History with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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Key Course Details

4 Year Full Time With a Classroom based Foundation Year

UCAS Code: V102
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer: See Entry Requirements
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 5,760

4 Year Full Time With a Classroom based Foundation Year

UCAS Code: V102
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer: CDD / DDD - More Information
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 18,400

This course is available through Clearing

Clearing Help and Support 0808 175 3071

Course Overview

Put your fascination with the past to good use by studying History at Swansea University. You’ll build the skills valued by employers across a range of sectors, while exploring the human condition from the middle ages to the present.

The Foundation Year gives you an exciting introduction to Higher Education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful on your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after Further Education or are returning to education after a gap.

Studying this four-year integrated BA degree course opens up a range of exciting career opportunities by helping you develop skills, which are highly valued by employers.

The foundation year gives you an exciting introduction to higher education, exploring the humanities and social sciences before progressing to the full degree programme. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education or if you are returning to education after a gap.

Why History with a Foundation Year at Swansea?

Based at our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, our History course at Swansea University is highly regarded by students and employers.

You’ll be taught by staff with expertise in British, European, and American history, from the middle ages to the modern day, on topics including gender, sexuality, and inequalities; heritage and history in the workplace; medicine, health, and disability; and war, violence, and peace.

You can study the past outside of the lecture hall and the library, through field trips and study trip modules, and apply your knowledge in a work placement. You can choose to spend a semester abroad with one of our many partners in Asia or North America.

History at Swansea University is ranked:

Top 15 in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025)

Your History with a Foundation Year Experience

We offer an inclusive, student-focused learning environment and community. Modules are delivered and assessed in a variety of different ways and you will be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning, to work independently as well as with others, to act professionally, and to master new skills.

During your Foundation Year, you will learn the key skills you’ll need to make your degree a success while developing knowledge of your subject area and how it relates to the humanities and social sciences.

Throughout your course you will have a Personal Tutor to support you in meeting your goals. The student-led History Society, which organises social events and cultural activities, is one of the many societies you’ll have access to as a Swansea student.

History with a Foundation Year Employment Opportunities

Studying History develops skills in critical thought, written and verbal communication, problem-solving, and information gathering and analysis.

Our graduates go on to work in a wide range of sectors including:

Education
Media and Public Relations
Heritage and Museums
Business and Management
Law and Public Services

Modules

In your Foundation Year, you will take a selection of modules that will provide you with key study skills, subject knowledge, and awareness of the importance of the humanities and social sciences.

You’ll then progress to your degree. Your early studies will introduce you to modern British history, literature and society in medieval Europe and an introduction to Roman history. You will then choose your pathway with modules to suit your own interests.

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Academic Writing and Skills Development	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-011
Introduction to Being Human	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-012
Introduction to Research	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-015
Critical Reflection and Problem Solving	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-014
Research Essay	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-016
History, Memory and the Creation of Identity	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-018

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Making History	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH122

Optional Modules

Choose Minimum Of 80 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must select at least four and can select all five of these modules (and not make a selection from the box below). Students must not exceed 60 credits (3 modules) in any one semester

Compulsory Selective - History
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Medieval Europe: An Introduction	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH117
Europe of Extremes, 1789-1989	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH121
Fieldtrip: The Past in its Place	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC100
The Early Modern World, 1500-1800	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH118
Britain and the World 1800 to 2000	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH124

AND

Choose Maximum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : If required select one module to make up six modules in total, three in each semester. Note to select a module ending 160A students must have A level or equivalent at grade C or above.

Optional Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Of Gods and Heroes - Greek Mythology	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC101
Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History, Society and Culture	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE120
Greek History and Society	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH100
Beginners French 1	September-January (TB1)	20	MLF101
Intermediate French 1	September-January (TB1)	20	MLF160A	A level French required (grade C or above)
Beginners German 1	September-January (TB1)	20	MLG108
Intermediate German 1	September-January (TB1)	20	MLG160A	A level German required (grade C or above)
Beginners Spanish 1	September-January (TB1)	20	MLS130
Intermediate Spanish 1	September-January (TB1)	20	MLS160A	A level Spanish required (grade C or above)
An Introduction to American History and Politics	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-100
Rome from Village to Empire: An Introduction to Roman History	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH150
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-118

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Practice of History	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH237

Optional Modules

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must take at least one module from Group A and one module from Group B and one module from Group C over the course of the year. Students must select 60 credits in each teaching block. Please note it is your responsibility to make sure that the requirements of the Programme have been fulfilled.

