Overview
If you really want to understand the modern world, it’s essential to unlock the patterns of the past. History courses can help you do exactly that – and here at the University of Stirling, we take an innovative approach to guiding you through the major events and periods that have shaped us all.
Our History degree will equip you with a wide range of intellectual and personal skills. You’ll gain an awareness of how different societies across the world have changed over time, by exploring areas such as Scottish, British, European, American and African history. You’ll also engage with different types of history, including political, social, cultural, gender, race, computer and environmental.
History lecturers and staff at Stirling are leaders in their field. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework assessment, we are ranked in the top 15 universities in the UK for research impact in History and 3rd in Scotland for outputs and impact (Research Excellence Framework 2021). That expertise and passion feeds into every aspect of your course to ensure you reach your final year of study functioning as a fully-fledged historian in your own right. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the freedom to not only focus in on specialty areas of history that interest you most, but also to combine your studies with a range of other subjects that broaden your professional possibilities – from journalism to teaching, politics and sociology.
For more of a flavour of what we teach, our approach, and why we’re so passionate about History, check out our History Research at Stirling pages.
Top reasons to study with us
Prizes or awards
History students can be submitted for various prizes, mostly in the final year. Some are dedicated solely for history, others across history, heritage and politics, and others across the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
Environmental History Prize
An annual prize of £100 to be awarded for the best first class dissertation in Environmental History
Gordon Donaldson Prize
An annual prize of £50 for the best graduating student in History.
Robert and Margaret McKean Prize
An annual prize of £50 for the best performance by a final year student in European History
Stirling Guildry Prize
An annual prize of £100 to be awarded for the best dissertation submitted by a student taking History or Scottish History.
Faculty Research based learning prize
The Division of History, Heritage and Politics has been granted £250 by the Faculty to reward undergraduate students for contributions to research through their studies (projects, dissertations and so on).
The Scott Reid Memorial Prize
The £200 prize will be open to undergraduates in their final year of study studying History and/or Politics (including combined degrees with either subject). The prize will be awarded to the student who achieved their degree despite facing adversity during their studies and or who have shown outstanding support and selfless giving for their fellow students, local community or family.
The Alasdair Ross Memorial Essay prize.
The £200 prize is open to all University honours students who have written an essay between 2000 - 5000 words on a topic within the area of Scottish Studies, with an emphasis on environment and heritage.
Dee Amy Chin Prize for Gender and Feminist Studies
£200 is for the Dee Amy-Chinn prize for Gender Studies and is open to undergraduate students in any discipline within the University and recognises exceptional achievement in the study of gender and/or feminism (essay, dissertation, creative practice).
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
SQA Highers
AABB
GCE A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
28
BTEC (Level 3)
DDM
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
SQA Advanced Highers
ABB
GCE A-levels
ABB
IB Diploma
32
Essential subjects
History
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP access course - for mature students only.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Year 2 entry
Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
Other qualifications
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team at admissions@stir.ac.uk.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
In Semesters 1–3, students will take History, plus two other subjects. In Semesters 4 you will take the compulsory module HISU9X4, ‘Back to the Future: putting history and heritage to work’, one other History module from a list of options, and a module in another subject. In Semesters 5 and 6 you can study three History modules per semester from a varied list of topics, including: Environmental; Computing; Social; Political; African; European; American; British and Scottish. Examples of actual modules include, ‘Black People in Britain 1750-1950: racism, riot and reaction’ (taken in semester 5), and ‘Death and Destruction: a history of violence in modern Europe, 1890-1945’ (taken in semester 6).
In Semesters 7–8, you'll choose a special subject that involves the use of printed documentary collections and other source material. Students enjoy a choice of topics, including Revolutionary America, Apartheid in South Africa, or Immigration to Britain, 1800–1971.
To complete the course, students will also write a supervised dissertation of between 12,000 and 14,000 words on a research topic of your own choice supervised by a member of staff.
Modules
Course details
Teaching
You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, individual supervision, workshops and field trips. You’ll also learn from guest lecturers, who bring their specialist knowledge directly to you from a range of different fields.
Fieldwork
A number of the modules offered in both History and Heritage involve fieldwork trips alongside regular seminars in class. There are also opportunities for assisting with projects within History, the University Archives, and the Art Collection.
Assessment
Throughout your studies in History, you'll be assessed based on a combination of exams and coursework. Coursework may include essays, reports, posters, reviews, oral presentations and other elements. You'll also write a dissertation of between 12,000 – 14,000 words on a research topic of your choice.
Classroom hours
Lectures usually last 50 minutes and are recorded to allow students to listen again. Most teaching is done in small groups. In years one and two, tutorials last one or two hours; in year three seminars last two hours; and in year four seminar in Special Subjects last three hours (with, of course, a break).
Study abroad
As a University of Stirling student, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and study abroad through our well-established connections with several international universities.
Contact
Dr James Smyth, Course Director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| Academic year: | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish students | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | £9,250 | £9,535 |
| International students (including EU) | £17,200 | £18,400 |
Scottish students
This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy and terms and conditions.
International students (including EU)
Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students from Scotland
Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
International students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
Preparing you for the world of work
A History degree from the University of Stirling opens up career opportunities in a range of sectors, from museums and heritage trusts to the civil service and worlds of marketing and journalism. Studying History also helps you to understand the complexities of the modern world and use critical analysis to solve problems – a skill that is always in demand with businesses and organisations of all kinds.
During Semester 4 of your History studies, you’ll take an employability module aimed at exploring a wide range of career options through guest speakers and workshops. We also have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer and a Careers Service that work in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience, and are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.
Jobs directly related to a history degree include:
- heritage manager
- historic buildings inspector or conservation officer
- museum education officer
- museum or gallery curator
- museum or gallery exhibitions officer
- archivist
- secondary school teacher
- civil service fast streamer
Companies we work with
In the compulsory Semester 4 module ‘Back to the Future: putting history and heritage to work’, you will have the chance to listen to and meet with outside speakers from a range of employers and external institutions.
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