History

Will my history degree be recognised?

You should have absolutely no problem with recognition of a history degree from a good university. If you are satisfied with the overall quality of the university and the reputation of its history department then it is unlikely that you will ever be at a disadvantage if you study history abroad.

All degrees within the European Union should be viewed equally although it is always a good idea to investigate the reputation of your chosen university.

Does it make sense to study history abroad?

It really depends on your personal interests. If you study history abroad it is unlikely that you will be studying British history. If you are interested in the history of a different country then it might make sense to go there and study.

In recent years some universities in non-English speaking countries have launched History degrees where English is the sole language of instruction. With the range of English-taught study programmes in History expanding fast, you will have a wide range of options to choose from even if you don't speak any foreign languages.

What else should I bear in mind?

If you are interested in American history you might want to look for degrees in American Studies that will include some history alongside other subjects.

Some universities offer degrees in “area studies”. This broad heading usually includes history, geography, politics, language and culture with reference to a particular country or region. Examples of such courses include International Studies at Leiden University (Netherlands) and various degrees at Sciences-Po in France.

American universities in Europe could offer you the chance to study history in English. However, they will not be focussed on British history so the curriculum is highly likely to be different from British universities. 

Where should I look for history degrees abroad?

The University of Groningen in The Netherlands became the latest European university to start teaching history in English  when they launched the 3-year degree programme "BA in History". The course covers three areas in history studies: cultural history, history of political culture, and economic and social history. There are also opportunities at other Dutch research universities such as Utrecht University and Erasmus University Rotterdam, or private European institutions such as John Cabot Unversity (Italy), Franklin University (Switzerland) or St Louis University (Spain).

You may also want to consider taking a major in History at European universities that follow the American higher education model. For example, the History major at the American University of Paris is available to all third-year students who would like to specialise in this field after completing their two-year general education.


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About A Star Future

A Star Future provides information and guidance to British students looking to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad.

Through our presentations in schools and our websites we aim to ensure that British-educated students are well informed about their choices.