Studying History and Politics at Cambridge
- UCAS Code: VL12
- How many are admitted to Cambridge every year: 45
- Minimum offer: A*AA
- Essential subjects: History
Studying History and Politics at Cambridge
You will be taught by academics who are experts in their fields. Staff in the Faculty of History and in the Department of Politics and International Studies have a wide range of shared interests in political and international history, and the historical origins of contemporary domestic and international politics and political ideas. You will have access to excellent facilities including a variety of museums and to the books, periodicals and other resources in the Seeley Collection which is one of the largest history student libraries in the world.
What can I do with a degree in History and Politics?
The most popular three employment areas for graduates from History and Politics courses at Cambridge are teaching, communications and publishing and public service. Law and Finance are also popular sectors, and many students continue to further study. The History and Politics Degree will equip you with a range of useful transferable skills including the ability to evaluate evidence, cope with large amounts of information, present arguments clearly and work independently.
For more information, please visit the University Careers Service website
Studying History and Politics at St Edmund’s College
Every year St Edmund’s admits a group of undergraduate students to the History, History and Politics, History and Modern Languages and Human, Social and Political Sciences degree programmes. We are also home to postgraduates studying for MPhils and PhDs in History, Politics and related subjects. Our Director of Studies for History can often be found in College. This means you will be part of a thriving community and you will have plenty of opportunities to discuss your studies in social settings around the College if you wish.
You are taught in a mix of college based small group supervisions and Faculty lectures and classes.
The college offers several spaces where you can study and work on your essays including the Paul Luzio Library building, the Norfolk library, study desks in the Mount Pleasant Halls Common room, the comfortable couches of the CR, in Edspresso, our café, or the benches in our lovely apple orchards.
We also have six study rooms (2 in the Luzio building, 2 in Norfolk building, and 1 in Mount Pleasant Halls), where college supervisions typically take place, and which can also be booked by students for their private study time or group projects.
Our College also has an extremely supportive Student Wellbeing Department, which is happy to lend an ear and provide support should a student feel anxious or overwhelmed with the academic year.
How to apply
Applications for all courses are made through UCAS.
Requirements
Written work
Admissions assessment
Interviews
Deferred entry
Affiliated students
What is a typical Term’s work
Weekly one-hour supervisions taught in College are the focal point of the academic week, providing personal supervision and the opportunity to debate with and learn from senior academics. They are usually taught one-on-one or in small groups. You will write essays or prepare other materials for these sessions, in which you will receive constructive feedback on your work and further guidance.
Alongside preparing for your weekly supervision, which remains the centrepiece of the Cambridge experience, you will attend a number of lectures each week. These are designed to give you clear introductions to the history of political thought, a wide variety of modern British, European, American and world history, the origins of contemporary domestic and international politics, and conceptual issues in political science. Parts of the course are also taught through seminars where group discussion, small group work and presentations are encouraged. You will have 8 to 10 hours of lectures and classes each week. You will be assessed through timed exams at the end of each year.
Our People
- Dr Oliver Coates, Director of Studies: History
- Dr Jose Labarca, Director of Studies: Politics
- Dr Simon Mitton, Life Fellow at St Edmund’s College and College Fellow, Department History and Philosophy of Science
- Dr John F Mueller, Bye-Fellow