Undergraduate Study in the School of History
If you want to study a diverse range of historical topics from the Middle Ages to Contemporary History, or choose the focus of your degree at a later stage, then this is your best choice! On our broadest BA degree, you will be required to take two introductory courses on modern, early modern or medieval history and will then be able to choose your remaining units from a wide range of options.
The BA in Medieval History at Queen Mary offers a unique course on the history and culture of Britain, Europe and Islam during the Middle Ages, taught by a team of scholars of international reputation. We offer a broad perspective on the medieval world of Europe and the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on medieval religious cultures, the place of women and minorities in medieval society, and the history of the Crusades.
This BA programme is for those with a strong interest in the making of the world we live in today. You will be able to choose from a wide range of courses focussing on the history of Europe and the United States in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The School of History is home to many of the leading historians of this period. Our staff has expertise in modern British, European, and American history, as well as in the international relations that have defined the contemporary world.
This degree is jointly taught by the Schools of History and Politics, and reflects the close links between the two schools and their subject areas. It provides an opportunity to understand the modern world by studying the evolution of political ideas and institutions alongside the historical development of the major powers. You will study with scholars at the forefront of research in British, European and American history since 1900 and take advantage of the School's links to the world of politics.
This programme links the social and political history of a period to its literary texts. In the first year, you take courses on the theories and methodologies of the two disciplines, together with a pair of linked topics (for example, ‘Shakespeare’ in English, with ‘Society and the State in Britain 1450-1720’ in History).
The Queen Mary History Department was one of the first in the country to embrace film history as a field of study, and for more than 20 years courses on American and British film history have been offered to our undergraduates. More recently, the development of a Film Department at Queen Mary has enabled students to take an even wider range of film courses. The History and Film Studies undergraduate programme provides designated pathways through the courses in both departments.
The study of a modern language and its culture in conjunction with history offers the opportunity to combine two contrasting but complementary areas of interest. Students will follow the core modules specifically designed to help develop language skills.
The study of History in conjunction with German offers exciting academic opportunities as well as excellent employment perspectives. You will be able to take advantage of the Department of History’s strength in modern European, German and German-Jewish history. In addition, Queen Mary’s Center for Anglo-German Relations provides a stimulating environment for teaching and research.
You will divide your time equally between the two subjects. Comparative Literature makes connections between literary texts of different times, places and traditions and between literature and film, music, the visual arts and popular culture, while History complements the study of literature enabling you to gain an understanding of the intellectual, political and social context in which literature is conceived.
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