BA (Hons) Contemporary History and Politics
- Part-time study available
- International students can apply
- Overseas study available
- Work placement opportunity
Career Prospects
This course develops not only your knowledge of contemporary history and politics, but key transferable skills which are vital to a vast range of career prospects. In any well-paid job or career, you will need presentation skills and an ability to communicate your ideas clearly. Good writing and research skills as well are essential. Our graduates have found employment in business organisations, heritage, local government and the civil service, consultancy, international organisations (such as the EU), media, and multinational organisations and companies.
Graduates from this course may progress on a number of career paths, and thanks to the transferable skills you will develop, you have many options. Popular career destinations include: business management, heritage, political analysis and research, local government, civil service, international organisations, consultancy, publishing and media, teaching, and further academic work and research.
This course is designed to support your personal development and skills to enhance your employability. You will learn to work to deadlines, write clearly and effectively, present your ideas in a professional style, develop vital research skills and methods of communication. These are all desirable and essential skills necessary for well-paid jobs.
Past students now work for international governments and institutions such as the EU, multinational companies, international charities and local government and political parties.
Alumni Profile
Laura Johnson, currently a third year student on the Politics and Contemporary History course:
“I will graduate in August, but I've already got jobs lined up. I've always known I want to be a journalist so over the course of my degree I've been doing various bits of work experience, and over Easter I worked at the Big Issue North which was really good, I got some work published. In January I interviewed for and got a holiday repping job at Thomson Al Fresco, which I'll be doing from June until August. That involves flying out to Europe for a few months. I've just got a job as the editor of the student newspaper, Salford Student Direct, so when I come back I'll be doing that. So that's pretty good, it'll get my foot on the ladder for my journalism career. I've absolutely loved my degree, the combination of the course and the extra-curricular activities I've done, in addition to juggling part-time jobs, has really made me grow up a bit and think properly about my future, and it's also been a lot of fun. The intellectual side of the degree really challenged me and it's really taught me how to think logically. My favourite modules were the political theory ones; I loved learning about Marx and Plato. But I think my favourite part of the degree was my dissertation, the support I received was unparalleled and I loved the self-motivated study.”
Industry Links
You may be able to take part in the Parliamentary Placement Scheme, spending six months in the Westminster office of an MP. You may also take part in the Manchester Television Placement Scheme, where you spend two days per week undertaking research for a television programme on current politics for Channel M. You are also encouraged to attend seminars throughout the year, which give you the chance to meet with people from the industry.
The placements, guest speakers and seminars help you to understand how the industry works and informs your career path after leaving University.