Overview
A foundation year helps you develop the study skills and self-confidence needed for higher education when you don’t reach the entry requirements for your subject.
Surround yourself with heritage and rich historical culture with a History degree from Canterbury Christ Church University.
Our course spans across the entire historical chronology. From Ancient Rome to modern day, you can tailor your degree to meet your needs. Explore the likes of the Cold War, Ancient Civilisations and Global Fascism before specialising in your particular field with the Dissertation in Year 3.
What’s more, you have the option to work closely with other disciplines, such as Archaeology, enabling you to collaborate and gain wider experience during your course. You’ll also have the opportunity to complete this History degree with a year abroad, so you can take advantage of international academia here at CCCU.
Not only will you delve into multiple themes and periods of history, but you will also gain invaluable transferable skills, which will prepare you for employment. Vital skills such as analysis, critical thinking and reflection are used in almost every job, so a degree in History will certainly kickstart your career in your chosen sector.
We pride ourselves on our close-knit community. So, while our course offers a vast selection of historical topics, your voice will still be heard as you become an active and vital member of our faculty.
Begin your journey as a historian on our UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the city remains small and intimate, there are multiple important monuments to explore, from the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey to the country’s oldest church, St Martin’s. With history right on your doorstep, you’ll have the opportunity to lose yourself both within your studies and history itself.
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. This is why we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Our 2026 course will reflect this new approach. The 2026 course page will be made live shortly.
YouTube video player
Watch on YouTube91%
of our students were satisfied with their teaching in the subject area of History
National Student Survey 2025An inclusive approach
At CCCU, we appreciate that you bring your own unique combination of achievements, experiences, and aspirations. We believe in recognising your full potential – not just your qualifications.
Each application is considered on its overall merits, including relevant work, voluntary, or professional experience. We are committed to fair, supportive, and inclusive decision-making.
If you have your results, you can apply now. You can also call us on 01227 926000 to discuss your options or register for a priority callback, and we’ll get in touch.
Got your results?
Apply nowWaiting for your results?
Book a priority callbackModule information
Modules for years 1-3 for this course are changing from September 2026, however, your foundation year 0 is unaffected. Due to these changes, you will study the foundation year 0 modules listed on this page, then from year 1 onwards you will then study the modules listed on the updated course page.
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and (where relevant to your module) field trips. You will typically have around 9 contact hours per week although your contact hours in Years 2 and 3 will depend on the optional modules you select.
Seminars in smaller groups will enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures.
You will also be supported in your learning through regular access to your tutors who have office hours devoted to students each week, and through one-to-one tutorials during a designated tutorial week in each semester. In addition, you will meet periodically with your personal academic tutor. All modules are supported by a virtual learning environment (VLE), providing information about modules and a variety of learning and support materials. You'll also have access to IT and library facilities throughout your course.
In Year 2, you'll have an opportunity to take an employability module to help develop specific graduate skills.
For your core module you'll have access to PebblePad, a reflective online space where you can construct a portfolio of evidence of your activities that can be exported after graduation. This provides you with a ready-made demonstration of your own development and skills.
All courses are informed by the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy 2015-2022.
When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will continue learning through self-study. Typically, this involves reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, and preparing for coursework assignments/examinations, workshops and seminars. Your module tutor will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities to complete before classes.
For the dissertation in Year 3, you will undertake independent research, working under the supervision of a member of the History team who you will meet with regularly.
You are expected to spend 37 hours per week studying, of which around 9 hours would be contact time.
You will be taught by staff who are professional historians, experts in their fields, and active, published researchers of national and international standing and repute.
All our team members hold doctoral qualifications and have extensive experience in delivering research-informed teaching. You can find out more about the current teaching on our History subject area web page.
Postgraduate students sometimes assist in teaching and assessing some modules, working alongside experienced members of staff. The permanent course team teach the vast majority of lectures and seminars across all three years of the degree.
History shapes both who we are and what we are able to do. In our supportive and dynamic programme, you will unlock the past and open the door to your future.Dr Dave HitchcockCourse Director
How you’ll be assessed
Our History modules are assessed by a variety of methods, with coursework being by far the most common. The coursework component typically involves essays, document analyses, presentations, portfolio assignments, VLE based projects, and class-based multiple choice tests. A few modules, however, do have a formal, written examination component; where this is present, it counts for no more than 50% of the overall module assessment. Usually, each module has two pieces of assessment of different kinds, though some modules have just one assessment.
You must achieve a pass mark of 40 or above in all Year 1 modules order to progress to Year 2.
Your future career
We work hard to prepare you for the world of work by emphasising the transferable skills valued by employers across a spectrum of professions, including empirical research, critical thinking, and clear writing. Recent history graduates have embarked on careers in heritage, education, the public sector, the arts industries and business.
After leaving CCCU and its historians I did a stint in the private sector before finding my real calling as a campaigner within the UK voluntary sector, becoming Head of Campaigns for the RNID (now re-named Action on Hearing Loss). In parallel I became involved with political think-tanks such as the Fabian Society writing on foreign policy issues. In both cases my History degree was useful both in terms of content (how political issues are understood and acted upon) and training (how to construct a sound argument). I am now Head of Communications at International Alert, an NGO for which I continue to use those same skills working in armed conflicts around the world.Chris UndewoodHead of Communications, International Alert
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time - Foundation Year 0 | £5,760 | £15,500 |
| Full-time - years 1-3 | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
The tuition fees relate to 202526 only. Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
Home (UK) tuition fees for Foundation Years at Canterbury Christ Church University will be set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for foundation years in classroom-based subjects or non-classroom-based subjects, as set by the UK Government.
Home (UK) tuition fees for subsequent years 1-3 are currently set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for standard undergraduate degrees set by the UK Government.
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 onwards, our undergraduate home tuition fees for subsequent years of study are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
Apply now
Any questions?
Find out more
Sign up to hear the latest from the University, including upcoming events, useful updates, student life and more!