BA (Hons)
UCAS CODES: 4 YEARS – V100
NEW: 4 YEARS WITH FOUNDATION – RF15
Are you interested in looking at international history as much more than a sequence of events?
Learn how the past has shaped the present with this exciting programme which explores international history from ancient to contemporary times. Based in the historic and vibrant city of London, you’ll have access to some of the world’s top museums and collections.
Our students have gone on to a range of successful careers in finance, business, media and not-for-profit organisations thanks to the unique teaching experience at Richmond. We spoke to those alumni as well as faculty members and employers about career prospects for future students graduating with a dually accredited liberal arts degree.
About the programme
We offer an exceptionally wide range of international history courses covering different regions, such as modern China, the Caribbean, Russia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, locating them within themes of global significance and complementing our International Relations, Politics, Film and American Studies degree programmes which you can combine with your History major.
During the first year our students take World Cultural History, and later Myths and Monsters, to give them a strong grounding in traditional historical themes and concepts.
As students progress onto the second year we ensure they can take modules of interest to them. We specialise in thematic social and cultural history courses, such as LGBT, propaganda, fashion, film, migration, black London, race and empire and witchcraft, rather than just traditional chronological and periodic history courses. We also offer wide-ranging courses such as Post-apocalyptic Worlds, Russian History and Politics and American Culture Wars.
At Richmond we encourage debate and discussion of past events and historical controversies, getting students to consider themes such as bias and to question the ‘grand narrative’ that so often ‘belongs to the victor’. Students not only ‘read’ history but they also get to apply what they have learned in a practical sense by conducting their own historical research projects, analysing primary sources, archival data and material objects, and collaborating with our external partners in museums, embassies, and the media in an array of exciting credited internship opportunities. By taking this holistic approach, students develop a range of skills that are readily transferable to an array of postgraduate disciplines as well as to many occupations and careers.
Our internationally renowned professors are enthusiastic, approachable and use a variety of innovative teaching styles and materials, ranging from grime videos and historic walks to an analysis of the Cold War through James Bond films.
There are also many opportunities to share your love of history with fellow students in our HIRPES (History, International Relations, Politics Education Society) history group.
Possible planned visits for next year include trips to a nuclear air raid shelter, a gay-walking tour of Soho, or an immersive Viking experience in York.
Whatever your interests are, we are sure you will feel enthused and engaged by studying history with us at Richmond.
Additionally you can take a semester or a year to study abroad to study history at one of our international partnership universities all over the world. You will not pay more in terms of tuition and you don’t need to add extra time to your degree.
What you will study
Richmond is the only university in the UK where the degree programmes are based on the US educational approach which is a four year pathway. Every undergraduate degree student will first enter our Liberal Arts programme before specialising in their Major.
This programme can also be taken as a three year pathway depending on previous qualifications. The entry requirements for all undergraduate programmes at Richmond are the same, regardless of your chosen Major.
Find out more about the Core Curriculum >>
YEAR 1Courses
Plus one of the following:
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YEAR 2Courses
Plus two of the following:
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YEAR 3Courses
Plus one of the following:
Plus one of the following:
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YEAR 4Courses
Plus one of the following:
Integrated Internship
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In addition to the courses outlined above, there are open electives in each year. Course content and delivery can be subject to change. For more detailed information on the programme specification, please find more details here.
A normal course load per academic year is 30 US credits, equivalent to 120 UK credits. Students complete 120 UK credits at Level 6 in their chosen major.
International History (BA) with Foundation
There are many reasons why taking this programme with a Foundation option could be the ideal choice; you may not have the exact subjects or grades at A level to meet the entry requirements, you may have tried other options such as apprenticeship and want to change direction or have been living abroad.
Whatever your starting point, studying this programme with a Foundation option offers you a great opportunity to gain both a UK and US degree and start the adventure of a lifetime, studying with us in the world’s top student city.
This is what our Foundation option can offer you:
Entry requirements
At Richmond our undergraduate degree programmes, which are based on the US educational approach, are offered on a four year pathway. Every undergraduate degree student will first enter our Liberal Arts programme before specialising in their Major.
This programme can also be taken as a three year pathway depending on previous qualifications. The entry requirements for all undergraduate programmes at Richmond are the same, regardless of your chosen Major.
Below is information on our entry requirements for both 4 years and 4 years with foundation programmes.
4 YEARS
4 YEARS W/ FOUNDATION
We understand that not every student is in the same situation, if you have any questions about your qualifications, please get in touch with us enquiries@richmond.ac.uk.
