History (with Foundation Year) - BA (Hons)

University of Nottingham

Your Foundation Year will help prepare you for the [BA History](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/History-BA-Hons-U6UHISTY.html "Prospectus page for History BA"). Expand your passion for history and develop essential skills in research, writing and debate. This degree covers historical periods from the early medieval era to the present day, focusing on diverse regions such as the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. You do not require a history A level if you join the BA History through the Arts and Humanities Foundation Year route. First, through a range of engaging modules spanning the arts and humanities, you will undertake a preparatory Foundation Year. Our curriculum is carefully designed, with [each of the six modules](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/Foundation-year-module-in-a-minute.html "Video overviews of Foundation modules") giving you the best start to your progression degree. You will develop key skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and digital capability. You'll be able to tailor your assessment topics to explore aspects of your progression degree with elements of interdisciplinarity and real-world applicability. Your dedicated Foundation Year tutors will support you with building these skills, and the confidence for undergraduate study. Our foundation programme is a preparatory year designed for talented UK students with an interest in arts and humanities subjects, but whose personal circumstances make achieving our usual entry requirements difficult. During the foundation year you will be a full member of the university, with all the opportunities this offers, including the same accommodation options as direct entry students. As you work through your year, you may develop different ideas about your progression degree. That’s OK. Your tutors will guide you through your choices, which includes joint honours courses offered within the Faculty of Arts. For now, apply for the named pathway which most interests you. 

* Automatic progression to your degree upon successful completion of the foundation year – there’s no need to reapply. * Get support from dedicated [foundation year tutors](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/your-foundation-arts-staff.html "Profiles of Foundation staff"). * You can change your mind – this Foundation Year allows progression to a [wide range of Arts and Humanities degrees](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/arts-and-humanities-foundation-year.html "Options for undergraduate degrees").

* We’re ranked 16th in the UK for history (Daily Mail University Guide 2026). * The average starting salary for history undergraduates within 15 months of graduation was £29,682 (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23).