Courses and structure

What do you study?

Credits and levels of learning

An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 courses in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 courses in your final year. A standard course is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half courses or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.

Level 4

You take:

• Concepts and Methods in History
  This core course introduces you to theories of history, methodologies and conceptual problems of advanced historical work from the ancient to the contemporary world. The course will help you acquire some of the fundamental skills involved in historical study – including writing at university level – as well as help you with online research, footnoting and compiling a bibliography. It consists of one lecture and seminar per week. Assessment by: one 2,000-word essay (25%) and one 4,000-word essay (75%). There is also a range of coursework on which feedback is given.
• One of the other three first-year History courses
• Two Politics courses from an approved list provided by the Department of Politics

Level 5

The core course covers Modern Political Theory.

You also choose one other 30 credit Politics course from an approved list provided by the Department of Politics, and 60 credits' worth of History courses, 30 credits of which may be a Group 2 course.

Please see here for a list of History courses currently on offer.

Level 6

You undertake an interdisciplinary dissertation (30 credits) for which you are given special supervision on a subject of particular interest to you.

You can also choose a Special Subject History course (60 credits) from a wide range of subjects offered not only at Goldsmiths but also by History departments throughout the University of London.

Skills and careers

Skills

Degrees in history and combined subjects develop your critical and analytical skills, your ability to express ideas clearly and your expertise in gathering insights from a range of subjects. Historical research enables you to gather and select from a range of materials – literary and visual. It teaches you to write with imagination and clarity.

Careers

Former students have forged careers in journalism and the media, museums and galleries, the Civil Service, teaching and research, law and the commercial world, but the skills learned are also applicable to many more industries and roles.

According to data collated by Unistats, the definitive UK university guide and part of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Goldsmiths is in the top three higher education institutions for highest-paid jobs for History undergraduates.

Careers Service

The Goldsmiths Careers Service provides free information, advice, reference facilities and presentations. You also have access to the University of London Careers Service in Bloomsbury.

About the departments

History

About the Department of History

The Department of History provides a distinctive and intellectually challenging environment for undergraduate study with internationally renowned scholars and a flourishing research culture. We foster enthusiasm for the study of history by focusing on encounters and exploration, ideas and identities.

Our emphasis on encounters addresses the interplay of religious, political and cultural differences across time and place. We use innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to encourage the exploration of issues, controversies, and themes, rather than chronological periods. By examining the development of ideas and identities, we draw upon the past to illuminate the conflicts and challenges of modern life.

History at Goldsmiths nurtures intellectual curiosity and independent critical thinking. We offer flexible and challenging programmes of study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, featuring carefully developed teaching informed by cutting- edge research. The geographical range of our courses includes Asia, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe.

Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers in commerce and industry, central and local government, research and teaching, museums and galleries, law, journalism and the media.

Different areas of specialisation at teaching and research levels include:

• Modern Italian labour history and politics
• Early modern Germany, especially urban and religious history
• Modern history of the Balkans
• 20th century British and Irish history
• Early modern religion, ideas, politics, and popular culture
• Medieval history, gender power politics, crusades and ethnicity
• Social and cultural history of contemporary southern Africa
• Nineteenth century British dress, death, poverty, gender, philanthropy
• Cultural history of the early modern Mediterranean, Venice and its empire, early modern visual culture
• Various aspects of the history of Asian medicine and interactions between medicine and religion

Teaching

Courses are delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. Our staff are drawn from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds, which provides a diverse and rewarding educational experience and creates a broad research profile. Further information on staff is available on page 26.

Applicant days

The department also holds applicant days in early December, mid-February and late March. These are for prospective students holding an offer to study either single honours in history or one of our joint degree programmes.

Applicant days give you the chance to see Goldsmiths and the department, meet staff and students, and hear and participate in sample lectures, as well as to ask questions about the degree programmes and courses, student accommodation and finance. Please contact history@gold.ac.uk for more information.

Politics

About the Department of Politics

Politics at Goldsmiths focuses on three key themes: conflicts, cultures and crossing boundaries. In tackling conflicts, clashes of ideas and nations. Our emphasis on political culture draws in politics from street-level upwards. By crossing boundaries, we reach beyond the study of Politics to many other disciplines. In doing all of this, we offer a number of exciting specialisms including Asia, Africa, and postcolonialism, as well as political theory and core aspects of British and European politics.

Why study in the Department of Politics?

• We were awarded an excellent 22 points out of 24 in the latest Teaching Quality Assessment of Politics and Economics.
• Our research strengths include Chinese politics, European politics, African politics and political thought, British politics, modern political and social thought, history of ideas, Marx and Marxism, the politics of health, international relations and public administration, the relationship between art and politics.
• You'll benefit from extensive computing facilities, direct access to the campus network, a wide range of packages, including SPSS, Microsoft Office, e-mail, Internet, and other software according to individual needs.
• We have research links with private and public institutions.
• We have external links with bodies including the Home Office, Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and representations on the Joint University Council, the European Commission and national bodies.

Staff

Find out more about the specialisms of staff in the Department of Politics.

Student profiles

"Goldsmiths has given me the opportunity to experiment with my studies and be creative with my learning. The course is diverse and extremely thought provoking; it allows me to incorporate my passion for international relations with my desire to learn about the mechanisms that influence the society and culture of everyday life.

Being at Goldsmiths is not just about being an academic student, it is also about being a valued member of a wider community which encourages every person to express themselves to the best of their ability."

Ruhina, BA History & Politics

"The main impetus behind my decision to come to Goldsmiths stems from the fact that it’s a University of London College, and also the fact that it’s situated within London.

As a History and Politics student, I’ve been exposed over these two years to various political thinkers and historical perspectives; this experience has made me become more analytical when reading articles or watching the news."

Francis, BA History & Politics

"I originally wanted to go to a university in London because by doing History and Politics in this city you can benefit hugely from all that London has to offer, such as the free museums and talks! Coming from North Wales made moving to London very different and a bit daunting but after coming to the open day I immediately felt the friendly vibe and relaxed atmosphere Goldsmiths has. It has elements of a campus with the layout but whilst still being in a big city with all the advantages that brings.

Before I came to Goldsmiths I was on a gap year and found that I was ready for the challenge of continuing my studies. The course options at Goldsmiths were a refreshing change from other universities I had looked at - there were vastly varying options and units that were different from the work I had done at school. The degree so far has been brilliant, I have discovered which eras of History I enjoy and although never having done Politics before the help and support you can get through the department has meant that I have not felt a difference between myself and those who have been studying it for years.

In terms of university life in my first year the prospect of coming to university was scary, but as I have since discovered it is the same for everyone! I lived in halls in my first year, which was brilliant as you’re put in with a different mix of people who you find you very quickly become friends with! The first year was about getting settled into university life but I did get involved with the student radio - ‘Wired’ - which was a brilliant experience.

In my second year I am living with people I met in halls and am quickly discovering that the best way to fully enjoy university life is to completely throw yourself into it! This year as well as my studies I am the History Department Representative, a Departmental Student Co-ordinator for History and a Peer Assisted Learning Mentor for Politics. It means I’m very busy but I still have time to go and enjoy the infamous Wednesday night at the Students’ Union and some nights out in central London! I already know that I will really enjoy this year as the more involved you are in the running of Goldsmiths the more you can get out of it and that’s what Goldsmiths is good at. They don’t just give students a back row seat, they encourage them to get involved and have their say. I have already seen big changes purely from the motivation and determination of the students."

Charlotte, BA History & Politics