(Full time) 2021 start
History and Philosophy BA

Coronavirus information for applicants and offer holders
We hope that by the time you’re ready to start your studies with us the situation with COVID-19 will have eased. However, please be aware, we will continue to review our courses and other elements of the student experience in response to COVID-19 and we may need to adapt our provision to ensure students remain safe. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, regularly visit our website, which we will continue to update as the situation changes www.leeds.ac.uk/covid19faqs
Overview
You’ll gain a deeper understanding of human thought and action over time on this varied joint honours degree.
You’ll discover key concepts and topics such as logic, ethics and historiography through core modules, where you’ll also develop research skills and learn to construct effective arguments. Then you’ll build on this knowledge base by choosing from a wide range of optional modules, allowing you to focus on topics that interest you across periods and cultures.
Both the School of History and School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science are large enough to host an impressively diverse range of research interests. That means we can offer degrees with plenty of choice so you can shape your degree to suit you.
Philosophy of the mind, religion or science, the Crusades, imperial Russia or modern China – whatever you’re looking for, the chances are you’ll find it at Leeds. You’ll also develop a range of skills that really stand out to employers.
The University of Leeds has great facilities for students of philosophy and history. The world class Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscript, archive and early printed material in its Special Collections – valuable assets for your independent research. Our additional library resources are also excellent, and the University Library offers a comprehensive training programme to help you make the most of them.
Leeds has excellent resources for historians, including a wealth of archive material and political documents. The University Library's Special Collections include the Leeds Russian Archive, a resource for the study of Anglo-Russian relations into the 20th century and the Liddle Collection of personal papers from thousands of people who lived through the First and Second World Wars.
The University Library offers full training to help you make the most of our resources.
Take a look around our libraries:
Course content
A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but you’ll take fewer optional and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects.
In your first year you’ll study core modules in both subjects, which will lay the groundwork for your degree. You’ll develop an awareness of historiography and explore key issues in philosophy. You’ll also build key skills in each subject, such as constructing effective arguments. You’ll also have the chance to take optional modules on topics such as philosophy of the mind or science, or key periods of history, or you can study discovery modules from across the University.
You’ll build on these foundations in the following year, when you’ll choose from optional modules in each subject. You’ll maintain a balance across earlier and more recent history, as well as key areas in philosophy such as logic and language, mind and knowledge or value philosophy.
In your final year you’ll continue to take a balanced approach to your choice of philosophical topics while focusing on a specific aspect of history in your special subject. The choices on offer reflect the research interests of our diverse School from the medieval period to the present day, and cut across historical approaches and geographies.
You’ll also have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in research, interpretation and analysis when you undertake an independently researched dissertation.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Historiography and Historical Skills 20 credits
- Primary Sources for the Historian: An Introduction to Documentary study 20 credits
- How to Think Clearly and Argue Well 20 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Empire and Aftermath: The Mediterranean World from the Second to the Eighth Centuries 20 credits
- Faith, Knowledge and Power, 1500-1750 20 credits
- Magic, Science and Religion 10 credits
- History of Psychology 10 credits
- Introduction to the History of Science 10 credits
- Darwin, Germs and the Bomb 10 credits
- History of Modern Medicine 10 credits
- Introducing Medieval European Literature 20 credits
- The Mind 10 credits
- Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion 10 credits
- The Good, the Bad, the Right, the Wrong 20 credits
- Knowledge, Self and Reality 20 credits
- How Science Works 10 credits
- Great Philosophical Thinkers 20 credits
Year 2
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- The Crusades and the Crusader States in the 12th Century 20 credits
- The Crusades and Medieval Christendom 20 credits
- Jewish Communities in Medieval Europe 20 credits
- Conquerors and Conquered: England, 1000-1135 20 credits
- 20th Century Britain: The Burdens of Conflict 1900-1945 20 credits
- 20th Century Britain: Progress and Uncertainty 1945-1990 20 credits
- The History of Africa since 1900 20 credits
- The Global Caribbean, 1641-1848 20 credits
- Race, Gender and Cultural Protest in the US since 1865 20 credits
- Black Politics from Emancipation to Obama 20 credits
- Introduction to the Philosophy of Language 20 credits
- Formal Logic 20 credits
- Ancient Philosophy 20 credits
- Ethics of Life and Death 10 credits
- Political Philosophy 20 credits
- Moral Philosophy 20 credits
- Introduction to Epistemology 20 credits
- Philosophy of Religion 20 credits
- Introduction to Metaphysics 20 credits
- Philosophical Issues in Biology 20 credits
Year 3
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- History Students in Schools 20 credits
- Thinking about History 20 credits
- Histories of Black Britain 20 credits
- Caribbean Identity, Society and Decolonisation 20 credits
- 'Parasites' and 'Cockroaches': Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide in the Modern World 20 credits
- Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics 20 credits
- Philosophy of Biology 20 credits
- Metaethics 20 credits
- Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art 20 credits
- Philosophy of Mind 20 credits
- Feminist Philosophy 20 credits
- War, Terror and Justice 20 credits
- Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science 40 credits
- Existentialism and Phenomenology 20 credits
- Religion, Belief and Ethics 20 credits
Discovery modules
Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.
