History

Are you curious about previous cultures? Do you wonder how the past has shaped the people we are today? Come to Reading, study History and discover the richness and variety of the human experience.

History at Reading explores the past and what it means to be human. Our world-leading experts will take you on a journey through Britain, Europe, Russia, Africa, America, the Middle East and South Asia over the last thousand years. You can immerse yourself in modules covering subjects such as crusading, witchcraft and heresy, fascism and communism, gender and culture, and politics and colonialism. You'll learn about a diverse range of societies, cultures and individuals while developing the skills and approaches necessary to study and research history, enabling you to go on to a wide range of careers.

You will be supported by friendly, approachable staff and taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with tutors and fellow students. Our academics are experts at the forefront of their disciplines, whose research feeds into your studies, giving you exposure to the latest developments in the field.

Our degrees are highly flexible, enabling you to shape your studies to fit your own interests. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to study abroad and experience life in another culture. Employability modules and work placements will complement your core learning and prepare you for your future career. Our history graduates are valued by employers for their research, analytical, teamwork and communication skills.

Choose the University of Reading

The University of Reading ranks in the top 100 for Arts and Humanities globally (=92 in QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025) and in the top 125 universities in the world offering History, Philosophy and Theology (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, 2025).
100% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – History).
In the National Student Survey 2024, 98% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024, 97.73% of responders from the Department of History).