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Introduction

Introduction

Location

Headington/ Harcourt Hill

Course Length

Full time: 1-year

Why choose this course?

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Overview

A history degree is about far more than studying the past. Discover why people act the way they do. Explore how societies develop. Then see how your insights apply to the present day so you can uncover answers to issues that could affect everyone's future.

History with a Foundation Year is a unique integrated degree programme, enabling you to develop academic skills crucial to university study, such as critical analysis, academic writing and collaboration. And we'll support you as you grow your confidence, get to know your strengths and build your knowledge.

In your first year, you'll undertake our Foundation in Humanities course, and you'll then progress to the three year undergraduate programme in History, with an opportunity to do an optional study abroad or work placement, as an additional year. With the diverse experience, confidence and skills you'll gain, you'll be fully prepared for a career in a variety of sectors - with hundreds of years of historical insight to inspire you.


Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 72
A Level: DDD
IB Points: 24
BTEC: MMP

Further offer details

Applications are welcomed from candidates with alternative qualifications, and from mature students.

Modules

Semester 1

Compulsory modules

Being Human: Love, Sex and Death

Love, sex and death - how do these make us human? In this module, you’ll gain core analytical skills, key to studying Humanities at university, as you explore human bodies and emotions through time.

You’ll understand the ideas, practices and experiences that we have around bodies and feelings. You’ll also explore how bodies and emotions are shaped by:

 politics
 religion
 science
 medicine
 literary and artistic fashion.

You’ll analyse texts, images and artefacts to understand the core role of human emotions and bodies in our world.

Cultural Moments

How do genres - styles or categories of literature - grow from major events in history and culture? In this module, you’ll explore how drama and literary studies relate to genre. You’ll get to grips with genres as categories that have evolved historically to become key influences on culture, taste and fashion. You’ll investigate real life cases of key movements across a range of disciplines. You’ll also consider how art responds to life and life to art.

Language, Vision and Representation

In this module, you’ll learn about basic theories of meaning-making. You’ll begin to undertake a critical analysis of systems of representation - which could be spoken or written language, and virtual or physical texts. You’ll come to understand how meaning is made, but also challenged, through acts of interpretation which often we’re not conscious of making. You’ll also be encouraged to reflect on your own role in producing ‘meanings’.

The Reflective Learner

Do you dream of studying a Humanities subject at university? In this module, you’ll gain the core skills and strategies you need to succeed as a university student. You’ll build up knowledge of each of the subjects within our Foundation in Humanities course and learn how to turn critical reading into clear and successful undergraduate assignments. You’ll also learn effective study strategies, including:

 learning from lecture content
 taking part in seminars
 working and studying in groups.


Semester 2

Compulsory modules

Nation and Identity

What is a nation? Do nations develop through shared language or the history of a people? Are they about laws and governance, or habits and customs? In this module, you’ll get to grips with core themes from Humanities subjects, including:

 Philosophy
 Religious Studies
 History
 English Literature
 English Language.

You’ll develop a strong understanding of the concepts of a nation (including elements such as borders and national identity) and its challenges.

Research Project

This module gives you the chance to do independent research on a topic that fascinates you. You’ll gain the key skills you need to succeed as a university student, as you create, manage and complete your own research project. You’ll have one-to-one guidance from an expert academic supervisor in your chosen subject area who will support you to shape your research from your initial ideas through to your completed project.

Optional modules

Eastern Religious Philosophies

What can philosophies and religions teach us about being human? In this module, you’ll immerse yourself in key themes of Eastern religions, including the Buddhist and Hindu traditions. You’ll gain a core understanding of the philosophical foundations of different religious traditions.

French A1 / A2 (1)

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your French degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of French, you’ll develop strong skills in French speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in French, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between France and other countries.

German A1 / A2 (1)

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your German degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of German, you’ll develop strong skills in German speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in German, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between Germany and other countries.

Global Issues

What is ‘global politics’? What do we mean by ‘international relations’? And how do our personal values affect our understanding of politics and historical events? In this module you’ll explore the global challenges we face, and how they are understood by different groups. You’ll examine issues like power structures and global conflict. And you’ll come to understand how these issues impact societies and the environment we live in.

