Dr Mohammad Shafiq
Whether you want to study the Ancient Times, the Middle Ages, the early modern era, or the modern era, the United Kingdom is a perfect destination for international students. A history degree from the UK can help you build a promising career in different professions. Various companies and employers, such as heritage organizations, museums, and libraries, prefer history graduates. Let's learn about the best UK universities for history.
When various magazines, newspapers, websites, governments, or academics consider different attributes and metrics of a university to assess the quality and performance of universities, it is called ranking systems.
Organizations or individuals consider various methodologies and factors for university rankings. The following are the most important points to take into account when choosing UK Universities' ranking systems.
Academic reputation is the most important factor in choosing the best universities for history. It implies academic excellence, education quality, and its impact on education.
The second crucial point is the research output. You must consider the quantity and quality of historical research produced by faculty and scholars.
A university must be equipped with libraries, archives, and resources for historical research and study.
Effective teaching is a must for academic satisfaction and achievement scores. The faculty must have the knowledge, skills, and ability to provide history students with meaningful pedagogic experiences.
When shortlisting the best universities for history in UK, consider a lower student-to-faculty ratio. It ensures a better educational process and learning environment.
The research quality of a university is determined by its citation figures and how much impact it has made on society.
A good number of history students graduate from each university every year. Their employment rate will contribute to a positive image for their university.
If you want to learn history from small group supervision as well as Faculty lectures and classes, the University of Cambridge is one of the best universities for history UK. You can explore various aspects and periods of history in-depth, encompassing a timeline of three thousand years and covering the entire expanse of the Earth.
It has the Seeley Library, a good collection of rare historical books, manuscripts, journals, pamphlets, audio-visual material, and MPhil theses. Students can enrol in a wide range of history courses from this educational institution, such as:
The University of Oxford is another top UK university for history. This unique and historic institution is well-known for providing distinctive historical education. For instance, their teaching styles include smaller social groups, shorter periods, and specific themes. Their faculty and teaching instructors are good at intellectual and cultural history options.
The oldest education institution has the History Faculty Library and Bodleian Libraries, as well as many departmental and museum libraries. It has more than 85,000 volumes of predominantly British and European history. The University of Oxford offers a wide range of historical courses, such as:
UCL is an excellent choice if you want to learn history from different subjects, such as Europe, India, China, and the Americas from different aspects like politics, material culture, warfare, magic, etc. This highly-ranked public university offers undergraduate and graduate-level courses in different modules, such as core modules, advanced seminar modules, survey modules, and Thematic modules, and is among the top UK universities for history.
There are 19 libraries in UCL. It has a good classic collection of ancient histories, Greece & Rome, Byzantium, and the early Christian Church. The following are some popular history courses offered by University College London.
International students who want to learn medieval, early modern, and modern history can consider King's College London. Its history department is highly inclusive and has many leading researchers in their fields. Expert historians will teach students in seminar groups in a friendly and supportive environment. You will have access to world-class museums, collections, and libraries to learn various histories.
Its Maughan Library has a huge FCDO Historical Collection comprising some 80,000 volumes to get valuable insights into historical events, diplomatic relations, and global affairs. This public research university offers various undergraduate and graduate-level courses, such as:
This global university is one of the best Russell Group universities for history to learn different country-based history, such as Latin America, North America, Asia, Africa, Ireland, Britain, Europe, etc. It has excellent resources for the study of history. Edinburgh's Main Library has a good collection of rare books, manuscripts, and historic archives to learn the history between the early Middle Ages and the late twentieth century.
Their history courses are intellectually stimulating to enhance critical thinking, broaden perspectives, and foster a deep understanding of historical events. The following are the main subject areas of the University of Edinburgh:
If you want to develop a broad international perspective on the past, this educational institution can help you learn a wide range of historical topics. You will acquire skills in dissecting intricate evidence from diverse sources, honing analytical abilities, and effectively presenting your discoveries.
LSF offers modern international history courses to teach students the history from the fifteenth century to the twenty-first century. Their world-class faculty can help you learn the international history of Britain, Europe, and the world. They offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, such as:
This leading university is well-known for its highest academic and research standards. Their expert historians will assist you in developing a foundational understanding of the past through motivations, context, and characters behind the events. This university's thriving culture of research, seminars, and conferences will help develop an independent view of the historical themes.
