History and Philosophy BA (single honours)

3262History and Philosophy are intrinsically linked, complementary subjects; whilst philosophy is concerned with its own history, history requires philosophy to understand its ideas and reasons.

Our diverse and dynamic BA History and Philosophy combines historical studies, philosophical thought, historical experiences, theories of truth and validity, law, and political systems that will provide you with a broad knowledge of the past allowing you to formulate opinions about the present.

On this course, you will explore diverse and multicultural ideas and historical episodes. You’ll learn to conduct research, analyse ideas and interpret the past, graduating with a fluency in philosophical issues, historical knowledge and the relationships between past events and contemporary ones. 

You will engage with the academic traditions in history and philosophy and learn how to develop and express your opinions and arguments. You will be introduced to the politics, philosophy, and history of gender, race, class, identity, memory and diasporas, as well as the power dynamics of economics, and culture more broadly. You will be encouraged to decipher the historical past and contribute to philosophical debates in seminars and tutorials that include people of different backgrounds and interests.

You will learn about how people have existed, acted and thought using primary sources such as texts, paintings, coins, medals, cartoons, photographs and films, as well as oral source material from the recent past.  You’ll also become familiar with the writings of some of the major philosophers, and theories in the fields of logic, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind.

Taught by academic staff engaged in world-class research, you will build many skills vital for a successful career, including analytical thinking, creative problem-solving, the ability to construct arguments, to write clearly and persuasively, and to explain complex information. You’ll learn through seminars, lectures, individual tutorials, and an Academic Guidance Tutor system that provides pastoral support and academic guidance. We endeavour to teach with and about the latest advances in digital methodologies, and this programme reflects and represents our globalised, multicultural, and diverse world.