This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.
Learning and teaching
Our tutors in the School of History and the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science are at the forefront of research in their fields.
We use a variety of teaching and learning styles so you can benefit from their expertise, including lectures, seminars and group work. Independent study is also an important element of the course, allowing you to develop your research and analytical skills.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
Assessment methods may vary, depending on the modules you choose. Exams and essays are the most common, but some modules may also include group work or oral presentations as part of the mix. We offer plenty of support, including extra classes on issues such as exam technique, public speaking and structuring an essay if you need them.
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: AAB including A in History.
Other course specific tests:Where an applicant is taking the EPQ in a relevant subject this might be considered alongside other Level 3 qualifications and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be ABB at A Level including A in History and grade A in the EPQ.
We welcome applications from mature students with Access qualifications, and from students with a wide range of qualifications.
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Access to HE Diploma
Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. This course has additional subject specific requirements for History. Contact the Admissions Office for more information. An interview and a piece of written work may also be required.
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BTEC
We will consider this qualification in combination with other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
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Cambridge Pre-U
D3, M1, M1 including D3 in History.
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International Baccalaureate
35 points overall with 16 at Higher Level including 6 in History at Higher Level.
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Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate)
H2, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 including H2 in History
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Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers
AB in Advanced Highers including A in History and AABBB in Highers, or A in History in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers.
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Welsh Baccalaureate
The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.
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Other Qualifications
European Baccalaureate: 80% including 85% in History.
Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the Schools Undergraduate Admissions Team.
Alternative entry
Were committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.
Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.
Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.
Typical Access to Leeds offer: BBB at A Level including History and pass Access to Leeds.
International
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.
International Foundation Year
International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
How to apply
Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.
International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK/EU students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Undergraduate Admissions Policy 2021
Fees
UK: See fees section below
International: £20,250 (per year)
UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2021 entry
For UK full-time students starting in 2021, the fee for 2021/22 will be £9,250.
The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the UK government and may vary if policy changes.
EU students starting in 2021/22
EU students starting their course in the 2021/22 academic year or later will now be classed as international students and so will need to pay the international student tuition fee.
UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2022/23 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. In other years, the government has confirmed fee levels in the summer. When the fee is confirmed we will publish an update on all course pages.
Tuition fees for new international students for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for international students are published on each individual course page. These are usually published a year in advance, so 2022 course fees should be available from September 2021.
Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.
Read more about paying fees and charges.
Brexit
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs
Financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.
Career opportunities
You’ll gain a broad base of skills from a joint honours degree in History and Philosophy.
As well as in-depth subject knowledge, you’ll have good research skills and be able to analyse complex information from a range of sources. You’ll be able to construct clear and persuasive arguments, and present and defend them using your advanced communication skills. You’ll also have good organisational skills from juggling two different subjects.
Graduates have pursued diverse careers that reflect this variety, in areas like advertising and marketing, journalism, education, charity work, the civil service, business and finance, law and publishing.
Read more about Graduate destinations.
We do everything we can to help prepare you for your career. Student-run career groups allow you to get together with other students who share your career goals, while you could also become a peer mentor or apply for one of our paid internships. Or you could take one of our career-related modules to develop your employability or explore your options.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. Thats one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Study abroad and work placements
Study abroad
All University of Leeds students can apply to spend a year studying abroad. It’s a great way to gain an insight into another culture, as well as gaining valuable experience that will look great on your CV.
The School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science also has exclusive exchange links with universities in Denmark, France and Spain – language classes are available before you go to prepare you for the experience.
Read more about Study abroad in Philosophy, Religion and History of Science
Work placements
Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.
Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.