History and Philosophy BA
Develop a deeper understanding of human thought and behaviour across time and place. Knowledge of philosophy will make you a more effective student of history, and your history modules will help you to understand the context of some of the great works of philosophy.
-
A Levels
AAB -
UCAS code
VV15 -
Duration
3 years -
Start date
September
- Course fee
- Funding available
- Optional placement year
- Study abroad
- Dual honours
Explore this course:
Course description
Why study this course?
With research-led teaching and flexible courses, follow your passions and develop an in-depth understanding of the issues of the past, present and future.
Learn from world-leading staff teaching an exceptionally diverse range of modules.
In small group seminars, explore the details of a specialised area of history with a true expert on the topic, working with original sources and engaging with cutting-edge historical analysis.
Uncover the past and examine the thoughts and behaviours underpinning human experience - developing a complex understanding of human behaviour across time and place.
A knowledge of philosophy can make you a very effective student of history, and your study of history will help you understand the context of the most profound philosophical thoughts and theories. This powerful combination develops the skills of independent judgement, critical thinking and constructing effective arguments - a set of skills which will open a variety of career opportunities.
Studying history, you’ll have the opportunity to explore past societies from 1000 BCE to the 21st century, exploring global political, social, economic and cultural themes. Studying philosophy, you’ll explore core topics such as the philosophy of language, ethics, metaphysics and logic, as well as specialist areas such as education, film and feminism.
Dual and combined honours degrees
Modules
UCAS code: VV15
Years: 2026
Core modules:
- History Workshop
- Writing Philosophy
- Thinking Historically
- History of Philosophy
Optional modules:
- Empire: from the Ancient World to the Early Modern
- The ‘Disenchantment’ of Early Modern Europe c. 1570-c.1770
- Common People: Everyday Lives in Modern Britain and Ireland
- Beyond Borders? A Deep History of the Connected World
- Mind and World
- The Long View - an Introduction to Archaeology
- Religion, Reason and Reality
- Reason and Argument
- Death and Killing
- Bodies, Sex and Desires
- Science, Medicine and Society
In your second year, you’ll continue to build your foundational knowledge of History and Philosophy, looking in depth at materials and further developing your skills.
Core modules:
- Parchment to Pixels: Interrogating Historical Evidence
- History and the Public
- Ethics from Theory to Practice
- Global History of Philosophy
You’ll also have the opportunity to develop more critical and in-depth examinations of historical and philosophical concepts through a range of optional modules spanning areas such as History and Historians, Contemporary Crises in Historical Perspective, Trumpism: An American Biography, From Democracy to Dictatorship: The 1973 Coup in Chile, Byzantine Intersectionality: Gender, Race and Power in the Medieval Mediterranean, Life Worth Living, The Putney Debates, October 1647, Mind and Language, Political Philosophy, Religion and the Good Life, and Social Justice Today.
In your third year, as well as working on a short dissertation, you’ll continue to advance your knowledge in specific areas of History and Philosophy.
Core modules:
- Short dissertation
- Communicating Philosophy
You’ll also have the opportunity to conduct further study of a specialist area of your choice through a range of optional modules spanning areas such as The World of Intoxicants in Early Modern England, The Wars for Vietnam: Empire, Decolonisation and Liberation, Resistance and Liberation in South Africa: Gandhi to Mandela, Makers of a New World: Merchants, Scholars and Commoners in Late Medieval Europe, The National Security State, Treason, and Individual Rights during the Twentieth Century, Feminist and Queer Studies, Ethics and Belief, and Utopia, Reform and Democracy.
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Learning and assessment
Learning
You'll learn through a mix of interactive lectures and lively discussion-based seminars.
Research is central to the student experience here in Sheffield and all our teaching is informed by the latest findings.
In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to take our History Special Subject module, which allows you to spend a year specialising in a historical topic that really interests you.
You'll be taught by world-leading experts. Our internationally renowned history tutors offer modules spanning four thousand years and criss-crossing continents, allowing you to explore great events, extraordinary documents, remarkable people.
In philosophy, you'll be taught by researchers working at the cutting-edge of their field, meaning your lectures and seminars are informed, relevant and exciting.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods. As well as traditional essays and exams, our degrees include innovative assessments where you’ll write seminar diaries and reflective work, give presentations and design online historical artefacts in mediums such as blogs, podcasts or websites. This broadens your experience and the wide range of transferable skills you’ll develop during your degree.
