Welcome to the UCL History Department

Playing Cards of the French Revolution
Image by permission of the Mary Evans Picture Library

UCL History had an outstanding result in the 2008 RAE, when 40% of our research was rated ‘world-leading’. This figure was equalled by only two other UK History Departments and bettered by none. For further details, click here.

The Department is distinctive for the sheer breadth of its expertise, which spans the fourth millenium BC to the contemporary world.  Our specialities are the Ancient Near East and the modern Americas.  We also cover the full range of European history from the classical Mediterranean societies, through the medieval and early modern periods to the present day.  We have several distinguished historians of Britain and its empire, and offer a range of courses on London history. 

We work on most aspects of political, international, economic and social history, with particular strengths in cultural, intellectual and transnational history.  Comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives are central to our approach to studying the past. 

Situated in central London, close to the British Library, the British Museum and the research institutes of the University of London – including the Warburg and the Institute of Historical Research – we enjoy easy access to some of the world’s finest collections of resources for the study of history.  We all work closely with other departments at UCL and with historians across the University of London (see Department Links).  Our students can take courses in most of these other UCL departments or London Colleges.