History and Social Anthropology

History and Social Anthropology at the University of Kent offers students a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of human societies, cultures, and historical developments. This degree programme combines the study of historical processes with the analysis of social structures, behaviours, and cultural practices across different societies and time periods. Students will engage with a diverse range of topics, including ancient civilizations, modern history, social theory, ethnographic research, and contemporary social issues. The programme aims to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of human diversity and historical change.

Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to study comparative perspectives, explore cultural identities, and examine the social factors that influence human behaviour. They will gain practical skills in research methods, including ethnography and archival research, which are essential for careers in academia, policy analysis, cultural heritage, and international development. The programme also emphasizes the importance of global contexts and intercultural understanding, preparing graduates for careers that require an awareness of historical and social complexities.

Students can expect a stimulating learning environment supported by experienced faculty members who are active researchers in their fields. The curriculum includes a mix of lectures, seminars, research projects, and fieldwork, offering a well-rounded educational experience. The programme is designed to be flexible, with opportunities for students to pursue joint honours options or to undertake placements and internships.

By completing this degree, graduates will be equipped with a broad knowledge base and versatile skills applicable in various professional sectors. They will be prepared to analyze social and historical phenomena critically, communicate effectively, and conduct independent research. Whether pursuing further academic study or entering the workforce, students will be well-positioned to contribute to understanding and addressing complex social and historical challenges in a rapidly changing world.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 12450 Year (Non-EEA)

Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 180 ECTS
Credits Total Kent credits: 360
Duration full-time 36 months Partnership Joint Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Part-time, Full-time More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules, you may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.

Stage 1

Possible modules may include:

HI426 - Making History: Theory and Practice

SE301 - Social Anthropology

SE302 - Foundations of Biological Anthropology

Stage 2

Possible modules may include:

SE586 - Ethnographies 1

SE587 - Ethnographies 2

SE588 - Advanced Social Anthropology I

SE589 - Advanced Social Anthropology II

HI613 - Conflict in Seventeenth Century Britain

HI632 - The Tools of Empire 1760-1920

HI707 - Britain and The Falklands War

HI742 - The Cold War, 1941-1991

HI783 - Anglo-Saxon England

HI789 - The Art of Death

HI795 - Inviting Doomsday: US Environmental

HI763 - How the West was Won (or lost): The American West in the Nineteenth Cen

HI5013 - Popular Religion and Heresy, 1100-1300

HI5023 - The American Civil War Era 1848-1877

HI5031 - African History since 1800

HI5035 - History of Modern Medicine and Medical Ethics,1800-2000

HI5041 - Gothic Art: Image and Imagination in Europe, c.1140-1500

HI5055 - Russia: 1855-1945 Reform, Revolution and War

HI5065 - British History c. 1480-1620

HI5075 - Marvels, Monsters and Freaks 1780-1920

HI5092 - Armies at War 1914-1918

HI5094 - Insurgencies and Counter-Insurgencies: The British and French Experienc

HI566 - History Dissertation

HI6002 - The British Army and Empire c1750-1920

HI6009 - Europe and the Islamic World, c 1450-1750

HI6018 - Victorian Science

HI6025 - Everyday Life in Early Modern Europe

HI6036 - Science Satirised

HI6042 - The British Empire: Sunrise to Sunset

HI6032 - Persecution, Repression and Resistance

HI6034 - Anglo-French Relations 1904 - 1945

HI6047 - Communist Eastern Europe, 1945-89

Stage 3

Possible modules may include:

SE579 - The Anthropology of Amazonia

SE591 - Southern Mediterranean Societies: Mashriq andMaghreb

SE592 - The Ethnography of Central Asian Societies

SE547 - South East Asian Societies

SE601 - European Societies

SE593 - Evolution of Human Diversity

SE594 - Anthropology and Development

SE595 - Social Computing

SE584 - The Anthropology of Business

SE585 - From the Raw to the Cooked: The Anthropology of Eating

SE534 - Special Project in Social Anthropology

SE542 - Human Ecology

SE549 - The Anthropology of Health, Illness and Medicine

SE550 - The Anthropology of Gender

SE551 - Anthropology and Language

SE552 - Culture and Cognition

SE554 - Visual Anthropology Theory

SE555 - Project in Visual Anthropology

SE556 - Social Sciences in the Classroom

SE565 - Sex Evolution and Human Nature

SE573 - Ethnicity and Nationalism

SE575 - Medicinal Plants: Home Remedy, Pharmaceutical, Illicit Drug

SE752 - Anthropology of Creativity

HI6049 - The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the Atlantic World, c. 1500 - 1900

HI605 - Independent Documentary Study in History

HI6035 - Anglo-French Relations 1904 - 1945

HI6044 - British Politics 1625-1642

HI6045 - Origins of the Second World War

HI6046 - Wolves, Walruses and the Wild

HI6037 - Science Satirised

HI6039 - The Rights Revolution: The 20th Century US Supreme Court & Society

HI6040 - The Discovery of the World c.1450 - 1800

HI6041 - The Crusades in the Thirteenth Century

HI6029 - The Great War: British Memory, History and Culture

HI6030 - Empires of Religion

HI6021 - Famine in Pre-Industrial Societies

HI6024 - Napoleon and Europe, 1799 - 1815

HI6012 - From Crisis to Revolution: France 1774-1799

HI6014 - Riders on the Storm

HI6016 - The English Reformation and the Invention of the Middle Ages

HI5095 - Insurgencies and Counter-Insurgencies: The British and French Experienc

HI5099 - The Wars of the Roses

HI5093 - Armies at War 1914-1918

HI5068 - War and Modern Medicine 1850-1950

HI5072 - The American Revolution

HI5024 - The American Civil War Era 1848-1877

HI770 - From Blitzkrieg to Baghdad: Armoured Warfare in Theory, Practise and Im

HI796 - Inviting Doomsday: US Environmental

HI747 - The Cold War, 1941 - 1991

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement

• A level: ABB including A level History grade B excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking

• Access to HE Diploma: The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.

• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma): The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances.

• International Baccalaureate" 34 points overall or 16 points at HL including History 5 at HL or 6 at SL

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Kent.

The BA in History and Social Anthropology at the University of Kent offers students a comprehensive exploration of human history, cultural development, and social structures across different periods and regions. This interdisciplinary programme combines the rigorous analytical skills of historical study with insights into contemporary social and cultural practices, providing students with a broad understanding of human society. The curriculum includes core modules in historical analysis, social theory, ethnography, and comparative cultural studies, allowing students to develop critical thinking and research skills essential for careers in academia, public policy, heritage management, and international organizations. Students have the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of topics, from ancient civilizations and medieval history to modern social movements and globalization processes. The programme emphasizes experiential learning through fieldwork, seminars, and collaboration with academic staff who are experts in their fields. It encourages independent research, culminating in a dissertation that allows students to explore a topic of particular interest in depth. The university’s strong links with museums, cultural institutions, and community projects enhance practical learning and networking opportunities. The programme also offers options for international mobility, allowing students to study abroad and gain cross-cultural perspectives. Graduates of this degree typically develop skills in critical analysis, cross-cultural understanding, research methodologies, and communication, preparing them for diverse career paths including academia, journalism, cultural heritage, policy analysis, and non-governmental organizations. Overall, the BA in History and Social Anthropology at Kent aims to produce well-rounded graduates equipped to analyze complex societal issues and contribute thoughtfully to debates about human history and social change.