Department of History Undergraduate Studies Welcome If You Are Intending to Study History I’D Like to Extend My Congratulations Along with a Very Warm Welcome
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Department of History Undergraduate Studies Welcome If you are intending to study History I’d like to extend my congratulations along with a very warm welcome. You couldn’t have chosen a more fascinating subject than History – and I doubt you will fi nd a livelier community of historians than our Department of History at Royal Holloway. As you think about where you want to spend your university years, there are three things you should look for. First, the subject: you want one that will delight and challenge you, that will stretch your mind and provoke your curiosity, and that will teach you how to think clearly and write powerfully. Second, the place: you are looking for somewhere that lifts your spirits and yet somehow also feels like home. Last, and perhaps most important: the people. You want them to be friendly and thoughtful, full of ideas and questions – people who will inspire you. When I fi rst visited Royal Holloway, long before I worked here, it was these things that made an impression on me. I was struck by the exciting way of approaching a broad range of historical topics – from the classical world to modern Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. I was charmed by the lovely setting, which is unusually tranquil given how close we are to the bustle of London. But what caught my attention most of all was the people. I asked the students why they love Royal Holloway they said it was the people: other students of course, but especially the academic staff , who always take the time to listen, and always seem to want to help. When I asked the academic staff the same question, they said it had to be the students. Now I have got to know the department better, I think both sides were right. I do hope you will have a chance to visit us, and see for yourself! Professor Kate Cooper HEAD OF DEPARTMENT 2 History Contents Why study History at Royal Holloway? 4 Degree options, admissions and entry 5 requirements Degree structure 6 First and second year courses 7 Third year courses 8 Resources and the student experience 9 Your future career 10 Academic staff and their research interests 11 CONTACT DETAILS Department of History HEAD OF DEPARTMENT Professor Kate Cooper [email protected] ADMISSIONS TUTOR Dr Alex Windscheff el [email protected] SCHOOL LIAISON Dr James Baldwin [email protected] DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY MORE INFORMATION +44(0)1784 443314 This brochure is designed to complement Royal Holloway’s CONNECT WITH US Undergraduate Prospectus and information on the department’s website at Royalholloway.ac.uk/history facebook.com/history.royal.holloway It is also available as a PDF at royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere @RHULHistory Front: Queen Victoria opens Royal Holloway College on 30 June royalholloway.ac.uk/history 1886 Archives, Royal Holloway, University of London PH/100/1/1 3 Why study History at Royal Holloway? • We off er an exciting range of Single and Joint honours degree programmes, each off ering a remarkable STUDENT VIEW depth and breadth of historical subjects • Outstanding teaching - 98% of students say that our staff are ‘good at explaining things’ and we have an overall satisfaction score of 95%, the highest for any History department in the University of London. (NSS 2017) • You’ll be taught by leading academics with international research reputations and high media profi le • Our research-led teaching - We see a close relationship between top-quality research and excellent teaching. Our courses incorporate aspects of our research and we continue to introduce new ideas as we teach, bringing cutting-edge History into the classroom and sharing in the excitement of original discoveries and interpretations. • Our public profi le - We are a dynamic and outward-looking department. Many of the people who will teach “History at Royal you have a strong profi le in the public communication of history on television and radio, and in newspapers, Holloway has given magazines and online media, as well as working in an advisory capacity to various national governments on me the freedom to topical issues. choose from a breadth • You will graduate with a University of London degree, that is valued worldwide of engaging, dynamic • Small class sizes - Our seminar and tutorial group sizes are capped, to ensure that each student receives courses conducted by personalised attention from their tutors. leading academics. • Our graduates go on to success in a variety of fi elds including media, law, fi nance, industry, teaching, With access to fantastic heritage and the civil service. resources and one- • Dedicated support network, including a personal Academic Advisor to guide you in your studies to-one feedback and guidance from the • Access to some of the richest facilities for historical research anywhere in the world, including the National academic staff , I have Archives at nearby Kew, the British Library and other libraries