Keele University

What you'll study

This joint-degree programme brings together core historical study with modules on education theory and practice. In the first year you take foundational modules in historical methods and periods (for example social and political histories of Britain, Europe and the wider world) alongside introductory units in education studies covering learning theory, development, and the organisation of schooling.

In later years you deepen your historical specialisms (options often include British cultural and political history, empire and post‑colonial studies, gender and social history, public history and archives) while combining them with education-focused options such as curriculum and assessment, inclusion and special educational needs, comparative and international education, and education policy and equity. The course emphasises research skills: you will study historiography and research methods and complete a substantial independent project or dissertation drawing on primary and secondary sources.

Practical experience is a key feature. You will have opportunities for school and community placements or work‑based learning modules that allow observation and experience of educational settings. Teaching and assessment are delivered through lectures, seminars, small‑group tutorials and workshops, assessed by essays, source analyses, presentations, portfolios and the final research project.

Entry requirements

Keele welcomes applicants with a variety of qualifications. Typical entrants hold A‑levels, BTEC, Access to Higher Education or international equivalents. Applicants are normally expected to demonstrate strong performance in humanities or social‑science subjects; Keele generally makes offers around standard undergraduate conditional offer levels for arts degrees.

Applicants should normally have a good pass in GCSE English language (or an equivalent qualification). Mature students and applicants with vocational qualifications are considered on the strength of their full application and experience. International applicants must meet Keele's English language requirements through an approved test or equivalent qualification.

Career prospects

Graduates combine analytical, research and communication skills valued across many sectors. Common career paths include further teacher training (for which a postgraduate certificate in education or other teacher training route is usually required), heritage and museum work, archives and library services, local and central government policy roles, community and youth work, publishing, journalism and education consultancy.

The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study (MA, MPhil, PhD) in history, education or related social sciences, and for professional qualifications in areas such as heritage management, archives, and educational leadership.

Why study at Keele University

Keele offers a collegiate campus environment with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary study and small‑group teaching. The university’s History and Education provision benefits from staff active in research across modern and contemporary history and in education policy and practice, ensuring teaching is informed by current scholarship.

Students have access to Keele’s Special Collections and archive resources for primary‑source research, and the university maintains local partnerships with schools and cultural organisations to support placements and employability. Keele’s career and academic support services help students plan routes into professional training, graduate schemes or postgraduate study. The campus community and student societies provide opportunities to build practical experience and networks relevant to both educational and heritage careers.