History and Joint Schools

Oxford’s History course combines the examination of large regions over extended periods of time with more focused work on smaller social groups, shorter periods and particular themes. It provides a distinctive education by developing an awareness of the differing political, cultural, social and economic structures within past societies and how they interrelate. The course combines vigorous debate over questions of interpretation with rigorous attention to source material, while the constant enrichment by cross-fertilisation from other disciplines leads to new questions about the past.

In the joint schools choice is even wider; but in general we encourage students to make their choices in such a way as to bring the two parts of their subject together. In some joint schools there are designated bridge papers which address the comparative methodology of the two subjects. Your tutor will offer advice and suggestions, but those students who get the most out of their degree put increasingly independent thought into choosing to focus on those issues which will develop their particular historical imagination.

BA (Hons) History
BA (Hons) Ancient and Modern History
BA (Hons) History and English
BA (Hons) History and Modern Languages
BA (Hons) History and Economics
BA (Hons) History and Politics

History at Wadham

History has traditionally been a strong subject at Wadham, both in quantity and quality. The broad mix of single-honours history and joint-school students is a deliberately distinctive feature of history at the college, and provides a stimulating interdisciplinary environment.

Students have the opportunity of being taught for specialist papers by tutors in other colleges, but the College tutors retain oversight of each student’s individual course of study. Lectures and seminars are provided on a University basis.