History with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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Key Course Details

UCAS Code: V102
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents): CDD / DDD
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 9,250

4 Year Full Time With a 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

History with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

Study History with a Foundation Year and Develop Valued Skills

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.

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

95% of graduates in employment &/or study, or doing other activities, such as travelling, 15 months after leaving Swansea University (HESA 2023)

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.

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

Compulsory Selective - History

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

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 module: 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

Optional Modules

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.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History, Society and Culture	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE120
Greek History and Society	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH100
French for Beginners I	September-January (TB1)	20	MLF101
French Language 1A	September-January (TB1)	20	MLF160A	A level French required (grade C or above)
German for Beginners I	September-January (TB1)	20	MLG108
German Language 1A	September-January (TB1)	20	MLG160A	A level German required (grade C or above)
Spanish for Beginners I	September-January (TB1)	20	MLS130
Spanish Language 1A	September-January (TB1)	20	MLS160A	A level Spanish required (grade C or above)
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
Introduction to Media History	January-June (TB2)	20	MS-120

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

Group A

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.

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
History, Heritage and Classics Study Trip	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC2001
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

Group B

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Making of Transatlantic America	September-January (TB1)	20	AM-217
America in a Nutshell: A History of Pennsylvania from William Penn to Donald Trump, 1631-2016	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH2016
Philosophy of the Enlightenment	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP243
The Past in the Present: Exploring Heritage Practice and Debates	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC200
History, Heritage and Classics Study Trip	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC2001
History Work Placement	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH281
Stori America Ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1607-1867	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH283W
Britain, Slavery and the Slave Trade, c. 1500 -1833.	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH292

AND

GROUP C

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
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
Refugees in the Twentieth Century	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH290
The Global First World War	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH293
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
History, Heritage and Classics Study Trip	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC2001
History Work Placement	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH281
The Rise and Fall of the Russian Empire	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH289
The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-253

AND

Language Optional Modules

Choose Maximum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students to wish to study a modern language should EITHER select ONE 20 credit modern language module for BEGINNERS 1 (MLF101, MLG108, MLS130) in Teaching Block 1 OR select ONE 20 credit modern language module for BEGINNERS 2 (MLF102, MLG109 or MLS131 in Teaching Block 2. (This option is exclusively for students who have already completed MLF101, MLG108 or MLS130 in their first year of study.)

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
French for Beginners I	September-January (TB1)	20	MLF101
German for Beginners I	September-January (TB1)	20	MLG108
Spanish for Beginners I	September-January (TB1)	20	MLS130
French for Beginners II	January-June (TB2)	20	MLF102
German for Beginners II	January-June (TB2)	20	MLG109
Spanish for Beginners II	January-June (TB2)	20	MLS131

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

History Special Subjects

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 16 students. Overall, students must not exceed 60 credits in any one teaching block

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Great War for Empire, 1754-1764	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3304
Towns and Cities in Modern Britain	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3360
The First Crusade: Devotion, Piety and Power in the Latin Christian World	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3353
The Great Depression and New Deal America, 1929-1941	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3364

AND

Optional modules

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select three optional modules. At least ONE of these has to have a HIH code. Students must ensure to select two modules per semester when considering their special subject and optional module choices. Students must not select HIH3378 and HIH3378W

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Monarchy: Ancient and Medieval	September-January (TB1)	20	HHC372
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
The Russian Civil War	September-January (TB1)	20	WS-305
The American Civil War in History and Memory	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-335
History on Screen: Television, Cinema & Gaming	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3379
Deformity, Deviance and Difference: Exploring Disability History	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3380
The Cold War	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH3382
Africa in International Relations	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-3339
Overlord: War, Societies, and the Battle for Normandy, 1944	January-June (TB2)	20	WS-306

Entry Requirements

Our standard entry requirement is CDD-DDD at A-level or equivalent. We require a minimum of 5 passes at Grade A*-C, including Welsh/English Language. Entry requirements are flexible and all offers are made following a review of the application form, predicted/achieved grades and subjects, the reference and personal statement. The course is also a widening access programme and developed to support those who may not have been able to otherwise gain access to HE.

How You're Taught

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

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.

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	£ 9,250	£ 18,400

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/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

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - 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.