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Modern and Contemporary History BA

3-4 years

Modern history, contemporary politics and international relations. How has each field shaped the other? And what can this interaction tell us about events today? We don’t have to look back too far to find the answers, and this degree can take you there.

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Modern and Contemporary History BA, 3-4 years

Modern history, contemporary politics and international relations. How has each field shaped the other? And what can this interaction tell us about events today? We don’t have to look back too far to find the answers, and this degree can take you there.

Start date:

2024
2025

Course information

Typical offer ABB-BBB

UK fee £9,250

UCAS code V140

International fee £19,700

Institute code L34

Taught by History

History at Leicester website

Course description

Course description

Run in partnership with Politics and International Relations, this course will emphasise the history of the recent past and integrate it with contemporary politics and international relations. Ideal if your main interests lie in the 20th and 21st century – you will be able to concentrate on a focused chronological period, with modules covering a broad geographical range.

You will learn about the various factors, particularly political factors, that shape historical events and our understanding of them. An appreciation of international relations is vital for analysing the fluctuating relationships that countries share with one another, either directly or through international bodies such as the UN. The topical nature of this course will not only help you understand the past but also prepare you to construct informed arguments about events that are unfolding today.

Your first year develops your core knowledge and skills, as well as allowing you to explore aspects of the modern world that particularly interest you. Later on you will have even more freedom to shape your degree around your own interests, choosing modules examining the history and politics of different parts of the world, including Britain, Ireland and Europe; North America and South America; East Asia and South-east Asia; and parts of Africa and the Middle East.

  • NB. This course was previously named Contemporary History BA

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

  • A/AS-levels: ABB-BBB at A-Level. We prefer A-Level History, though this is not essential. Two AS-Levels considered in place of one A-Level. General Studies is accepted
  • EPQ with A-Levels: BBB-BBC at A-Level + EPQ at grade B. We prefer A-Level History, though this is not essential
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass relevant Diploma with 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at distinction
  • International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points including 6 in one Higher Level subject
  • BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with D*DD

Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.

If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.

Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.

Contextual offers

The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Selection Process

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.

Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School of History.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Countries list

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

UK Students

Starting in 2024 

  • £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
  • Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,250 for that year

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

International Students

Starting in 2024 

  • £19,700 per year
  • Year Abroad: £4,925 which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee

If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

Careers and employability

Careers and employability

We offer several practical or placement modules so that you can gain hands-on experience in your chosen career path. For instance, our 'History in the Classroom' module includes practical teaching experience by incorporating a placement in a local school and our 'Heritage Field Project' will give you hands on experience working in the heritage industry, offering you invaluable experience for the future.

We routinely develop paid internship opportunities for our students to gain additional, relevant work experience during their degrees. Roles such as research assistance, conference organiser, and editorial assistant have been offered in recent years.

Graduate destinations

Graduates from our History degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:

  • Department of Education
  • Troubadour Publishing
  • British Standards Institution
  • Nissan

Alex transferred to the University of Leicester in his second year, impressed by the range of academic modules available which meant he could study the area that he was interested in.

Careers and Employability Service


Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.

Related courses

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals

We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

Find out more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Course structure

Year 1

Year 1

The core modules introduce important skills and key developments in modern history and international relations. You will also choose optional modules on British, European, American or global history; different aspects of the 20th-century political order; and a People and Places option, studying one historical person or place in depth.

Core modules

Option modules

Choose one option module from:

Then choose one option module from:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2 (History dissertation)

Year 2 (History dissertation)

In the second year you will start transforming from a student of history into a practising historian, through core modules which enhance your critical thinking, independent research skills and intellectual creativity. You'll explore even more new areas of modern history and politics, choosing from a wide range of optional modules.

If you plan to take the History dissertation in your Final Year, you should take these modules:

Core modules

Option modules

You will also choose four option modules, one each from: List 1 (History), List 2 (Politics), List 3 (History) and List 4 (Politics).

List 1: History modules

List 2: Politics modules

List 3: History modules

List 4: Politics modules

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2 (Politics dissertation)

Year 2 (Politics dissertation)

In the second year you will start transforming from a student of history into a practising historian, through core modules which enhance your critical thinking, independent research skills and intellectual creativity. You'll explore even more new areas of modern history and politics, choosing from a wide range of optional modules.

If you plan to take the Politics dissertation in your Final Year, you should take these modules:

Core modules

Option modules

You will also choose four option modules, one each from: List 1 (History), List 2 (Politics), List 3 (History) and List 4 (Politics).

List 1: History modules

List 2: Politics modules

List 3: History modules

List 4: Politics modules

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year Abroad (optional)

Year Abroad (optional)

We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.

Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.

For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.

Please note

  • A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
  • You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
  • Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
  • Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final year (History dissertation)

Final year (History dissertation)

Your final year is shaped entirely by your preferred areas of interest and specialisation. You will research and write an original dissertation - an independent research project of your own design - with the support of an expert supervisor. You will also choose from a wide range of optional modules that reflect the cutting-edge research expertise of your tutors.

Core module

Option modules

Choose one option module from:

Then choose one option module from:

Choose one option module from:

Finally choose one option module from:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final year (Politics dissertation)

Final year (Politics dissertation)

Your final year is shaped entirely by your preferred areas of interest and specialisation. You will research and write an original dissertation - an independent research project of your own design - with the support of an expert supervisor. You will also choose from a wide range of optional modules that reflect the cutting-edge research expertise of your tutors.

Core modules

Option modules

Choose one option module from:

Then choose one option module from:

Choose one option module from:

Finally choose one option module from:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Why Leicester?

Load the video related to: History at Leicester

History at Leicester

Researching in the Library, Jaipreet found the ‘Special Collections’ particularly valuable.

The David Wilson Library contains fascinating 'special collection' archives of old books and manuscripts, offering a direct connection with the past.

We have well-respected research centres covering Medieval History, Urban History, Local History and Genocide and Holocaust Studies.

The academic staff in the department have written or edited dozens of books and publish regularly in major national and international journals. Where other people only get to read what our experts think, you will be working directly with them, learning from them in lectures and questioning them in seminars.

Reading list

See the types of texts you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for the course and arrive prepared and ready to go.

View a reading list for History degrees

Teaching and learning

We teach through a variety of methods, ranging from large lectures to seminars to individual tutorials. Lectures are used to provide historical narrative and to raise key historical questions and areas of debate; seminars are where you share your opinion about those debates and put forward your interpretation of historical and political issues. The first year normally sees about ten contact hours per week, and greater emphasis is placed on small group teaching and independent study as you progress through the degree.

Assessment is through exams and coursework comprising long and short essays, source analyses, group projects, and both group and individual presentations. Approximately two thirds of your final degree mark will be based on your coursework; one third on your exams.

You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether academic, financial, housing, career or social.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.

Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.

Academic support

Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:

  • study and exam skills
  • academic writing
  • presentations
  • dissertations
  • numerical data skills
  • referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Apply now

Course Qualification Duration UCAS Code Availability
Course Modern and Contemporary History Qualification BA Duration 3 years full-time UCAS Code V140 Availability How to apply
Course Modern and Contemporary History with Year Abroad Qualification BA Duration 4 years full-time UCAS Code V140 Availability How to apply

Data about this course

student studying with a bright desk lamp above

The wide variety of module choices has allowed me to develop my interest in specific areas of history, including urban history.

Elizabeth

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