History and International Relations with Year Abroad BA (Hons)

Explore history and international relations to encounter diverse societies, explain cultural changes and explore the issues causing tension between countries. With new discoveries every day, combined with advancements in technology, you’ll uncover hidden details about the world around you.

A degree in history and international relations is a fantastic launchpad into many careers. You could apply your historical knowledge directly in a museum or heritage role. Or use your communication and analytical skills in a career in publishing, policy making, social research or the Civil Service.

Explore the latest thinking

We’ve designed this course to cover key areas such as the state system, security and globalisation. You'll study through the lens of historical and contemporary examples, from the 1870s Scramble for Africa to the global financial crisis, while learning how to apply theory to the real world.

At the same time, you’ll expand your knowledge as you explore different histories and perspectives from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. You’ll learn from experts who care about providing impactful research. One of our professors wrote and presented the BBC series ‘Suffragettes Forever! The Story of Women and Power’.

Through events, conferences, and our research centres, you’ll hear from high-profile people working in Westminster and Whitehall and be part of conversations on the latest thinking in the area.

As a School of History graduate, you can apply your degree knowledge directly to a career in museums, education or the arts and heritage sector. Our graduates are also highly employable in other sectors and commonly enter roles in publishing, journalism, policy, consumer and social research, management consulting and the Civil Service – making use of skills gained from the programme, including verbal and written communication, research, critical analysis and attention to detail.

Recent graduates from the School of History have been hired by:

• Bank of England
• Croud Marketing
• Deutsche Bank
• Gillamor Stephens
• J.P. Morgan
• LexisNexis

Career support

The School of History has a dedicated Careers Consultant who can offer specialist advice. We hold an annual ‘History Futures’ event where you can meet former students and discover how their studies have helped them progress in their career.

The Queen Mary careers team can also offer:

• advice on choosing a career path
• support with finding work experience, internships and graduate jobs
• feedback on CVs, cover letters and application forms
• interview coaching.

Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.