of the University of London been able to grow as a • Spirited sense of community and programme of events historian and approach • Excellent communication links – central London is only a 40-minute train ride away, and some of the most challenges with a more important landmarks in British history, including Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215, are eff ective work ethic. But on our doorstep more importantly, I felt • A wide range of Study Abroad opportunities in Europe and around the world part of a welcoming, • A culturally diverse staff and student body vibrant community from the fi rst week of my undergraduate degree, which is really important as an overseas student.” Louisa Dasculescu (BA History) Our public profi le Professor Jonathan Phillips and Dr David Gwyn on We are a dynamic and outward-looking Professor Phillips’s PBS series. department. Many of the people who will The Road from Christ to Constantine (2015) teach you have a strong profi le in the public communication of history on television and radio, and in newspapers, magazines and Dr Anna Whitelock regularly online media, as well as working in an advisory features on radio and capacity to the government on topical issues. television as a commentator on the British royal family. 4 STAFF PROFILE “I have published on subjects including the middle-class family home, student rooms at Royal Holloway in the 1890s, and life in institutions such as lunatic asylums, lodging houses, and public schools. I recently curated an exhibition at the Geff rye Museum that looked at the living conditions of the poor and homeless of Victorian London. My current research is on the history of family photography, which underpins my specialist third-year undergraduate course ‘Photography and Film in British Society, 1850-1960’.” Dr Jane Hamlett Degree options There are over 700 undergraduates in the Department, most of whom are reading for the BA in History (V100) Single honours degrees international qualifi cations including Scottish with many prestigious universities across or Irish Highers, USA Advanced Placements, Europe. Students wishing to attend V100 History the Canadian High School Diploma, a European university during their Our traditional single honours degree, covering the ancient world through to contemporary times. and many more. Further details of all International Year will need to meet the acceptable qualifi cations can be found in the V140 Modern and Contemporary History relevant language requirements at either This degree off ers an exciting range of course International and EU requirements section of A-level or GCSE. options for those wanting to specialise in the the course fi nder under entry requirements. modern period. For more details of the opportunities to Applications for entry to all our full-time study abroad, see our website, or contact undergraduate degrees must be made Joint degrees the Admissions Tutor for History. VV19 Ancient & Medieval History online through UCAS at ucas.com. QV31 English & History For further details of Royal Holloway’s INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PARTNERS admissions policy visit royalholloway. OUTSIDE EUROPE VLN1 History, Politics and International Relations ac.uk/admissionspolicy AUSTRALIA VW13 History & Music Before you apply, please do visit on one • Flinders University VV51 History & Philosophy of the College Open Days if you can. If we make you an off er, we will invite • University of Melbourne RV91 Modern Languages & History you to attend an Applicant Visit Day for • University of Queensland candidates so that you can talk to lecturers • University of Sydney ADMISSIONS AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS and students and make sure that this is the • University of Western Australia right course for you. Our typical off ers are AAB-ABB at A-level, CANADA IB 32 overall including 6 ,5,5 in higher level If your fi rst language is not English, you should • Concordia University, Montreal or Distinction, Distinction, Distinction in be able to provide recent evidence that BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. your spoken and written command of the • University of Alberta, Edmonton • University of Ottawa Most applicants take History A-level but English language is adequate – this will ensure it is possible to enter the Department you benefi t fully from your course. More • University of Toronto with a combination of other subjects information can be found at royalholloway. USA ac.uk/international - select Applying. as long as you are able to demonstrate • Arizona State University (ASU) your commitment to studying History in • Boston College your personal statement. We value the STUDYING ABROAD Extended Project Qualifi cation and this will Most of our History degrees are also • George Washington University be taken into consideration. available as ‘with an International Year’ • Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts The step between school or college and programmes, with a year spent studying • Tulane University, New Orleans university is a big one, and so if you are tempted at another top university abroad.