BA (Hons) History and Politics | Open University

England

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We also offer a

Diploma of Higher Education in History and Politics (W64)

that is the same in structure as the first two-thirds of this degree.

This history and politics degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

You can dive straight into Stage 1, or if it’s been a while since you last studied and you'd like to build your confidence or gain experience in online learning, you can begin with an optional Access module. For this qualification, we recommend the Arts and languages Access module or the Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module.

Our modular study approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that fits around your life. Whether you prefer a fast track or want to work at a slower rate, you can tailor your study plan to suit your needs.

You’ll begin by exploring critical global challenges, how social science helps us understand them, and how you can respond as an active citizen. You'll then choose between a broad introduction to the arts and humanities or focusing on the turning points that shaped the modern world, looking at revolutionary change from various perspectives.

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll study the following:
Global challenges: social science in action (D113)	60	Oct \| Feb
You’ll also choose one from:
Revolutions (A113)	60	Oct \| Feb
Discovering the arts and humanities (A111)	60	Oct \| Feb
For this qualification, we recommend Revolutions (A113).

Stage 2 consists of two compulsory modules. In your politics module, you'll explore how political ideas, institutions and processes help govern our world. The history module will teach you about the British Isles in a period of rapid transformation, when it was the workshop of the world.

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll study both of the following:
Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world (DD211)	60	Oct
The British Isles and the modern world, 1789–1914 (A225)	60	Oct \| Feb

In Stage 3, you'll develop greater depth in both history and politics through more focused study. In history, you'll explore either the shaping of modern Britain or the key events that transformed Europe in the twentieth century. In politics, you'll choose between studying major changes and ongoing challenges in international relations or examining how political ideas remain active and influential in understanding contemporary national and global issues.

Modules	Credits	Start month
You’ll choose one from:
Empires: power, resistance, legacies (A328)	60	Oct
The making of Welsh history (A329)	60	Oct
Europe 1914-2014: the remaking of a continent (A337) – planned for October 2026	60	Oct \| Feb
You’ll also choose one from:
International relations: people, power and change (D322) - planned for October 2026	60	Oct
Modern political ideas (DD316)	60	Oct

You can complete this degree in as little as three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s 120 credits per year. You’ll need to start your degree in October and can choose to study two 60-credit modules at the same time or start one in October and the other in February.

Don't worry if your circumstances change. You don’t have to stick to a full-time study pace. You can change the pace of your learning each year depending on what's right for you.

Modules	Credits	Start month
Stage 1 \| Year 1
You'll study the following:
Global challenges: social science in action (D113)	60	Oct \| Feb
You'll choose one from:
Discovering the arts and humanities (A111)	60	Oct \| Feb
Revolutions (A113)	60	Oct \| Feb
For this qualification, we recommend Revolutions (A113).
Stage 2 \| Year 2
You'll study both of the following:
Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world (DD211)	60	Oct
The British Isles and the modern world, 1789–1914 (A225)	60	Oct \| Feb
Stage 3 \| Year 3
You'll choose one from:
Empires: power, resistance, legacies (A328)	60	Oct
The making of Welsh history (A329)	60	Oct
Europe 1914-2014: the remaking of a continent (A337) – planned for October 2026	60	Oct \| Feb
You’ll complete your degree with one from:
International relations: people, power and change (D322) - planned for October 2026	60	Oct
Modern political ideas (DD316)	60	Oct

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That's one 60-credit module each year.

Modules	Credits	Start month
Stage 1 \| Year 1
You'll start your degree with the following:
Global challenges: social science in action (D113)	60	Oct \| Feb
Stage 1 \| Year 2
You'll choose one from:
Discovering the arts and humanities (A111)	60	Oct \| Feb
Revolutions (A113)	60	Oct \| Feb
For this qualification, we recommend Revolutions (A113).
Stage 2 \| Year 3
You'll study the following:
Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world (DD211)	60	Oct
Stage 2 \| Year 4
You'll study the following:
The British Isles and the modern world, 1789–1914 (A225)	60	Oct \| Feb
Stage 3 \| Year 5
You'll choose one from:
Empires: power, resistance, legacies (A328)	60	Oct
The making of Welsh history (A329)	60	Oct
Europe 1914-2014: the remaking of a continent (A337) – planned for October 2026	60	Oct \| Feb
Stage 3 \| Year 6
You’ll complete your degree with one from:
International relations: people, power and change (D322) - planned for October 2026	60	Oct
Modern political ideas (DD316)	60	Oct

By studying this degree, you’ll:

You’ll be supported throughout by personal tutors, online tutorials, regular feedback, and rich online materials.

You’ll be awarded a BA (Honours) History and Politics upon successful completion.

