Choices for Universities offering History

[Winstonny]

I am going to send off my UCAS form in the next week or so and I want to check the consensus here among mothers with kids doing the same or already at uni, about my choices for History. In no particular order:

York
Bristol
Edinburgh
Warwick
Kings, London

The rationale for these choices are a) course offerings & locations b) ranking of university generally. Anything else I should consider?

I have grades in hand A(star), A, A

Yes, I'm amazed at the people just assuming you "should" go to Oxbridge if you have the grades.

It's a distinct experience and not one that everyone enjoys or thrives in, regardless of how intelligent you are. No-one should go unless they think they'd actually be happy there, regardless of prestige or the (mistaken) belief that it's some kind of Golden Ticket.

Your choices look fine to me, OP. Except in the rarefied world of Mumsnet these would all be considered top universities.

At school my history teacher always told us that York was THE place to do history.

Nothing to do with the fact she was a York graduate herself, I'm sure!

For History the most important criteria is the modules on offer. Then you can choose within the top offering those modules. DD had a shortlist of Oxford, Warwick and Exeter, as those fitted her requirements. She ended up at Exeter, which was perfect, and has in the end led to a masters at Oxford.

I studied BA history at UCL and would highly recommend. I’ve just finished a funded PhD in history, but most of my cohort went on to get amazing jobs in the media, law, civil service etc.

Son’s sixth form college is ranked one of the top in the UK. They suggest 2 insurance offer type choices out of 5. DC was an Oxford applicant with A* predictions when he applied

I don’t think future employers will be consulting leagues tables in a specific entry year for a specific subject and rejecting someone for 12th ranking vs 9th. I think they will have a more generic view of the competitiveness of a particular uni and awareness of degree/A level grades. My DS got 2xA* and A/B but I didn’t feel the world was his oyster for history - he was rejected from St A. Didn’t try for Oxbridge. I agree Durham might be somewhere to consider, if the claustrophobia isn’t an issue. My son went to Edinburgh for history. He loves the city and the flexibility of the 4 year course. Your list looks great. I agree UCL is also worth considering. Not sure about Exeter.

I’d be looking at costs of rentals as well as course content. Lecturers leave or have sabbaticals.
i was pleased neither DS particularly wanted London colleges, even though I went to UCL eons ago, because accommodation costs are eye watering. Same applies to Edinburgh I believe.
DS did history at Nottingham and loved it, but he’d had enough of 20th century history after A level. Exeter Leeds and Lancaster were also fairly good courses at the time he applied as well.

The trouble with history is that a lot of courses have the same AAA requirements. Oxford, Exeter, Bristol, York...
An EPQ can be a good thing for giving some leeway with that.

My only advice as the mum of a student currently doing a history degree is apply where you want to live rather than worry necessarily about where the uni ranks or how a potential recruiter may perceive you in the future.
Ds applied various places and ended up with offers from kcl, Glasgow and Edinburgh. He ended up going to Glasgow as he loved the city/socialising and access to countryside with the comparatively low cost of living. It was 100 % the right choice for him and he loves it there. Modules will change every year and whats offered in year one ( and what you think you want to study in greater depth in future years) may not be what you end up really enjoying in year 3 and onwards. Pick a city or campus that you can really see yourself enjoying life and thriving instead.

Yes, for KCL History & War Studies BA. Otherwise not considering London colleges. It is the outlier.

There was an initial surge due to the Prince William factor, but that's a bit out of date by now. St Andrews rates consistently as excellent for teaching quality and student satisfaction. Great History dept.

Tbh , I think the PW factor was really only wealthy Americans. That was helpful to the uni though.

As a Scot, I can confidently say, that St Andrew's was already full of posh English people long before he chose it. Scottish people don't gravitate to it as much as, or at least more than, other Scottish universities.

The league tables are fascinating things, and with the drive for healthier lifestyles a definite boon for the salt industry.

CUG has been publishing tables for the past 18 years and purely from an historical perspective, as the OP is applying to study history, the attachments show the placement history for the current top 20 unis in the history subject table, plus four others for general interest only - including Hull uni which was in the top 10 for History in the table published for 2008.

Poor old Hull. It just goes to show what not being in RG and having financial and perhaps location issues does to a university... it was in my day considered really excellent also for English, languages and drama and still has a lingering reputation for politics.

I have parental anecdotes that match your assessment of Hull. On the Complete University Guide it now ranks the absolute lowest of the "original, traditional" universities with many ex-polytechnics way above it.

Took me a while boys! Just got the salt thing!!

😆

That's true, but history in particular can lead you in a multitude of directions.

It's worth checking whether a degree from X University would be a good idea if your ultimate aim is to work in certain areas. It's also worth noting that even if employers don't look at university attended, they are going to find other ways to sift applications, so it behoves students (1) to have a solid idea of where they're heading after graduation and (2) to show initiative in finding internships or employment during summers that are related to their target.

I'd look at what universities are most likely to help you find relevant internships in the area you're interested in once you've graduated. Sometimes a very well-regarded university can help you get a toe over the threshold of a valuable internship or work experience.

I hadn’t realised how far down Hull was at the overall level at 73rd, compared with its position for history at 37th which is comfortably in the top half. Though financial wise York also has its fairly significant issues.

Your choices are all great. If you’ve got a clear interest, and they all have modules that match it (multiple ones, not just one at it could be pulled) then that’s a great UCAS form. The only other things I’d consider are

• if you’re very interested in Japan are there study abroad options for Japan at each?
• what are the costs of first year accomm and is it affordable with your loan amount/can you work enough this year to make it work? No point putting any choices down where finances mean it’s not possible.

@mathanxiety have you attended Uni in UK? I have not heard of any universities that help applicant get internships/ jobs .....

My sister is applying to Bath for Psychology, where I think they do actively help you get a "year in industry" place for the 3rd of 4 yrs. We heard that most universities make this fully your own responsibility to find, but that Bath was the exception. I think our mum read it on here somewhere, but don't know about anywhere else doing it.

Surrey and possibly Reading used to do industrial years for Psychology - both universities had strong links to clinical and occupational work post graduate which I assumed was the reason.

Any university offering an industrial year should have processes in place to help find placements.

Yes Bath does this and have also just started their own summer internships.

As it goes my DS has just had a uni summer internship. He does history at Birmingham.

Every uni will offer ‘help’ with placements and internships but it depends on the uni what that looks like - it can range from actively marching the student somewhere and sending them, to compiling opportunities and supporting applications, to bringing in employers, to barely anything - and can vary within faculties at the same uni.

if it’s something you’re interested in it’s worth asking the careers team at the uni for the finer detail on the process.