History with a Foundation Year (Full-time) (BA Hons, Foundation)
The History with a Foundation Year degree provides a unique opportunity to dive into the past, exploring significant events and cultures from ancient times to the modern world. Starting with a foundation year ensures you have all the essential skills and knowledge you need to succeed. This course is perfect for anyone with a curious mind and a desire to understand the world through the events, people, and ideas that shaped it. You’ll explore the history of Europe, the United States, and beyond, developing a solid base of knowledge through engaging modules and practical study.
Throughout the degree, you’ll gain an understanding of how to build a historical narrative by using various sources and evidence. You’ll learn to ask critical questions about the past, gaining insight into the richness and diversity of history. By studying political history, social history, and cultural history, you’ll gain a full picture of how different forces and ideas have shaped societies across time.
From your first year, you’ll begin developing valuable research skills and analytical skills through a range of assessments. You’ll use primary sources—such as documents from the period you’re studying—as well as historiographical evidence to build your understanding. This hands-on approach helps you develop critical thinking, allowing you to question, evaluate, and interpret the past more deeply.
One of the key strengths of this course is the emphasis on communication skills. You’ll learn how to share your findings in a clear and persuasive way, which will be valuable in many future careers. These skills are central to this degree, helping you grow in confidence as you express your ideas and contribute to discussions on historical topics. This focus on communication prepares you to thrive in a range of careers where presenting complex ideas clearly is essential.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to conduct your own research, analyse evidence, and create evidence-based interpretations of historical events. The knowledge and skills you gain are highly valued in the job market, giving you a strong foundation for roles in areas such as research, education, media, and heritage work. Whether you’re interested in history for its own sake or as a path to a future career, this degree offers a deep, practical understanding of the past and its impact on the world today.
Course details
- On-campus
- Full-time
- English
Undergraduate Fees
Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £15,525 per year
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our History with a Foundation Year degree values immersive, research-led teaching, with hands-on learning and group discussions that make history come alive. Throughout this course, you’ll engage with a broad range of topics, developing strong skills in historical analysis, critical thinking, and effective communication.
In the foundation year, you’ll build essential academic skills, including writing, research, and critical thinking, while exploring topics in literature, democracy, and human culture. Modules provide a solid grounding, preparing you for the intellectual challenges of university-level study.
(20 credits)
(10 credits)
(10 credits)
(10 credits)
(10 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Year two deepens your knowledge of history, with a focus on political, social, and cultural history. You’ll study themes like ancient life, myth, and civilisation. This year also builds your research skills, allowing you to engage critically with historical sources and diverse perspectives.
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
In the third year, you’ll explore specialised topics, choosing from modules that expand your understanding of specific periods and events. A flexible approach means you can select areas that align with your own interests and career goals.
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Your final year offers an opportunity for independent research, where you’ll complete an Independent Project on a topic of your choice. This year also includes advanced modules, providing a comprehensive understanding of history and the skills needed for evidence-based historical narrative construction.
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(40 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Course Disclaimer
-
The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
testimonial
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
-
GCSEs or relevant professional experience.
³Ò°ä³§·¡²õ  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
GCSE grade A*-C (grade 9-4 in England) in English and Mathematics is also required. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Admissions Advice and Support  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visa and funding requirements  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯â€¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â€¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
 Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
-
Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed. â¶Ä¯
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh 
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯â€¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
-
The programme is assessed in a variety of ways and will include several of the following type of assessment: essays of 1,000 to 4,000 words in length, document analysis, book/ journal reviews, short reports and reflective journals, time tests, seen and unseen exams, field journals, posters, group and individual presentations, dissertations of 10,000 words, wikis, commentaries and film evaluations.
-
The Faculty has estimated on the assumption that students buy new copies of the books. Students may also choose to spend money on printing drafts of work.
Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.
Students are expected to submit 2 hard copies of their final project, the estimated cost for binding these is £20.
Optional Field trip:
Faculty works to ensure that there are a range of fieldwork and field trip options available both locally and internationally. Thus students can opt to take either more expensive or less expensive placements. The Faculty subsidises these but the cost each year is dependent on airfare, location, and currency exchange rates. Below are the upper end of expected costs based on where students have currently done placements.
Fieldwork (depending on where student decides to do fieldwork): c. £500 - £1,500
Individual trips: c. £5 - £50
-
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
-
You will develop powers of analysis, logical thought and evidence-based argument within a supportive and encouraging environment. These skills of communication, understanding, analysis and self-management will provide you with a passport into employment and/or further study. The degree in History equips students for jobs in fields such as museum and archive work, journalism, law, banking, local politics, all types of administrative work, marketing and advertising, and teaching. At Lampeter, we have a strong track-record of helping students progress to postgraduate study – both at MA and PhD level.
- Academia
- Business
- General administrative and management posts; civil service.
- Heritage (library, archives, museum, tourism)
- Journalism
- Law and advocacy
- Local Government, community, local politics
- Postgraduate research
- Teaching