History

Alongside learning new and exciting information about the past, our History degrees provide you with a range of skills, from analysis, fact-checking and communication, through to critical thinking and debate. In a world where the ability to quickly evaluate and analyse information is paramount, a degree in History will equip you with the tools for success whichever career you choose. 

As an academic discipline, the study of History encourages you to think critically so that you can solve problems in a considered and sensitive way. Throughout your degree, our emphasis on these transferable skills will help you to grow in confidence and develop initiative. 

  • Top 10 in the UK for Teaching Quality for the subject of History (Good University Guide 2024, The Times and Sunday Times)
  • We are committed to getting to know our students. This is integral to our degree structure and sets us apart.
  • Top 10 in the UK for Student Experience for the subject of History (Good University Guide 2022, The Times and Sunday Times)

Why study History at Aberystwyth University?

  • History has been taught at Aberystwyth University since the 1870s making us one of the oldest History departments in Wales. 
  • As a student with us, you will benefit from an established research tradition and you will be taught directly by experts working on a range of historical periods. We provide teaching in small groups, including one-to-one tutorials and seminar-only courses, such as our skills and special subject modules. 
  • Our modules focus not only on individual achievement, but on maintaining a relaxed and productive environment. We place a particular emphasis on small-group teaching, and focus on teamwork and team building as well as building your confidence in being able to present yourselves effectively in group situations. 
  • We will nurture your passion and enthusiasm for history and allow it to grow so that it sustains you intellectually and in the world of work. A History degree from Aberystwyth University will provide you with the skills you need to enter the career of your choice.  
  • At Aberystwyth, you will have the flexibility to study the medieval through to the contemporary period and a broad range of themes such as power, violence, migration, gender and ideas, amongst others. 
  • Studying for a degree with us will give you 'hands on' experience of historical research. You will work with primary sources from the beginning of your course, and benefit from having access to world class resources, including the National Library of Wales as well as our own Hugh Owen Library.

Employability

History at Aberystwyth: Developing Skills for the Workplace 

History is a well-respected degree that not only provides insights into humanity throughout the ages, but equips you with many skills. It will train you to develop a range of important skills considered vital for entry into a competitive job market. 

The skills that you will acquire on your History degree are versatile, wide-ranging and transferable and will prepare you for a wide range of professions. These are skills that are highly valued by employers and that can be applied to a wide range of work settings. 

We offer guidance and support about life after university, directed by an academic employability coordinator. This includes support from your personal tutor, talks, workshops and one-to-one sessions provided through the Careers Service, access to mentoring from alumni, and our Heritage Sector Student Placement scheme. 

Facilities

Our university library, the Hugh Owen Library, has an excellent history section.The National Library of Wales - one of only five Copyright libraries in the UK - is a short walk from the department.

Research

Our research is innovative and world-class. We lead and contribute to prestigious research projects and publications, much of which has an impact far beyond Aberystwyth University and the surrounding area. 

All our teaching staff are active researchers who are at the cutting edge of research in the field of history, working at an international level. These are people who have an impact and make a difference - influencing ideas and thought on a wide variety of topics. Our teaching staff use their research to inform their teaching of the next generation of historians. 

Our research covers the period from the Middle Ages to the present. From a traditional focus on Britain and Europe, researchers in the Department now include historians of Asia and of North America. In addition, we cover a diverse range of areas that include some of the main ways in which historians these days research and write about the past. There are notable strengths, in the broadest terms, in political, cultural, social and economic history, and religious history. 

Amongst a number of research themes, historians in the Department examine how people have understood and written about history in past societies; the history of medicine, science and technology; and media history. 

Study or Work Abroad

Aberystwyth University offers every student the opportunity to study, volunteer or work in another country either for an academic year, a single semester, or a few weeks during your holidays.

Find more information on our Global Opportunities webpages.

Studying through the medium of Welsh

Aberystwyth University prides itself on being a bilingual University. As a leading Welsh university, we are proud to offer dedicated support services and Halls of Residence for Welsh-speaking students, encouraging the sense of community and the feeling of a home away from home. Qualifying students will automatically receive the University's Welsh-medium scholarships and can also apply for Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol scholarships. Find out more about our Welsh Medium Scholarships here.