History is a wide ranging and challenging subject to study. It seeks to understand the past and to make sense of the present, adding an important dimension to the understanding of many aspects of human society. The International History Department is world renowned in its field, offering a unique perspective on the history of relations between states, peoples and cultures. The Department prides itself on giving students the benefit of ground-breaking research throughout its teaching programme. The departmental environment is collegial and supportive. Students and staff attend a number of informal social events during the course of the year. Students are also invited to attend a weekend retreat at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park during the Michaelmas term. We also encourage our students to pursue their personal development outside the confines of their degree programme by, for example, subsidising part of the cost of additional language certificate courses. Past students have followed a range of careers in politics, journalism, public administration, the foreign service, industry, commerce and the legal profession, as well as in research, teaching, libraries and archives.

Our degrees will give you a broad international perspective on the past. We give attention both to domestic and international issues and many of the courses we offer deal with major events in the history of international relations. Since the behaviour of countries in the international arena cannot be understood without a knowledge of their distinct social, political, economic and cultural characteristics, we provide courses covering major aspects of the history of ideas and mentalities. Through studying history you will learn how to analyse complex evidence from a variety of sources, to develop your analytical powers and to present your findings effectively. These skills and a broad knowledge of the development of the world around us are valued by many employers.