European History Degrees at Aberystwyth University


European History Degree - 3 year Degree (V220)

European History Degree

The European History degree at Aberystwyth enables you to specialize in the history of Europe and the wider continent’s relationship with the British Isles. This allows students to obtain a better understanding of the experiences of a continent that has, and continues to have, a great impact on British and world history. The European History degree scheme draws on the expertise of internationally-recognized experts that helps you to appreciate European history in all its diversity from the Roman period to the present day.

European History Degree Year 1

In the first year, as well as the core module, which is taken by all history students at Aberystwyth, students will have the opportunity to choose five other modules. Current modules in European History include:

  • The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union
  • Barbarian Europe
  • The Making of Modern France, 1730-1914
  • Early Medieval Germany: The Making of the First Reich
  • Nationalism, Totalitarianism and Democratization: Czechoslovakia, 1945-1993

European History Degree Years 2 and 3

The Department offers different types of modules in the second and third years to build on the principles outlined in the first year.

European History students will choose from a range of relevant modules, including:

  • Myth and Society in the Viking Age
  • The Russian Revolution
  • 1848 in France
  • Mass Politics in Modern Europe, 1789-1945
  • The Third Reich
  • The Social and Economic History of Early Modern Europe
  • The Holocaust

European History Degree Dissertation

The European History degree culminates in a dissertation, which provides an opportunity to research an area of your choice in the field. Recent European History dissertations include:

  • Nazi Doctors’ Experiments: An Analysis of the Ethical Use of Data
  • Why did Operation Market Garden fail?
  • What Was Unique About The Holocaust? The evolution of a Historical Debate
  • How important was the Irish conscription crisis to Sinn Fein’s victory in 1918?

Study Abroad or Learn a Language with the European History Degree

Have you ever wanted to travel or learn a language? The department has established links with a number of universities abroad that provide excellent opportunities for european history degree students to spend a period immersing themselves in a different historical culture. At the moment, links exist with universities in:

  • America (various universities)
  • Czech Republic (Prague)
  • Germany (Darmstadt and Göttingen)
  • Hungary (Budapest)

In addition, the department offers a range of opportunities to study European languages at Aberystwyth from joint degrees with French, German and Spanish to taking modules in these languages and Italian.

European History Degree sample module - Module Example

The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union

This module covers the enormous changes experienced by Russia in the twentieth century as it moved from being an autocratic state to communism and then to democracy. These changes, though, were not solely political; this period also saw massive economic, social and cultural upheaval. All of the major developments will be covered from the fall of Tsarism and the Russian Revolution; to Stalinism, the Second World War and the Cold War; before finishing with stagnation under Brezhnev, Gorbachev's reforms, and the troubled transition to democracy after 1991.

Study Scheme Information

The information on this page refers to the following study scheme(s)

Key Information Set