History and Politics

History and politics address some of the most fundamental questions about how human societies are organised and how they change over time. History investigates the past through evidence, asking what happened, why it happened and what its consequences have been, developing both a narrative understanding of how the world came to be as it is and the analytical skills to evaluate competing interpretations of events and processes. Politics examines the distribution and exercise of power in the present, the behaviour of states, parties and citizens, and the institutional frameworks through which collective decisions are made and contested.

Together they provide both the historical depth and the analytical framework needed to engage seriously with contemporary political life.

At the University of Sussex the programme includes a foundation year, providing a structured pathway for students developing the academic skills needed for degree-level study, and also includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and work-placement experience. These structural features extend the full course and give you the opportunity to apply your historical and political knowledge in real-world and international contexts, developing the professional and cross-cultural experience that strengthens graduate employability. You will engage with the legacies of empire, war and revolution in today's world, with the causes and consequences of major historical events, and with contemporary political phenomena including populism, democracy and international conflict.

You will develop skills in primary source analysis, political theory, comparative argument, research methods and extended academic writing.

Graduates pursue careers in the civil service, politics, journalism, think tanks, international development, education, law and the charitable sector. Postgraduate study in history, politics, international relations or public policy is also a well-established route.