Your honours classification (first, upper second, lower second or third class honours) will depend on the grades you gain at Stages 2 and 3.

You'll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our

Academic Regulations

contact us

You can achieve this degree in as little as three years and have a maximum of 16 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.

You can complete this degree in three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.

At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.

As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.

Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:

Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.

Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.

For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.

See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.

Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services to help you succeed. This qualification uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:

Every module has its own Accessibility Statement with more detailed accessibility information – you’ll find these in individual module descriptions. Visit our Disability support page to learn more about our services.

Discover how the OU’s Disability Support Team helps students with advice, adjustments and resources.

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:

Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

If it’s been a while since you last studied and you’d like to build your confidence or gain experience in online learning, you can begin with an optional Access module. For this qualification, we recommend the Arts and languages Access module or the Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module.

If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.

It’s not just university study that can be considered; you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications, such as HNCs and HNDs.

You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.

For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

The fees and funding information shown below relate to the 2025/26 academic year and are provided for guidance only. Updated 2026/27 information will be published on the 25th of March, when this qualification next opens for registration.

6 years

£3,892*

A degree is worth 360 credits. The fee per year is based on studying one 60-credit module per year for 6 years.

£23,352*

That’s 18% less than the cost of an equivalent qualification offered at most other universities in England.

Compare the cost of studying at the OU with other campus-based universities in England.

Honours Degree Honours Degree
Total cost at campus university* Total cost at campus university*	£28,605 £28,605
Total cost at The Open University Total cost at The Open University	£23,352 £23,352
Saving with The Open University Saving with The Open University	£5,253 (18%) £5,253 (18%)

Diploma of Higher Education Diploma of Higher Education
Total cost at campus university* Total cost at campus university*	£19,070 £19,070
Total cost at The Open University Total cost at The Open University	£15,568 £15,568
Saving with The Open University Saving with The Open University	£3,502 (18%) £3,502 (18%)

Certificate of Higher Education Certificate of Higher Education
Total cost at campus university* Total cost at campus university*	£9,535 £9,535
Total cost at The Open University Total cost at The Open University	£7,784 £7,784
Saving with The Open University Saving with The Open University	£1,751 (18%) £1,751 (18%)

Qualification Qualification	Total cost at campus university* Total cost at campus university*	Total cost at The Open University Total cost at The Open University	Saving with The Open University Saving with The Open University
Honours Degree Honours Degree	£28,605 £28,605	£23,352 £23,352	£5,253 (18%) £5,253 (18%)
Diploma of Higher Education Diploma of Higher Education	£19,070 £19,070	£15,568 £15,568	£3,502 (18%) £3,502 (18%)
Certificate of Higher Education Certificate of Higher Education	£9,535 £9,535	£7,784 £7,784	£1,751 (18%) £1,751 (18%)

*Based on maximum chargeable fees for the 25/26 academic year.

**The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section 5 of the University's

Fee Rules

Your course fees cover your tuition, assessment and study materials, but there are still a few additional costs that can come with studying. For this qualification, you'll need:

*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section 5 of the University's

Fee Rules

Pay nothing upfront – over 85% of our students in England fund their studies with a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan (sometimes called a student loan), meaning they pay nothing upfront.

Learn more about this and our other funding options below.

Repay in monthly instalments while you study.

Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.

More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.

Combine your payment options to fund your studies the way you want.

If you’re a serving member of the British Armed Forces (or you’ve recently left), you may be eligible to use ELCs to cover up to 100% of your course fees.

You may be eligible for:

Studying history and politics will provide you with an adaptable set of skills that can lead in many directions and are greatly valued by employers. Beyond subject knowledge, these include critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and communication. You’ll sharpen your IT, writing, and independent thinking and information auditing skills, as well as develop an ability to assimilate and evaluate relevant information when constructing an argument to a variety of audiences. These are key skills in complex organisations and independent endeavours, and are highly sought after in the world beyond study – whether you’re already working, volunteering, starting, changing or looking to progress your career.

Studying history and politics requires and fosters an understanding of human activities in diverse cultural and political environments and historical contexts. The breadth of study and range of ideas and objects analysed, combined with clear thinking and communication, make the BA (Hons) History and Politics relevant to a wide range of careers, including:

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector.

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime, if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we've put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree:

This course will next start in the 2026/27 academic year and will open for registration on the 25th of March. If you’d like us to keep you updated, register your interest.

Ask a question

Our prospectus will help you explore your course options, get a feel for life as an OU student, and register for study.

Request a prospectus

This course will next start in the 2026/27 academic year and will open for registration on the 25th of March. If you’d like us to keep you updated, register your interest.