Entry requirements
With Access Sheffield, you could qualify for additional consideration or an alternative offer - find out if you're eligible.
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
AAB
- A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification
- ABB + B in a relevant EPQ
- International Baccalaureate
- 34; 33, with B in a history-based extended essay
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- DDD in a relevant subject
- BTEC Diploma
- DD + A at A Level
- Scottish Highers
- AAAAB
- Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
- B + AA
- Access to HE Diploma
- Award of the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction and 9 at Merit
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
ABB
- A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification
- ABB + B in a relevant EPQ
- International Baccalaureate
- 33
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- DDD in a relevant subject
- BTEC Diploma
- DD + B at A Level
- Scottish Highers
- AAABB
- Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
- B + AB
- Access to HE Diploma
- Award of the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit
You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification
Equivalent English language qualifications
Visa and immigration requirements
Other qualifications | UK and EU/international
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.
Graduate careers
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities
Our history graduates are highly skilled in research, critical reasoning and communication. You'll be able to think and write coherently, to put specific matters in a broader context, and to summarise complex ideas in a discerning and creative way.
Our graduates have gone on to become successful lawyers, marketing executives, civil servants, accountants, management consultants, university lecturers, archivists, librarians and workers in museums, tourism and the heritage industry.
The combination of academic excellence and personal skills developed and demonstrated in your history degree will make you stand out in an increasingly competitive graduate world.
Companies that have employed our graduates include Accenture, Ernst and Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers and DLA Piper. You'll also find our graduates in organisations ranging from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the Imperial War Museum and the National Archives, to BBC Online and The Guardian.
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities
In the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, we interrogate some of the most significant and pressing aspects of human life, offering new perspectives and tackling globally significant issues.
As a history student at Sheffield, you'll develop your understanding of the past in a friendly and supportive environment.
Our internationally-renowned tutors offer modules spanning four thousand years and criss-crossing continents - allowing you to explore great events, extraordinary documents, remarkable people, and long-lasting transformations, from the ancient period to the modern day and across the globe.
You can tailor your course to suit you, discovering the areas of history that most inspire you most while preparing for the future you want with opportunities like studying abroad, work placements and volunteering.
History students are based in the Jessop West building at the heart of the university campus, close to the Diamond and the Information Commons. We share our building with fellow Arts & Humanities scholars of English, East Asian Studies and Languages & Cultures.
Facilities
University rankings
( A world top-100 university
QS World University Rankings 2026 (92nd) and Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 (98th)
Number one in the Russell Group (based on aggregate responses)
National Student Survey 2025
92 per cent of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent
Research Excellence Framework 2021
University of the Year and best for Student Life
Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024
Number one Students' Union in the UK
Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
Number one for Students' Union
StudentCrowd 2024 University Awards
A top 20 university targeted by employers
The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers report
Fees and funding
Fees
Additional costs
The annual fee for your course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition. If an item or activity is classed as a compulsory element for your course, it will normally be included in your tuition fee. There are also other costs which you may need to consider.
Funding your study
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a bursary, scholarship or loan to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.
Use our Student Funding Calculator to work out what you’re eligible for.
Placements and study abroad
Placements
There are also other opportunities to get work experience, with hands-on projects integrated into several of our academic modules. Alternatively, you can undertake a placement with a heritage or culture organisation, or join our student-led volunteering organisations History in the City and Philosophy in the City.
As part of these you can take part in activities that bring history to new audiences within the local community or introduce school children to philosophical ideas they can apply to everyday life. All of these experiences will help you build a compelling CV.
Study abroad
Visit
University open days
We host five open days each year, usually in June, July, September, October and November. You can talk to staff and students, tour the campus and see inside the accommodation.
Subject tasters
If you’re considering your post-16 options, our interactive subject tasters are for you. There are a wide range of subjects to choose from and you can attend sessions online or on campus.
Offer holder days
If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.
Campus tours
Our weekly guided tours show you what Sheffield has to offer - both on campus and beyond. You can extend your visit with tours of our city, accommodation or sport facilities.
Events for mature students
Mature students can apply directly to our courses. We also offer degrees with a foundation year for mature students who are returning to education. We'd love to meet you at one of our events, open days, taster workshops or other events.
Apply
The awarding body for this course is the University of Sheffield.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.