The Medieval and Early Modern History degree scheme is designed to enable you to pursue and develop your interests in pre-modern history. It allows you to travel beyond the increasingly limited syllabus offered by the National Curriculum and take advantage of the wealth of expertise in medieval, early modern and eighteenth-century history that exists within the Department of History and Welsh History.

Why study Medieval and Early Modern History at Aberystwyth?

History has been taught at Aberystwyth since the foundation of the University in 1872, making the Department of History and Welsh History the oldest History department in Wales and one of the foremost in Britain. Despite our heritage we have continued to innovate ensuring that the degree schemes we offer will provide you with the best History degree you can possibly obtain.

Our students rated this course very highly in the latest National Student Survey with a 90% overall satisfaction rating.

All our lecturers are active researchers who publish their work, and you will benefit from being taught the latest historical theories and techniques. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014) assessment the university was placed in the top 50 institutions for research power and intensity. It submitted 77% of eligible staff and 95% of the university's research was of an internationally recognised standard.

This degree scheme also allows you to draw on the Department’s involvement in the Institute for Early Modern and Medieval Studies, and from the wealth of pre-modern manuscript and printed sources available in the National Library of Wales. One of only five copyright libraries in the United Kingdom, housing over six million books, maps, prints and manuscripts, the National Library is situated within a five-minute walk of the Department, and you will undoubtedly find this an especially valuable resource when studying your special subject and writing your dissertation in your third year. Through our close association with the National Library we are also able to offer you exciting work placement opportunities there.

You will find a very friendly and welcoming community in the Department of History and Welsh History, and the lively History Society organizes a programme of guest lectures, visits to places of interest and social events throughout the year.

The Department has established links with a number of universities overseas, so we can also provide you with the opportunity to spend a period of time abroad immersing yourself in a different and exciting historical culture.

91% of our 2014 History graduates were in employment or further study 6 months after graduating, a 10 percentage point increase on the previous year (DLHE 2014). The number of those entering professional level work or graduate level education also increased by 15 percentage points over the year, compared with a 2.5 percentage point increase nationally.

These increases reflect our investment in innovative and strategic student-focused employability initiatives which encompass all our academic Institutes and which we firmly believe are likely to improve our employability ratings still further.

The Department also offers a number of degree schemes and modules taught entirely or partially through the medium of Welsh. Further details may be obtained from the department.

Career prospects

While many History graduates take up careers directly linked to their subject such as working in the fields of archives, heritage or museum management, others find employment in a wide range of related and non-related professional employment, including librarianship, records management, journalism, media, advertising, the legal profession, local government, business and finance, a range of jobs which incorporate research, professional writing, the police force, the military, public relations and personnel management. The research and analytical skills you will develop during your degree will also provide a sound basis for postgraduate study and for a career in academia.

Transferable Skills

Studying for a degree in History will equip you with a range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. These include:
• the ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form
• effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills
• the ability to work independently
• time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines
• self-motivation and self-reliance
• team-working, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement
• research skills

Year in Employment scheme (YES)
The University operates a Year in Employment Scheme (YES), which offers you a fantastic opportunity to take a year out between your second and third year to work in an organisation in the UK or overseas. YES provides a very rewarding and worthwhile experience, both personally and professionally, and can help you to stand out from the crowd in a very competitive job market. The University’s Career Service will help you to explore your options and secure a suitable work placement.

GO Wales
GO Wales is administered by the University’s Career Service, working with local businesses to create paid work placements of a few weeks’ duration for students. It gives you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience which will enhance your CV and make you more attractive to potential employers.

What will I learn?

In your first year we offer a core module designed to ease you into your undergraduate studies. If you have studied History before, it will set your previous historical studies in a wider context; if you have not taken History at A level, it will serve as an ideal introduction to the subject. The module identifies new concepts and historical skills, new methods and periods, and some of the most exciting recent historical works. You will also be able to choose other modules from a selection reflecting a broad chronological and thematic range, so you can study the topics that appeal most to your own personal interests.

In your second year, you will take a module on historical method, which examines the way in which the meaning, methods and writing of history have changed over time. You can also choose from an extensive range of optional modules which allow you to focus more closely on the periods and topics that appeal to you most. 

In your third year, as well as choosing a number of elective modules from a broad spectrum, you will study a specific historical topic in depth for your dissertation, making extensive use of original sources, and deploying the critical research skills of a practising historian. You will be guided by our lecturers in selecting your subject and will be allocated a supervisor to support you throughout the research, planning and writing process.

How will I be taught?

The aims of the Medieval and Early Modern History syllabus are to communicate the variety and excitement of current approaches to the academic study of History, and to teach such key skills as information retrieval, interpretation and self-expression. You will be assessed by a variety of methods, including examinations, assessed essays, projects, presentations, and a dissertation on a subject of particular interest to you.

The Department is committed to teaching through individual tutorials and small-group seminars alongside traditional lectures, and to delivering innovative and high-quality teaching that will allow you to realise your potential, and to meet your learning expectations. Some preparatory reading in advance of your seminars will enable you to fully engage in the more detailed discussions and sharing of ideas that take place, and the small numbers of students in each seminar group means that you will receive a lot of attention from the lecturers. The one-to-one tutorial gives you the opportunity to receive individual attention and useful feedback from your lecturer on the coursework that you have submitted. Coursework will develop your capacity to research, analyse and present an argument clearly and coherently, while seminars will help you hone your presentation skills.

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree course, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.

You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.

Studying History at Aberystwyth has been brilliant. The ability to pick modules and cater to your tastes has allowed me to pursue exactly what I want. If I want to study Russia I can. Alongside this the great teaching staff have a wealth of experience and knowledge and provide excellent teaching. I can approach them very easily and they are willing to give me the time and support I need. I can ask for help with essays and advice on what to read and research. Reading is key as a historian and the Library is a great resource for getting books. It has nearly all the books you need and should the book be out you can go to the National Library of Wales. In my 2 years of studying history I have not regretted my choice once, and going into my third year I simply cannot wait! Connor Lambert

What I love about studying History at Aberystwyth is everything! It is such a great degree scheme, with a wide range of modules to choose from in each year of study. The tutors are fantastic and always helpful and knowledgeable. Everyone within the department is friendly - staff and students alike - which creates a lovely working atmosphere. We have a fantastic resource just down the road, the National Library of Wales, which not only contains every book published in the UK after 1911, but is also a beautiful building to study in and commands the best view over the whole of Aberystwyth town. Studying History at Aberystwyth is the best decision I have ever made! Rachel Twomey