History

History is a subject for anyone with a sense of curiosity and a desire for a deeper understanding of the world around them.

• The History programme at Derby has a consistent record for delivering a high-quality student experience; we are currently ranked first for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2026
• Our programme enables you to think about local, national and global histories, and how these have relevance to the current world
• Share your passion for the past by organising and marketing a high-profile public conference where you present your research
• We have a wide range of assessment types, including writing blogs, creating podcasts, and presenting your ideas to industry partners
• Benefit from the support of a dedicated and enthusiastic teaching team who are published experts in their field. Develop an impressive set of critical, theoretical and transferable skills which will give you a real advantage in securing a graduate career

Real World Learning

You will use your research and creative skills to interpret the past for the benefit of the wider community. We provide exciting opportunities for projects involving international arts and heritage organisations. Among recent initiatives, our students have worked with Derby Museums in thinking about the communication of the past to a wider public and have been involved in a project linked to British Imperialism, held at the National Trust's Kedleston Hall, where they discussed the significance of heritage to our world today, questioning ownership and identity. 

You will also inspire others by organising and marketing a public conference and presenting your research to a wider audience. Topics explored at previous conferences have included the experience of British prisoners-of-war during the First World War, the misreporting of the death of Karl Marx, and the emergence of a new French national identity following the revolution.

Explore history outside the classroom

As Derbyshire is the ideal location to study history - with its rich industrial past and thriving heritage industry, including a UNESCO World Heritage site, we offer study visits and fieldtrips to bring your learning to life. You will explore the practical and intellectual applications of history in museums, art galleries, country houses, parks and heritage sites.

You will use your research and creative skills to interpret the past for the benefit of the wider community. We provide exciting opportunities for projects involving cultural, arts and heritage organisations. Among recent initiatives, our students have worked with Derby Museums in thinking about the communication of the past to a wider public. We also have links with UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, Chatsworth House and Derby Book Festival.

You can also inspire others by organising and marketing a public conference and presenting your research to a wider audience. Topics explored at previous conferences have included the experience of British prisoners-of-war during the First World War, the misreporting of the death of Karl Marx, and the emergence of a new French national identity following the revolution.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through lectures, seminars, self-directed study, tutorials, study visits, workshops and work-related learning. We also use digital learning materials to support you in your studies. We encourage discussion and debate through all our modules, and in individual research projects and student-led presentations, you will have the opportunity to shape your own learning.

You will have access to a wide range of resources through the library. This includes a significant collection of digitised books that date from the early-modern period, collections of nineteenth-century newspapers, and a significant range of digital books and journal articles to support you in your research.

Assessment

You are assessed on 100% coursework: there are no exams. Assessment incorporates different formats including essays, document analysis, the examination of material culture and the built environment, book reviews, projects, website design, posters and exhibitions, oral presentations and debating skills.

Supporting you all the way

In the National Student Survey, our students have been particularly positive not only about the quality of teaching on offer but also about the academic support they receive. You will have a personal tutor to help and advise you throughout your degree, and our lecturers are there to provide you with academic guidance.

A vibrant community

There is a friendly, sociable, and approachable atmosphere on campus, with a real sense of community for History students. We have an active History Society which organises popular extra-curricular events from fieldtrips to ghost walks, pub quizzes to theatre visits. We also run activities so that students from across the different cohorts can meet one another and support each other throughout their studies.

Who you will meet

You will be taught by published historians who are interested in a range of different periods of history. This includes work exploring global histories in local archival and museum collections, and research on the history of health in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Recent publications include work on the Indian diaspora in Britain and the elite women in country houses. We use our expertise to support our students in developing their own research skills throughout the programme and you will get the opportunity to write your own project.

• Dr Ruth Larsen is the programme leader for the undergraduate History programmes and is an expert on British social and cultural history, focusing in particular on gender history and the country house.
• Dr Cath Feely is an expert in nineteenth and twentieth century British and European History.
• Dr Oliver Godsmark is an expert in global histories, especially South East Asia and their diasporas.
• Dr Tom Neuhaus teaches European and Global histories, and has published work on Asian histories.
• Dr Kathleen McIlvenna is an expert in public history and in the history of health.
• Professor Ian Whitehead teaches twentieth-century history, and has published works exploring the histories of the first and second world wars.

Skills for success

At Derby you will gain attributes beyond those traditionally associated with History graduates. You will not only build your academic capabilities but also apply your historical knowledge to the workplace. We encourage you to develop skills in areas such as presentation and teamworking, which will help you stand out in the job market.

You can approach your future career with confidence: latest Unistats figures show that 92% of our students were in work or further study six months after completing their course.

Wide-ranging career opportunities

With a History degree you can follow a wide range of careers in the education profession, libraries, museums, archives, law, the civil service, management, marketing and the uniformed services. Recent graduates have, for instance, taken up professional roles in local government, in Human Resource roles for major national businesses, and in project consultancy roles in global companies.

A growing number of our graduates also use their degree as a platform for rewarding postgraduate study in subjects such as History, Museum Studies, Archive Management and International Relations. These include our own postgraduate programmes in History and in Public History and Heritage.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.