| Qualification | Start dates | Entry requirements | Full- or Part-time | UCAS Code | Assessment | |
| Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons) | January July September | A-level: BCC | Level of English required | Full-time | VL21 | Exam and written assessment |
Course outline
History programmes at Buckingham focus on international history from roughly 1800 onwards, covering empires, the rise in political polarisation, World Wars and the shaping of our modern political systems, whilst considering the relationship between ideology and the historical process.
The Economics modules examine decision-making in the context of a market economy, and the institutional supports necessary for such an economy to operate effectively. They deal with cutting-edge issues, such as the problems of achieving macroeconomic and exchange-rate stability, and also issues from the wider economic field: the allocation of resources to health, and raising environmental quality, for example.
Students will gain a comprehensive knowledge that can be adapted to a wide range of careers. This programme gives students an ideal preparation for careers in diplomacy, international business, journalism, politics and education, as well as the academic grounding to pursue further studies in Global Affairs, History, Politics or International Relations.
Teaching methods
The Department employs a variety of teaching methods in different modules. Lectures and small group tutorials form the backbone of the teaching. Personal contactwith members of the academic staff is considered to be essential if each student’s personal enthusiasm for their studies is to be stimulated. A range of activities is pursued within the tutorial groups depending upon the module. Some modules emphasise problem solvingas a means of reinforcing and cementing the important ideas – for example the module in Microeconomic Theory. Occasionally we use game playingto encourage discussion and understanding – for example when competing groups of students try to control a computer model of the economy in Principles of Macroeconomics. Other modules place greater emphasis on writing short and accurate technical pieces (Welfare Economics) or longer more discursive papers.
Dissertation
All students on the course will have to write a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 on a topic of their choice with the help and supervision of a personal tutor within their chosen field.
What our students and alumni say
“The international community at Buckingham brings the study of history and politics to life — imagine learning about Africa and the Dominions with people from countries who are still being affected by the aftershock of the British Empire: it really brings the subject alive.”
