About the History & Welsh History Department
"Cardiff is a tip-top uni academically, with a 4-star rating for staff interest in its students and a place in the Times Higher Education’s World’s Top 200 Universities" Virgin Guide to British Universities 2010
With a mixture of young and internationally recognised researchers, the Department combines a stimulating learning environment with high-quality research across a range of periods and themes. Over 400 undergraduate students from a diverse range of backgrounds are enrolled on our degree programmes, both as single honours History students and as students studying History with another subject. Our academic staff are equally diverse and bring to the Department their extensive teaching and varied research interests.
Stimulating and Flexible Environment
Our high-quality undergraduate programmes are informed by the latest historical research. They range from the early Medieval period to the present and allow you to study the histories of Britain, Europe and Asia. Our modules cover topics from the Normans to Goebbels and National Socialism; from Fascism in France to early-modern witchcraft; from Welsh emigration to the 'Great Depression' of the 1930s, from shell shock to economic history of twentieth-century Britain. To find out more about the modules we currently offer, visit our Year Two History module or Year Three History module pages.
Our courses encourage you to approach familiar subjects in new ways and introduce you to new topics, allowing you to investigate different approaches - theoretical and practical - in understanding historical studies. Teaching is delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Staff place a value on small teaching groups and tutorials, and on contact with students. They believe that seminars and tutorials are an essential part of learning: they allow you to develop your skills in setting out your ideas and arguments and in communicating your knowledge, skills which are developed through the range of assessment methods we use in our modules. In addition, our degrees focus strongly on the development of skills essential for many careers. There is a range of activities available in addition to the curriculum, from visiting speakers to field trips to Paris, Berlin, etc. The Department has excellent links with universities in Europe and the US, and runs Study Abroad programmes. A Personal Tutor system ensures that you receive academic and pastoral support throughout your studies.
Careers and History
Our degrees help you develop essential historical and other skills - from effective communication and critical thinking to problem-solving and group work - skills which will aid you in working in many different areas. Our students go on to a range of careers in the private and public sectors. Destinations include the law, industry, publishing, government, the media, and journalism, with many of our students continuing their studies at postgraduate level. Visit our Why Study History page to find out more about our degrees and career opportunities.
Postgraduate Opportunities
We have thriving MA programmes in History and in Welsh History, and a strong postgraduate community of students undertaking research for their doctorates. Cardiff also offers a range of interdisciplinary MAs in Medieval British Studies and Ancient and Medieval Warfare. These MA programmes can all lead on to doctoral research.
Research Strengths
The Department conducts cutting-edge historical research and has attracted major research awards from the main funding bodies, such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council. It has particular research strengths in the Crusades, social, economic, cultural, Medieval, medical, gender and Welsh history. To find out more about the research in the Department, visit our research pages.
Public Engagement and Knowledge Transfer
The Department provides a focus for a wide-ranging programme of and knowledge transfer activities. Alongside work with museums, the media and schools, the Department hosts public lectures and runs community-focused and public engagement projects. Previous activities have included , a free learning day at Cosmeston, a reconstructed Medieval Village and living heritage site, while current projects include Welsh Voices of the Great War Online, which involves the public in collecting items and stories that are related to the experiences of the Welsh in World War One.