Warwick Library has a substantial book collection to learn and explore historical topics from around the globe in depth. The following are the popular courses they offer:
If you want to learn history from diverse themes and approaches, this highly regarded university is a perfect destination. It can help you acquire knowledge of medieval, late modern, political, and visual cultures, and gender history. The history department is located near the medieval World Heritage Site of Durham Castle and Cathedral. This gives you direct access to historical landmarks, artefacts, and resources.
A good number of ongoing programs, public lectures, and research seminars are held each semester to expose students to diverse perspectives and enhance their understanding of historical topics. The university offers a diversified courses:
This oldest Scottish university is well-known for preserving ancient traditions. Their cutting-edge teaching and research can help history students learn history topics in a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment. You can learn the histories of religion, politics, law, commerce, and science without chronological or geographical constraints.
History students will acquire the skills of writing about ancient historians, art, and archaeology. University of St Andrews Library has diverse history books covering various periods, regions, and themes. The following are the common courses they offer:
This prestigious Russell Group university has one of the largest history departments in the UK. Whether you want to learn ancient, medieval, modern, economic, or social history, their historians are experts in their respective fields. Besides, you can acquire knowledge of the history of science, technology, and medicine.
Students have access to a wealth of archives, libraries, museums, and other research institutions inside and outside Manchester. These diverse resources, primary materials, and unique learning opportunities can be beneficial for comprehensive research. You can enrol in the following history courses:
When it comes to choosing the best history university in the world, you can't overlook course content and specialization. It must align with your academic interests to provide a comprehensive and tailored educational experience.
An educational institution with expert historians can provide students with high-quality teaching, mentorship, and access to knowledgeable and respected scholars in the field.
Historical research plays a crucial role in our modern society. A history university must have adequate resources for research because it directly impacts the depth and breadth of students' access to primary materials and scholarly resources.
A university's alumni success and career prospects reflect the institution's impact on graduates' careers and the potential networking opportunities available for current students.
Last but not least, a university's location and lifestyle heavily influence the overall student experience, access to historical sites, and the cultural and social environment.
This educational institution is the perfect destination if you want to study all historical eras with no geographical or chronological limit. Their rigorous and rewarding academic standard will help you embrace new perspectives and challenges.
Students who want to learn Modern History, Media History, and Public History should consider this university. It can help you develop practical and professional skills and choose a promising career easily.
Studying history at the University of Suffolk will help you enhance your analytical and critical-thinking skills. It is located in one of England's richest historical landscapes. You can develop a community with different heritage partners on a variety of projects.
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Here are the top 10 UK universities for History based on The Complete University Guide 2025 and QS World University Rankings 2024:
| Rank | University | Previous Rank (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cambridge | 1 |
| 2 | University of Oxford | 2 |
| 3 | University of St Andrews | 3 |
| 4 | Durham University | 4 |
| 5 | London School of Economics (LSE) | 5 |
| 6 | University College London (UCL) | 7 |
| 7 | University of Warwick | 6 |
| 8 | University of Exeter | 10 |
| 9 | University of York | 9 |
| 10 | King's College London | 8 |
| Rank | University |
|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oxford |
| 2 | University of Cambridge |
| 3 | London School of Economics (LSE) |
| 4 | University College London (UCL) |
| 5 | King's College London |
| 6 | University of Edinburgh |
| 7 | University of Manchester |
| 8 | University of Warwick |
| 9 | Durham University |
| 10 | University of St Andrews |
Ancient History, International History, and Modern History are some of the best history programs in the UK.
University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Cambridge, etc., are some of the best places to study history.
Studying history can help you build a wide range of broad skill sets, such as Analytical skills, critical thinking, etc. It opens doors to various careers and contributes to personal development.
Most history degrees in the UK last for three years. But if you combine the degree with a language course, it will take four years.
Getting a history degree from the UK can help you choose a prospective career in different professions, such as archivist, journalist, archaeologist, heritage manager, researcher, librarian, historic building inspector, etc.
While shortlisting the best UK universities for history and choosing a particular history course or program, make sure it aligns with your interests and helps you lay the foundation for a fulfilling career. Studying in a history course not only opens up your career prospects but also helps you develop a broad skill set for understanding and solving current and future problems.
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