Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Contemporary History course at University of Brighton.
Select a qualification to see required grades
B,C,C
Most popular A-levels studied
See who's studying at University of Brighton. These students are taking Contemporary History or another course from the same subject area.
| Subject | Grade |
|---|---|
| History | B |
| Government and Politics | D |
| Sociology | B |
| English Literature | C |
| Psychology | C |
UCAS code: V140
Here's what University of Brighton says about its Contemporary History course.
Our Contemporary History degree explores modern history, focusing on the transformative events and struggles from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century. Unlike traditional history courses, we incorporate insights from politics and cultural studies to explore not just what happened, but how history is shaped, produced, and used in society.
You’ll examine global issues like the rise of dominant powers, the evolution of racism, and the marginalisation of certain groups. Through small seminar groups, you’ll hone your skills in debate, critical thinking, and persuasive argumentation, preparing you to challenge historical narratives and understand their impact on today's world.
TOP REASONS TO CHOOSE THIS COURSE
Small, participatory seminar groups with every seminar supported by a preceding lecture
Your academic work will be supported by workshops that develop your academic and independent research skills
Become a skilled oral and written communicator, confident in presenting work on your own and as a member of a group
Expert teaching team including academics who develop leading research as part of the Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics
Opportunity to undertake a placement, giving you valuable work experience and contacts
An interdisciplinary approach drawing on, and combining, various disciplines to understand topics and ideas, you will develop a deep and multilayered approach to contemporary issues
An engaging curriculum designed to be both challenging and stimulating, with a mix of lectures, seminars, debates, and collaborative projects
Real-world application - this course encourages you to apply theoretical approaches to real-world issues, preparing you to address contemporary global challenges
Join a vibrant community within the programme and the School of Humanities and Social Science, all based in one building
Opportunities take part in subject-related conferences and events - we have a student-run Humanities Society which organises a busy annual calendar of expert speakers, debates and events.
Source: University of Brighton
Qualification
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Department
School of Humanities and Social Science
Location
Brighton | Brighton
Duration
3 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• Social history
Start date
28 September 2026
Application deadline
14 January 2026
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £9,535 per year |
| Scotland | £9,535 per year |
| Wales | £9,535 per year |
| Northern Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| Channel Islands | £9,535 per year |
| Republic of Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| EU | £17,250 per year |
| International | £17,250 per year |
Year 1 Empires: Global Power and Conflict Politics of the Past History Workshop: Places and Podcasts Material Matters History Workshop: Archives and Filmmaking Revolutions: The Ideas that made the Modern World
Year 2 Critical Traditions in Western Thought 1 and 2
Specialist option pathways Radical Histories Race and Resistance Politics-History-Ideology
Option pathways from wider humanities subject area Philosophy and Literature Self and Society Globalisation, History and Identity Global Politics Morality, Politics and the Good Life Contemporary Global Challenges
Optional Placement Year
Final year Dissertation
Specialist option pathways Radical Histories: A History of Capitalism, its Critics and its Crises Race and Resistance: The Politics of Discrimination and Resistance Politics-History-Ideology: From Pax Americana to the Ends of History
*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.
Showing 43 reviews
2 years ago
They have a big presence at the uni and i regularly use their facilities, which are a more affordable option.
2 years ago
Brighton has a great uni life and is full of day and night time activities for students. There is a big culture of community and many venues do regular student deals. The only downside is most of these activities cost money, so they are not that accessible to students who struggle for money.
2 years ago
The costs of accommodation are quite high - the closest and most affordable accommodation is just within price range, but a lot of the other accommodation is very fancy and new, thus it is very expensive. Rent in student homes is also very high in the city, and I have had to use financial support to...
2 years ago
The tutors are always available for academic support and the student support team have been getting more involved recently to alert the students of how they can access welfare services. I have personally used the welfare services to help me afford rent.
2 years ago
We donu2019t have the best or fanciest facilities, again the arts uni seems a bit under funded, but we do have everything that we need on site - an art shop, a cafe, a restaurant, and a library all within accessible distance.
2 years ago
Our timetable and work load is fairly balanced so we are not constantly struggling to keep up. The tutors all provide a range of perspectives and very helpful feedback and are always available. The course structure doesnu2019t suit me very well - we are more focused on learning as we go instead of b...
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from University of Brighton students who took the Contemporary History course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
63%
low
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
60%
low
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
73%
low
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
60%
low
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
60%
low
Learning opportunities
73%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
87%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
67%
low
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
67%
low
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
67%
low
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
80%
med
Assessment and feedback
72%
low
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
100%
high
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
87%
med
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
67%
low
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
53%
low
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
53%
low
Academic support
87%
low
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
87%
low
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
87%
low
Organisation and management
70%
low
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
60%
low
How well organised is your course?
80%
low
Learning resources
80%
low
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
67%
low
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
100%
high
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
67%
low
Student voice
58%
low
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
53%
low
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
67%
low
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
53%
low
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
14%
low
Other NSS questions
During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?
73%
low
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
53%
low
See who's studying at University of Brighton. These students are taking Contemporary History or another course from the same subject area.
Facts and figures about University of Brighton graduates who took Contemporary History - or another course in the same subject area.
Graduate statistics
30%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
70%
In work, study or other activity
80%
Say it fits with future plans
45%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
20%
Business and public service associate professionals
20%
Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
10%
Administrative occupations
10%
Architecture and construction professionals
Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates
Earnings from University of Brighton graduates who took Contemporary History - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£19.3k
First year after graduation
£22k
Third year after graduation
£28.8k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Contemporary History.
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
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