For more information on English Language Requirements for your country visit our How to Apply webpage.
Fees & funding
Undergraduate tuition fees for students starting their programme this academic year can be found in the table below.
UK |
EU / INT |
US |
||||
| Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | |
| Undergraduate Programmes
(per year) |
£9,250 | £9,250 | £14,750 | £14,900 | $38,000 | £14,900 |
*This includes a scholarship award upon successful application
(Hint: Scroll left & right to view the full table)
For more information visit our Tuition Fees & Funding webpage.
Employability
The University offers personal development seminars, leadership opportunities and access to work experience, volunteering and internships. There is also a dedicated, personalised service for assistance with CV writing, interview preparation tips and much more.
Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to build links with industry experts and Richmond alumni, connecting you to a vast and influential worldwide network.
Internships
We offer career support and advice through our Careers & Internships Office that will assist and guide you in your study choices to make sure you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Whether you are interested in gaining work experience in London or internationally, we will be here to help you find the best possible opportunities.
Through internships you will gain business acumen, beneficial work experiences and transferable skills which will give you a competitive advantage in a fast-paced working environment.
Work while you study across 5 continents through our partners Connect123 and CRCC Asia with destinations in Spain, Argentina, South Africa, China, Japan, Vietnam and Australia.
Graduate Destinations
Below is a list of where some of the graduates of this programme have gone on to work.
Study abroad
All students at Richmond University have the opportunity to study abroad. You can either study at one of our campuses for a semester to a year or study overseas at any of our partner locations across the world giving you an unique experience.
How to apply
You can apply one of three ways, either apply directly through us, apply through UCAS and for our US students, via the Common Application ($50.00).
In order to submit your application you will need the following information
Visit our How to Apply webpage for more information regarding Entry Requirements, admissions processes and to start your application.
When to apply
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you are completing your undergraduate programme of study. In this case you will be offered a place that is conditional on successfully completing a specified qualification and English language qualification if applicable.
If you would like your application to be considered for a Richmond bursary, an early application is strongly recommended.
What our students say
Register for an Undergraduate open event at Richmond >>
Sign up and find out about our programmes, generous scholarships and what life is like at Richmond.
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Alastair Wells2022-12-08 09:39:042022-12-08 14:33:11Student Affairs team here to help
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Alastair Wells2022-12-01 09:35:562022-11-30 09:36:15Could you be a content creator?
“We’re delighted to offer this new BA programme from September 2020, which provides students with the skills they need to succeed in the dynamic world of digital communication and social media. This flexible, versatile, and rigorous programme seeks to future-proof graduates for the intellectual and professional opportunities offered by new technology.”
– Dr. Sam Brooker, Programme Leader
“I studied abroad at Richmond in the spring of 2011 as a history student from the University of South Carolina. People often say that their time studying abroad is one of the best in their lives; in my case, I can genuinely say that my time at Richmond changed the course of my life. The supervision I received from the academic staff gave me the confidence to pursue history at a more advanced level.
Similarly, I enjoyed studying in London so much I was inspired to return for both a Masters and PhD. To this day, I am still connected to Richmond through the mentorship of Prof Dominic Alessio, who has helped to guide me through a lot of major academic decisions and offered me the opportunity to publish with him. I owe my current life direction and many successes to the experience I had at Richmond all those years ago.”
“I studied the BA in History at Richmond from 2007 to 2011, after which I went on to further study as a graduate student at St Antony’s College, Oxford University, where I obtained a Master of Science degree in Russian and East European Studies.
Richmond provided me with broad knowledge and understanding of history and historical research methods, which has prepared me well for my current research position. I believe that the strength of Richmond’s history degree lies in the variety of the courses on offer and the excellence of the teaching. I learned a great deal from all of my tutors and during my studies I was not only motivated to improve my skills and acquire more knowledge, but also received good careers advice, as well as assistance with any academic issues.
I would advise any students to consider the history degree at Richmond as it will give them a chance to develop their their analytical skills and acquire knowledge in many different subjects, from which they will significantly benefit in today’s marketplace, in which employees need to be able to adapt and learn quickly. The greatest compliment that I can pay to Richmond is that the individual attention that I received often equalled and sometimes even exceeded what I got at Oxford. In the history programme at Richmond it is the personal touch that really makes a difference.
Currently, I am working as Research Assistant for Whitgift School’s upcoming WWI exhibition Remembering 1916: Life on the Western Front. My responsibility is to carry out all research on the wide range of WWI artefacts that will be displayed at the exhibition, as well to examine the historiography of the war, the perspectives of different nations, and any other pertinent subjects.”
