Course summary

Studying History and Politics at Westminster will equip you with the analytical tools to explore and understand societies, both past and present. History and Politics are deeply complementary disciplines: history and the writing of history are entrenched in politics and political frameworks, while contemporary politics and political organisations and movements can only be fully understood when examined in longer historical patterns. We teach History and Politics in a truly global framework, listening to previously marginalised voices and questioning long-standing beliefs surrounding power and identity. We give our students the scope to study the topics that matter to them and to tailor their learning journeys through a broad array of engaging topic choices. This puts our degree at the cutting edge of each discipline. In our course, you'll explore the factors that have shaped the modern world since 1789 – including war and revolution, nationalism and liberalism, democracy, socialism, and fascism – from both historical and political perspectives. As well as learning the main themes, skills and approaches in both History and Politics, you'll be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules, which give you a truly global outlook, focusing not only on as Britain, Europe, and America but also areas such as the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Asia and America. Our innovative Special Subjects in History offering in the second and third years allows you to choose from a host of master classes in exciting and diverse topics such as the fall of the Soviet Union, Victorian sexualities, transitional Palestine, the Titanic, imperial politics in the Caribbean and the history of emotions to name but a few. Our unique West End location puts us in the heart of historical London and close to many of the country’s leading libraries and archives. You’ll explore the streets of the capital, learn how to conduct your own archival research, and graduate as a well-trained, experienced scholar of History and Politics, ready to enter the world of work. You’ll be taught by a team of passionate academics who are regularly recognised for their teaching excellence and commitment to their students. Our staff are also published researchers, introducing you to the newest research and approaches. In your final year, you’ll be supervised by one of these specialists to develop your dissertation on a topic that matters to you. London is our campus, but as students of a joint degree, you are also given the opportunity to travel to international destinations from Europe to Asia. You’ll graduate as a confident, independent thinker with the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong development. You’ll be prepared for a career in a variety of engaging fields, including the law, education, the Civil Service, NGOs, the police force – or for postgraduate study.