Contemporary History BA(Hons)

Course structure 

You will be taught in small, participatory seminar groups to foster skills in oral presentation, debating and listening. Every seminar is supported by a preceding lecture.

Your academic work will be supported by workshops that develop your academic and independent research skills.

Year 1
All degrees within the humanities programme area share a first year. Students take six modules that develop the skills central to our courses. These include topics such as historical and philosophical inquiry, cultures, democracy, narrative and society.

Year 2
In year 2, students choose two option pathways to follow for the rest of the degree. Pathways are sets of modules which give students a deep, critical engagement with the subject. 

Final year
Students complete their year 2 option pathways and undertake a dissertation. Project findings are presented in an oral exam that tests skills of presentation, communication, discussion and debate. 

Our courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that what you learn with us is relevant and that your course enables you to develop appropriate skills. When you apply to study with us, we will inform you of any new developments in your chosen programme through Student View.

Female resistance fighters in the Second World War

COVID-19 continues to disrupt exams and English language testing in some parts of the world. For 2022 entry, we have expanded the number of qualifications we are able to accept. If you have, or are sitting, one of the qualifications listed here and it meets our validity policy then you do not need to take an IELTS test, even if we asked you to do so in your offer. Please let us know and send a copy of your results so we can check your qualification.

• English language, English literature, or English language and literature A-levels at grade D or above.
• English courses from other UK universities, subject to subject to being awarded from an accredited institution and at the CEFR B2 minimum levels required and meeting all four components.
• A bachelors or masters degree from an accredited university in the UK or a Home Office majority English-speaking country.
• TOEFL iBT At Home test – check the TOEFL website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• IELTS Indicator home-based test – check the IELTS Indicator website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) - an easy to access online English Language test from Kaplan online that can be taken from home.
• LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam.
• Occupational English Test (OET) – accepted for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements.

If you need additional English language training we have pre-sessional courses available.

All qualifications are subject to our normal admissions checks and the above is only a summary and not a guarantee that your qualification will definitely be accepted. If you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, contact the enquiries and admissions team for more support and guidance. If you are applying for a postgraduate research degree, get in touch with the doctoral college team.

We will also continue accept the standard English language qualifications detailed below.

Prepare for your career  

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences and youll get all of this from your degree.

As a student on the Brighton Humanities programme you have the opportunity to develop wide-ranging subject knowledge and expertise in an area of your choice through your final year dissertation.

You will be challenged and encouraged to become a skilled oral and written communicator, confident in presenting work on your own and as a member of a group.

You will also develop a range of transferable skills including the ability to

• identify, synthesise, analyse and present information from a wide range of sources
• critically examine arguments and develop original responses
• listen, present and debate effectively

Outside of the course you will have opportunities take part in subject-related conferences and events at the university, and to join the student-run Humanities Society which organises a busy annual calendar of expert speakers, debates and events.