History

History

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Course Types

Undergraduate courses at UCL are given a weighted value from 0.5 to 2 units. Full-time students normally take 4 units each year.

The History Department offers various types of course, differing in subject matter and method of teaching. Together they contribute to meeting the aims and objectives outlined above. For each degree programme, there are a certain number of compulsory courses.

Introductory Courses

Introductory courses are taken by first-year students. The History Department runs three introductory courses:

HIST1001: From the Ancient Near East to the Twenty-First Century

HIST1004: Ancient and Medieval History

HIST1002: Concepts, Categories and the Practice of History

HIST1001 introduces students to the chronological, geographical and thematic range of History taught in the department. It is taught by twice-weekly lectures and has four sections: Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern and Modern. Students must pass each of the four sections in order to pass the course overall.

HIST1004 is, in effect, the first half of HIST1001. Students take only the Ancient and Medieval sections and must pass both of these in order to pass the course.

HIST1002 introduces students to key concepts and issues related to the theory and practice of History. It is taught by weekly lectures and seminars and is assessed by one essay (25%) and an examination (75%).

For degrees where these courses are compulsory, students must normally pass them in order to enter the final year. There are further details about undergraduate degree requirements and syllabi on the History Department website.

Full-Year Courses

Full-year courses are available to students in all years and are worth one course unit. Some will provide an overview of a large geographical region and/or a long time span, while others cover a particular historical theme in more detail. These courses are taught over two terms by lectures and discussion classes, or by seminars. Discussion classes and seminars are normally based on groups of about 15 students, however large the lecture group may be.

Assessment for full-year courses is by two coursework essays of c.2,500 words each (25%) and one three-hour examination (75%). In addition, course teachers may require students to make other contributions, such as additional pieces of unassessed written work or oral presentations.

Students may opt to take a full-year course in another College in their second and/or final year. See www.history.ac.uk/syllabus/intercollegiate-courses for details.

HIST2902: Second-year Long Essay

This is an extended essay (7,500 words) which is written in the second year on a topic related to a full-year UCL History course taken in the same year. It is designed to develop students’ capacity to work independently and to use primary and secondary sources in the construction of a historical argument. This unit is a key element of students’ progression and invaluable preparation for the final year.

Special Subject Courses

All single honours students take a Special Subject in their final year. Special Subjects are worth two course units and examine a historical topic in detail using primary as well as secondary sources. They are taught in seminar classes over two terms. There may be a preliminary meeting during the summer term of the previous academic year and students are often expected to undertake some preparatory reading during the summer vacation.

Special Subjects are normally assessed by one 3-hour examination and one long essay of 10,000 words. Additional unassessed coursework and/or student presentations may also be required. Joint honours students may have the opportunity to take a Special Subject for two units or for one unit (examination only), depending on the regulations of their degree programme.

Special Subjects are also available at other Colleges. Only courses listed as ‘Group 3’ courses in the departmental or University of London literature count as Special Subjects for the purpose of the degree regulations.

Half-year Courses

Half-year courses are not normally available to first-year students. They are one-term seminar courses, worth half a course unit, covering a diverse range of periods, regions and historical approaches. Half-year courses are assessed either by two coursework essays or by one essay and a 1.5-hour examination.

Free-standing 10,000-word Essay (HIST9901)

In certain circumstances, a final-year student may be allowed to write a 10,000 word free-standing essay as one course unit. This can only be done in addition to, and not instead of, a Special Subject dissertation. Students wishing to take this option should return an application form (available from the Academic Office), with an outline of the proposed project, to the Departmental Tutor by the start of the preceding summer term.

Applications will only be considered from students who have a majority of marks of at least upper-second class standard on units already taken. The topic of the essay must not overlap significantly with any other course taken by the student.