History

History at Aberdeen offers an immersive engagement with the full breadth of human experience across the past, exploring the medieval, early modern and modern periods through the histories of Scotland, Europe, America, Asia and Africa. Studying history at a university steeped in five centuries of its own past gives the discipline a distinctive resonance, and Aberdeen's approach combines rigorous archival and primary source work with a genuine openness to the geographical, thematic and chronological range of the human story.

This four-year full-time programme at the University of Aberdeen includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study history in an international academic environment and to engage with historical scholarship in a different national tradition. You will choose from topics across the full chronological and geographical range of the department's expertise, developing your ability to work with primary sources, construct sustained historical arguments and communicate your findings clearly in writing and discussion. The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 152 UCAS points, and the four-year Scottish Honours degree structure allows for a broader first-year curriculum before you specialise in your areas of deepest interest.

You will develop strong skills in research, critical analysis and extended academic writing, engaging with primary documents, secondary scholarship and the methodological debates that shape historical understanding. The year abroad adds both intellectual depth and the personal adaptability that many employers value.

History graduates from Aberdeen enter a wide range of careers. The civil service, law, journalism, teaching, publishing, heritage and museums, international organisations, the third sector and management are all established destinations. The research, reasoning and communication skills that historical study develops are valued across many professional contexts.

Postgraduate study in history, archival science, law, international relations or education is a natural next step for those who wish to pursue specialist professional or academic paths.