Group A
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Heirs of Rome: The Making of Christendom, Byzantium, and Islam in the Early Middle Ages, 400-800	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH230
The Anglo-Norman World, 1066-1225	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH287
The Past in the Present: Exploring Heritage Practice and Debates	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC200
Ancient and Historic Places (Study-Trip/Field project: History)	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH2001
Britain in the Early Middle Ages: Slavery, Dragons, Queens and Vikings	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH276
History Work Placement	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH281

AND

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

Group B
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
America in a Nutshell: A History of Pennsylvania from William Penn to Donald Trump, 1631-2016	September-January (TB1)	20	AM-2016
Europe 1500-1650: Renaissance, Reformation and Religious War	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH240
The Past in the Present: Exploring Heritage Practice and Debates	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC200
Ancient and Historic Places (Study-Trip/Field project: History)	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH2001
The Enlightenment and the Eighteenth-Century World	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH246
History Work Placement	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH281
Philosophy of the Enlightenment	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP243

AND

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

Group C
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Making of Transatlantic America	September-January (TB1)	20	AM-217
Rhyfel Cartref America	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH201W
Disunited Kingdom? Class, Race, Gender and Social Division in Twentieth-Century Britain	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH284
The Global First World War	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH293
America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-258
Re-Thinking the South: Southern Culture and History, 1865-1955	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-218
The Past in the Present: Exploring Heritage Practice and Debates	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC200
Medicine and the Modern World, 1800 to the Present	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH275
History Work Placement	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH281
The Story of America on Film and Television, 1607-1867	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH283
Stori America Ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1607-1867	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH283W
The Rise and Fall of the Russian Empire	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH289

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
History Dissertation	September-June (TB1+2)	40	HIH3300

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select ONE Special Subject from the list below. Note that each special subject is capped at 18 students. Overall, students must not exceed 60 credits in any one teaching block

History Special Subjects - Semester 2
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Reign of King John, 1199-1216: Misrule and Magna Carta	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3230
The Great War for Empire, 1754-1764	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3304
The Lights that Failed: the League of Nations and International Peace 1919 -1939	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3340
The First Crusade: Devotion, Piety and Power in the Latin Christian World	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3353
Towns and Cities in Modern Britain	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3360
The Great Depression and New Deal America, 1929-1941	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3364

AND

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select two optional modules in Semester 1. At least one of the optional modules selected must have a HIH code. Students must not select HIH3378 and HIH3378W

Optional modules - Semester 1
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Monarchy: Ancient and Medieval	September-January (TB1)	20	HHC372
The Russian Civil War	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3305
The Placing of History: Digitally Mapping the Historic Past	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3357
The Story of the USA on Film and Television, 1865-2008	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3378
Stori yr Unol Daleithiau ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1865-2008	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3378W
The Rise and Fall of Wales? Politics, Culture and Society, 1847-1939	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3383
From Machiavelli to Mussolini: Government and Society in Western Political Thought	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH396
Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3333

AND

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select one optional module in Semester 2 ensuring that at least one of your optional modules (either from this or last semester) starts with a HIH code.

Optional Modules - Semester 2
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The American Civil War in History and Memory	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-335
Gunfighter Nation: the West in History, Mythology and Fiction	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-340
Pagans, Christians, and the "Falls" of Rome	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH374
Concro'r Byd: Twf a Chwymp Ymerodraethau Prydain a Ffrainc	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH300W
Histories of Empire	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3376
A History of Sex and Gender	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3377
Deformity, Deviance and Difference: Exploring Disability History	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3380
The Cold War	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3382

Entry Requirements

We have vacancies across a variety of subjects for September 2025 entry – please call our Clearing Helpline on 0808 175 3071.

We also welcome enquiries from candidates researching starting a course in 2026 - please see our Entry Requirements Page to find out typical offer ranges or get in touch by email or by telephone 01792 295111.

Are you an international student, waiting on exam results or an English Language test score? If so, we'd encourage you to apply through our free and easy to use direct application system, as you may be eligible for a conditional offer.

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods, carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. Most courses are taught in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider university community.

You can expect a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions - including laboratory work, skills training, or studio-based teaching where relevant to your discipline. These sessions are designed to encourage active participation, collaboration, and the development of both subject-specific and transferable skills.

Digital learning tools are also used to enhance your learning experience. These may include:

Recorded lectures to support flexible study and revision.
Virtual labs or simulated environments, particularly in science, healthcare, and technical disciplines.
Online resources on the university’s virtual learning environment (Canvas), including videos, reading materials, quizzes, and discussion forums.

This approach enables you to engage with and review content at your own pace while benefiting from the structure and support of in-person teaching.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

N.B If you are an international student studying with a Student Route Visa, please note that your timetabled activity, along with any additional supervisory activity (with Swansea University staff present) will take place on campus. In line with UKVI protocol, these sessions will be monitored and data made available on request.

Welsh Provision

At least 40 credits

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study at least 40 credits of this course through the medium of Welsh. Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:

Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

If you study at least 40 credits in Welsh and it is listed as an eligible course on the webpage, you can apply for the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarship (£300 for 1 year), or the Coleg Cymraeg Incentive Scholarship (£500 per year for 3 years).

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts, who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to our students.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Start Date	UK	International
September 2024	£ 9,000	£ 17,500
September 2025	£ 5,760	£ 18,400

Fees for full-time undergraduate UK students on classroom based foundation programmes will increase from Year 1, and in subsequent years, to the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

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 the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

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 the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

UK applicants: Apply now via Clearing

For further information please see our Guide to Clearing.

International applicants: If you don't have all of your results yet, apply using our free direct application system and we'll consider making you a conditional offer. Be sure to check our application deadlines before you submit.

EU applicants: visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our Information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.