Why study this course

History at Cardiff will develop your knowledge and critical understanding of the political, social, economic, and cultural structures of past societies. Our expertise reaches an extraordinary breadth of societies, periods and places, spanning the British Isles, Europe (east and west), Africa, Asia, and the Americas. You will have the opportunity to study both well-established areas, such as political, social, cultural and gender history, or explore areas that might be new to you, such as environmental history or digital history.

In Archaeology, you will be introduced to the archaeology of Britain and the Mediterranean and can pursue specialist study in these areas. The programme also offers opportunities to develop proficiency in a range of archaeological skills. You will develop practical and professional skills through a 4-week placement in Year Two.

Criss-crossing a wide range of time spans and perspectives, our highly respected programme will cultivate intellectual skills such as the ability to assess different forms of evidence critically, to evaluate different interpretations of the evidence, to construct arguments based on evidence, and to express opinions cogently in speech and in writing. Through our degree you will develop the skills advantageous in our digital age: creativity, empathy, critical thinking, persuasive communication skills and the ability to challenge and question

By combining Archaeology and History, you will gain a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge, and creative, critical and employability skills that are of crucial importance in an increasingly competitive jobs market, which opened the doors to a variety of career paths. The time spent on each subject is equally shared, allowing you to study the human past through material, written and visual evidence.

Building on your passions and curiosity, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in the study of the periods and regions which interest you, ranging from the prehistoric to the twentieth century.

Learning and assessment

We pride ourselves on nurturing a friendly, personalised and supportive environment, placing a strong emphasis on individual one-to-one meetings at key points throughout the degree. Bringing a wealth of expertise across theme, period and geography, your lecturers will share latest thinking in the classroom, including their own cutting-edge research.

You will learn through a wide range of teaching methods from interactive lectures, lively discussion-based seminars, and workshops to group work and tutorials. Several modules incorporate fieldtrips and you will undertake 4 weeks of professional placement on an archaeological excavation or with a heritage organisation.

Seminars and workshops offer a rewarding experience to engage critically with the key ideas and reading on a topic. They provide a valuable opportunity to explore ideas and work closely with your lecturers and to learn from other students. In your second and third year, you can undertake independent projects with the support of an expert in the field and one-to-one tuition.

Our teaching methods foster intellectual skills, such as critical thinking, close analysis, evaluating evidence, constructing arguments, using theory and the effective deployment of language in writing and in debate. We also help you gain experience in team working, independent research and time management in a supportive environment.