Politics and History BA Honours
Source: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/vl12/ Parent: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/subjects/politics/
Undergraduate Study
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Clearing - How to apply
What is Clearing?
Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.
UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.
It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.
How do I get in touch?
Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised. Please contact our friendly advisers to find out if you’re eligible for a place. You can get in touch through our hotlines:
- For domestic students please call us on 0800 073 5050
- If you’re an International student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000
Not available in Clearing \ \ This course is not available in Clearing 2025. \ \ This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2025. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field. \ \ Search our courses in Clearing
[## Undergraduate Open Day
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Course overview
Our three-year joint honours degree focuses on developing your skills and abilities to critically analyse historical and political topics. You'll graduate as a confident independent learner with specialist knowledge in your own areas of interest.
Follow your own path, choosing to study modules which are closely related, or cast your net wide, studying topics that span six continents.
Study in a research-led environment, alongside scholars at the forefront of their fields.
Improve your research skills, completing a range of research projects during your degree.
In history, you'll explore themes including:
- revolution
- slavery
- radicalism
- medical history
- religion
- public engagement with the past
across a variety of periods, geographies and cultures. In politics, you'll look at global politics, political philosophy and international relations.
Download information about this course as a PDF
Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions\ Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.\ \ View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.\ \ See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Quality and ranking
- Top 5 city for affordability in the UK – QS Best Student Cities 2026
- World Top 50 and UK Top 5 student city – QS Best Student Cities 2026
- Global Top 140 University - QS World University Rankings 2026
- Top 200 for Politics and International Studies - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 75 for Arts and Humanities - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 200 for History - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 200 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025
- Top 125 for Arts and Humanities – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026
- Top 125 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026
- Global Top 145 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026
- 89th in the world - TIME Magazine: World’s Top Universities 2026
Professional accreditation and recognition
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability\ Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.\ \ Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.\ \ To find out more please see our terms and conditions
You'll build a foundation to become an independent learner and critical reader/thinker through compulsory modules.
Optional modules give an overview of our range, whether that be the major pathways in Politics (such as political thought and international politics), or the chronological and cultural variety of History.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Evidence and Argument | 20 |
| Order and Disorder: The Shaping of the 21st Century | 20 |
You’ll choose six optional modules in total – three each from Politics and History. Through these modules you’ll deepen your subject knowledge and build on your skills from Stage One.
You'll critically engage with the topics you're studying and become a confident participant in our learning community. If you are thinking about undertaking an optional dissertation in Stage Three, you’ll select modules to prepare you for this.
Modules
You will continue to study a mixture of Politics and History modules. This can be through an even split of modules, or a weighting towards History or Politics. You may include a research dissertation in either subject or a research or community-partnership project on a political theme or issue.
Through study in the recommended modules you'll critically reflect on History and your own ideas through close study of an influential work. You can also broaden your horizons by considering the uses and abuses of history in public life.
Modules
Information about these graphs
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2024-25.
Teaching time is made up of:
- scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
- structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
Most of your modules will be delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops. Seminars become more important in Stage 2 and 3, reflecting your development into a confident and skilled independent learner and part of the School's wider learning community.
In Politics, you can also focus on public speaking, with in-class debates used to test, defend and refine your ideas.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Dissertation or research project
- Essays
- Examinations – practical or online
- Group work
- Portfolio submission
- Presentations
- Projects
- Reflective report/journal
Skills and experience
Practical skills
You'll have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience carrying out community-based politics research. You'll support a local institution or non-governmental organisation and apply some of your learned skills in the workplace.
Research skills
You'll be able to choose to complete an independent research project in Stage 3. You can either complete a dissertation, or the more practical option of hands-on research within the community.
You'll learn to plan, develop and implement a project, while contributing to academic knowledge, or having an impact on the community.
Opportunities
Study abroad
Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.
You can choose to spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas.
If you choose to study abroad, it will extend your degree by a year.
Find out more about study abroad
Work placement
Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.
Find out more about work placements
Facilities and environment
Facilities
You'll be based at our city-centre campus between the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, in the historic Armstrong Building and the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, in the recently refurbished Henry Daysh Building.
You'll have access to a range of on-campus facilities, including:
- the Philip Robinson University Library, which houses over 800,000 books and provides access to ca. 1.8m e-books
- Special Collections & Archives – a rich collection of archival material, historical medical texts and rare books
- The Great North Museum: Hancock, our on-campus museum which holds an extensive collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artefacts
PreviousNext
Support
You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as an academic adviser throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.
Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.
Your future
Join our network of successful graduates
On graduation from our degree courses, you will have the proven ability to think critically, assess complex material and data, carry out research, construct a well-informed argument and articulate it on paper and in person.
Some of our graduates have used this powerful combination of skills to progress directly into careers in politics, economics and international relations – for employers such as the Houses of Parliament, HM Treasury, local government, the Civil Service, inter-governmental organisations and public affairs consultancies.
Others have applied their skills with equal success in the media, law, finance, management consultancy, education, human resources, marketing, business and academia.
Our Politics graduates include MPs in Westminster, fast-track civil servants in the Cabinet Office and Department for Work and Pensions, parliamentary researchers, and Brussels-based public affairs consultants.
Our staff also maintain strong links with governmental bodies such as the UK and Scottish Parliaments, NATO and the EU.
Make a difference
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Careers support
You'll benefit from targeted careers support throughout your degree. In your induction week, you'll explore potential career paths.
In Stage 2, you can apply for a work placement with a local political party or charity. In Stage 3 you can boost your prospects by conducting policy research on behalf of a local community organisation.
Our Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
If you’re studying an accredited degree and thinking about working in Europe after you graduate, the best place to find current information is the UK Government’s guidance on recognition of UK professional qualifications in EU member states. This official resource explains whether your profession is regulated in another country, what steps you need to take, and which organisation you should contact.
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications.
The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2026 entry.
| A-Level | |
|---|---|
| AAB including History. General Studies accepted. |
| International Baccalaureate | |
|---|---|
| A minimum of 34 points including History at Higher Level grade 6. |
Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications
Select your qualification Scottish QualificationsIrish Leaving CertificateAccess QualificationsCambridge Pre-UExtended Project QualificationBTEC Nationals/Cambridge TechnicalsT Level
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Alternative offers at Newcastle
Through one of our contextual or alternative offer routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.
Select your alternative offer A Levels with PARTNERSScottish Qualifications with PARTNERSBTEC Nationals/Cambridge Technicals with PARTNERSContextual OfferRealising Opportunities Offer
Contextual offers
We use certain contextual data from your UCAS form, alongside your application, to consider challenges that you may have faced in your education and the potential effect this may have had on your qualifications. This means you may be eligible to receive a lower contextual offer.
PARTNERS offers
One of the largest and longest support entry routes to university of its kind for students from underrepresented backgrounds. We support applicants from application through to study.
Realising Opportunities offers
A unique programme delivered in collaboration with 10 leading, research-intensive universities in the UK. The programme is open to students in Year 12/first year of college.
Pathways to Newcastle offers
Pathways to Newcastle, our national skills entry route, is available for specific subject areas.
High Performance Athletes
We support promising athletes at the application stage, who compete in regional, national or international levels in their sport.
Qualifications from outside the UK
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English Language requirements
Select your qualification IELTSTOEFLPearsonsDuolingo English TestOther
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Entrance courses (INTO)
International Pathway courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO.
These courses are specifically designed for international students who want to study in the UK and progress onto one of our undergraduate degrees. Our International Study Centre, has a range of study options including:
- International Foundation
- International Year One
- English Language courses
Find out more about International Pathway courses
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees for academic year 2026-2027
The 2026 entry home fees have not yet been confirmed.
| Qualification: BA Honours Full time | |
|---|---|
| Home students Full time: 3 years | Tuition fees (Year 1) Not Set |
| International students Full time: 3 years | Tuition fees (Year 1) £24,500 |
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course. £9,535 is the maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students for the academic year 2025-26. This is set by the UK government. This fee has not yet been confirmed for 2026-27.
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Read more about fees and funding
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Read more about fees and funding
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.
Year abroad and additional costs
For programmes where you can spenda year on a work placement or studying abroad,you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year.
Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.
Scholarships
Find out more about:
- scholarships for UK, EU and international students
- Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students
Open days and events
You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year at our on-campus and virtual open days.
You'll be able to:
- explore our beautiful campus
- find out about our vibrant city
- discover what students think about studying at Newcastle
You'll also have the opportunity to speak to academic staff and find out more about the subjects you're interested in.
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University. Visit our events calendar to find out when we're visiting your region.
Visit our events calendar for the latest virtual events
How to apply
Apply through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:
- the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
- the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
- the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Apply through an agent
International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.
Get in touch
By phone
Call us on +44 (0) 191 208 3333 and press option 1. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am until 4pm.
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