Which history departments are most 'traditional'?

[PacificState]

Asking for a friend's son looking for UCAS advice. He's very political (conservative), objects to 'woke' discourse (sorry I know that's horrible shorthand - he's a nice kid - just quite libertarian).

Very interested in military - hoping to go on to Sandhurst post-degree, definitely army if he can.

He's already looking at War History degrees (King's and Hull) but not sure about remaining UCAS slots.

Do any history departments have a rep for being a bit more traditional these days? Maybe less social history, more 'great man' stuff, and robust on supporting a diversity of political opinion?

He's got good predicted grades, doesn't want Oxbridge.

Thank you

He needs to widen his thought processes. Most old traditional universities will have many interesting topics but he seems to want a narrow spectrum of history which sounds dated and not fit for the modern world entirely. History is critical thinking, not hero worship. He should broaden his view of history I think.

In the nicest way possible, he doesn’t sound very open minded for a teenager. Most universities try to encourage arguing different points of view. He will be entering the real world soon enough.

But the more ‘posh’ unis will probably have more conservative people eg Exeter, St Andrew’s.

My brother went to Salford and he has a particular interest in military history and I’d also say is quite conservative. I’ve no idea if it’s a traditional course but db found enough options with a military slant to keep him happy. No idea if Salford is well thought of or not.

Thanks. He's not hugely open minded I think, but to be fair I doubt he's that unusual for his age - it's just that in his case his pre-existing biases are non-traditional for a teenager. It's not that he'd expect all his peers to agree with him, more that he would want to study Napoleon/Prussia/US in the nineteenth century...

Thanks Quebec, will pass that on

Think it was this military history degree he did. www.salford.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/contemporary-military-and-international-history

@PacificState
Always go to the best university. Don’t seek out odd specialisms for History. So don’t choose Salford over Bristol or UCL if he can get to the latter! Go to the best university his A levels will permit. He should look at the courses and evaluate what they teach. Some options cannot be guaranteed but you have to look at each university.,Prussian warfare has its limitations. It’s breadth of options is what he needs.

DS at Durham currently. Not sure about 'traditional', but what I can see with regards his option choices, there is such a wide choice, there really is something for everybody. Also a highly regarded dept.

He considered Economic history (LSE), as he really liked the course, but decided to stay with straight history.

Thanks Tizer. Not my kid but will pass it on - he has the grades to make a realistic application to 'top' unis but so far has been more focused on military history because that's what he really likes.

@Braveheart35 Durham and LSE were two that occurred to me as well - LSE has a politics and history course that might fit the bill

History and politics at Edinburgh. No idea about the course but full of tories according to DD.

He should look up military history degrees on ucas then look through the modules, see which degree has the most that appeals.

DS looked at Salford and really liked the military side of the course. They also have close links with GCHQ as it's opened up nearby.

DS could have gone to a 'better' university with his A Level results but chose somewhere he likes and has an excellent politics course (not Salford). It's top 5 for politics but not in the league tables.

Thanks Sandy 😂 Hope your DD is enjoying it!

I'm the opposite of this and I hated Durham so I'd probably say there!

Sorry to hear that @BryceQuinlanTheFirst but yes I suspect Durham has its fair share of not-super-socialist undergrads!

Sheffield.

Tell him to follow Peter Caddick-Adams on Twitter. twitter.com/militaryhistori

If he contacts Peter, I'm sure he'll give him lots of advice.

Not sure LSE would be for him. The Webbs were pretty 'woke'..

Interesting idea, to purposely set out to find a university course which will have the lowest risk of actually having your mind expanded.

Why not save the fees and stay at home ?

UEA has a brilliant history dept and tends to fly under the radar but does very well.
Have a look...

Durham!

@FinallyHere
I too find this slightly odd as it’s a narrow specialism for a History degree. However it’s not uncommon. I find MFL applicants on MN who don’t want literature or similar requests which are narrowing down degree content and difficulty. You can find more or less anything but most employers will rate Durham over Salford. University for History matters a lot.

Sheffield would not suit. Very Labour! Ditto Liverpool! However it’s the course on offer that matters at these universities.

That's changed since my day then.

Does he really want to study History? History isn’t just studying dates and ‘important people’.
He sounds more of a hobbyist than someone who is genuinely intellectually curious

Thanks v much for the suggestions, I will pass them on.

As I keep saying it's not my kid but I have known him since he was four so feel obscurely loyal to him! He's massively committed to the army, has been for over a decade. Does endless voluntary work via cadets, huge amounts of community stuff. Studies hard, works two part-time jobs, is a good son.

He just likes military history and doesn't want to experience social death because his politics don't align with the average 18 yo - and I say that as the proud owner of two very, very politically mainstream teenagers who almost never interrogate any of their political stances because they just think the same things that all their peers think.

I think of all the young people I know he's the most intellectually brave. I don't agree with his politics but I admire his independence of thought - and think (as a history grad myself) it's not a bad sign at all of his ability to interrogate information.

Anyway. Thanks again for all the advice - really useful.