Introduction to International Development

Why do poor people stay poor? Does a country need to industrialise in order to develop? Does population growth help or hinder development? These are the kinds of questions you’ll confront as you explore key issues in the field of international development. You’ll identify the factors that cause poverty in countries defined as ‘less developed’. You’ll look at possible escape routes from poverty and low levels of economic development. We’ll encourage you to draw on your own knowledge and experience where possible in evaluating the policies around development.

Modern British Art

In this module, you’ll dive into art and artists through the century - from the Camden Town Group, to Modernists like Barbara Hepworth and Pop Artists like Peter Blake. You’ll examine paintings, sculptures and films as you discuss how British artists tried to create modern forms of expression. You’ll also investigate the ways they promoted their work, like:

 exhibitions
 manifestos
 books
 little magazines.

You’ll enjoy on-site visits, where you’ll examine works of art firsthand. You’ll also attend exciting lectures and seminars where you’ll explore your ideas and enrich your understanding of modern British art.

Spanish A1 / A2 (1)

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your Spanish degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of Spanish, you’ll develop strong skills in Spanish speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in Spanish, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between Spain and other countries.

Theatre Styles and Contexts

In this module, you’ll examine theatre in the spotlight - and gain a range of theatrical skills. You’ll question the false difference between performance in practice and performance theory. You’ll explore a range of key performance ideas, including how to stage expressionist theatre or draw on rehearsal techniques for naturalist performance. You’ll gain firm knowledge of theatrical forms and approaches to performance, such as:

 naturalism
 performing modernist political theatre
 melodrama
 staging and lighting.

You’ll also pay attention to your own actions as you learn, enhancing your knowledge of theatrical skills.

Young Children's Outdoor Learning

In this module, you’ll explore how young children learn through play. You’ll also discover how adults plan exploration and play for children in outdoors environments. You’ll get to grips with two key areas:

 maintaining good provisions and interactions in an early years outdoors area
 teaching and learning through the Forest School approach.

You’ll look at how children and adults interact in a variety of situations. You’ll also gain core knowledge of health and safety training, as you study issues such as:

 children as risk-takers
 off-site travel
 maintaining a safe environment.

You’ll develop core analytical skills as you explore how research and the government affect children’s outdoor learning.


Learning and teaching

You’ll experience a wide range of humanities disciplines through:

 lectures
 workshops
 tutorials
 project work
 presentations
 group seminars
 supervised independent learning
 critical thinking tasks
 skills acquisition sessions.

You’ll have a dedicated academic advisor throughout your course, for support and guidance when you need it. You’ll also have 1-1 academic supervisor for your second semester research project, providing support and guidance as you need it.

Entry Criteria

ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.

IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:

 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.

English language requirements

Applicants whose main language is not English should have IELTS 6.0.

The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.

The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:

Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.


Assessment

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and assessment

On this course you’ll:

 join a tightly knit and supportive student community
 have the opportunity to actively explore your interests
 be taught by experts in their fields - people passionate about teaching history.

For the Foundation Year, you'll focus on the oral, written and interpersonal skills you'll need to succeed at university. You might examine international development or global politics. Or you could explore philosophy, education or even the history of art. You'll also undertake a research project, enabling you to delve deeper into your area of choice.

Once you complete your Foundation Year, you'll be fully prepared to progress onto the three year History undergraduate degree. You'll explore major themes like war and conflict, cultures, races and identites, and crime and justice. You can even choose your own topics. And we'll encourage you to think about how your findings can provide insights to modern-day issues.

You’ll be mostly assessed by coursework, including:

 essays
 reflective logbooks
 critical commentaries
 video assignments
 e-portfolios
 small group projects.

Career Opportunities

Studying History with a Foundation Year at Oxford Brookes not only instils a lifelong passion for history. It opens up possibilities for career development and makes you a versatile employee in any organisation.

Our work placement modules enable you to gain practical experience and specialist knowledge that will stand out on your CV and are valuable in a variety of fields. With the adept communication skills you'll develop, you may consider jobs in areas like advertising or journalism. One of our graduates is a photojournalist for National Geographic. Others are working in advertising, banking, and retail.

By studying in Oxford, you'll already be familiar with some of the country's best musuems and historical sites. This has benefited our graduates. For example, past students are now working in places like Blenheim Palace, the National Army Museum, and the Battle of Britain Bunker.

You'll be a valuable addition to a variety of sectors like:

 politics
 the Civil Service
 charity
 education
 media
 law.

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