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Check eligibility →BA (Hons) History and Philosophy Bachelor's degree at the University of Leeds
BA (Hons) History and Philosophy at University of Leeds combines historical and philosophical inquiry, covering core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
BA (Hons) History and Philosophy is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Leeds. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For History graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 72% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (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)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 65; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (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 14 modules
- Exploring HistoryCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module equips all students with the fundamental skills, techniques, and knowledge to be able to flourish as an undergraduate student of history. You will discover the range of ways that the past is researched, analysed, and presented. You will have the opportunity to explore different approaches to researching the past as well as historical concepts, themes, and debates.
- How to do PhilosophyCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This introductory module offers you a foundation in some of the formal and informal reasoning skills used in philosophy.
- Diverse Histories of BritainOptional20 credits
- Introduction to the History of Western PhilosophyOptional20 credits
- Faith, Knowledge and Power, 1500-1750Optional20 credits
- The Medieval World in Ten ObjectsOptional20 credits
- Medieval Lives: Identities, Cultures and BeliefsOptional20 credits
- Global EmpiresOptional20 credits
- Global DecolonizationOptional20 credits
- The Making of the Twentieth CenturyOptional20 credits
- The Good, the Bad, the Right, the WrongOptional20 credits
- Knowledge, Self and RealityOptional20 credits
- Philosophy Meets the WorldOptional10 credits
- Thinking About RaceOptional10 credits
Year 2 14 modules
- Philosophical Method (for joint honours)Compulsory20 credits
Module details
This module further develops your philosophical skills to analyse and construct arguments, your ability to identify a philosophical issue or problem and apply that understanding to your other joint honours subject, to develop your understanding of how your two subjects relate to each other.
- History in PracticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Through this core module you'll have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of how history is made and communicated, such as working with archival material, learning digital humanities skills, or exploring heritage and the public face of history. You'll have the opportunity to undertake a research project that presents your work to a wider audience or to apply what you have learnt across a range of innovative assessment tasks.
- Past Thinkers: History of Modern PhilosophyOptional20 credits
- How to Live Together: Topics in Political PhilosophyOptional20 credits
- Do The Right Thing: Topics in Moral PhilosophyOptional20 credits
- How Do You Know? Topics in EpistemologyOptional20 credits
- God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of ReligionOptional20 credits
- Reality Check: Topics in MetaphysicsOptional20 credits
- Medieval MasculinitiesOptional20 credits
- Patient Voices: Medicine and Healthcare in the Middle AgesOptional20 credits
- Lost Colonists: Failure and the Family in Southern AfricaOptional20 credits
- The Global CaribbeanOptional20 credits
- Later Victorian England: Politics, Society and CultureOptional20 credits
- The Lucky Country? The Social History of Australia in the 20th CenturyOptional20 credits
Year 3 8 modules
- Final Year Project (in either History or Philosophy)Compulsory40 credits
Module details
There are a variety of final year project options. You can design and carry out a piece of extended independent research with the individualised support of a supervisor with research expertise in your chosen area, in either Philosophy or History. In Philosophy, you'll also have the option to select one of the final year modules to serve as the basis of and scaffolding for your independent research, allowing you to explore a topic you haven't previously studied. In History, you'll also have the o
- History Special SubjectCompulsory40 credits
Module details
There will be a range of special subject modules, which vary annually, but will span: Medieval and Early Modern History; for example, Early Modern Media Modern International History; for example, The Korean War Modern British History; for example, The Photographic Age Modern World History; for example, The Harlem Renaissance
- BioethicsOptional20 credits
- War, Terror and JusticeOptional20 credits
- Philosophy of Sex and RelationshipsOptional20 credits
- Feminist PhilosophyOptional20 credits
- KantOptional20 credits
- Aesthetics and the Philosophy of ArtOptional20 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
You'll study history and philosophy together, exploring how societies, ideas and evidence have changed over time. A course like this typically begins with foundational modules in the historian's craft, learning to work with primary sources and archives, alongside broad surveys of medieval, early modern and modern worlds. In Year 2, you'll move into focused special subjects, studying particular periods through original documents, whilst examining how historical interpretations themselves shift. You'll also encounter public history, considering how museums and heritage institutions present the past. Year 3 allows deeper specialisation in themes such as modern history, medieval studies, global and imperial history, social and cultural approaches, archival research, and public history and heritage, culminating in an original dissertation based on primary evidence.
Who it's for
This course suits students with strong A-level qualifications or equivalent. Recent accepted students typically held A-levels or equivalent, with a common UCAS tariff band of 128–143 points. You should be interested in exploring historical contexts and philosophical ideas together, developing both analytical and independent thinking skills.
Careers & job market
Across History courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £23,500 to £31,000, rising to £25,500–£36,000 after five years. These figures reflect the broader graduate labour market rather than outcomes specific to this programme. First-year continuation is strong at 90% across the sector.
University & format
This is a 3-year full-time BA (Hons) degree taught in English at the University of Leeds, a public Russell Group university. The University of Leeds is recognised as a UK degree-awarding body; its teaching has been rated Silver in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (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.
Work 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 (code VVC5). 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Leeds →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
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
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Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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 | £30,000 | £25,000 – £32,000 | 65 |
| 3 years after | £26,000 | £22,500 – £32,500 | 295 |
| 5 years after | £35,000 | £28,000 – £45,500 | 320 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 65; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 65; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. 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.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 22% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 12% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 90; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
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.
Is 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.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. 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 8.9 out of 10: NSS 76% · in work or study 90% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Leeds
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 The University of Leeds
3,846 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 University of Leeds from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Leeds; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 University of Leeds’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 University of Leeds and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
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Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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