 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Is BA (Hons) History worth it?
Weigh it carefully. On these figures graduates of BA (Hons) History earn close to non-graduate pay, so on cost alone the course is slow to pay off.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 3 years of wages given up while studying. The model remains below break even after 30 years. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 3 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
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
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. 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.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £27,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
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 8.6 out of 10: NSS 80.3% · continued 91%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Sheffield Hallam 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 City Campus
3,427 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 SHU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,000 / 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 SHU’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 SHU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at SHU
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) History
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.