History and Law

Explore 500 years of history in the historical and cultural hub of Derbyshire and benefit from our links with organisations within the region while honing your legal, debating and drafting skills by combining your studies with Law.

You’ll gain a range of transferrable skills such as research, analysis and problem solving that will open up a range of graduate career options, including those where legal knowledge is invaluable. We aim to broaden your understanding of history and its significance and cultural impact on global society, while equipping you with skills and knowledge from the legal sector.

With its rich industrial past and thriving heritage industry, Derbyshire is the ideal location to study history. Our History modules focus on the sixteenth century to the modern day, giving you a broad-based understanding of major events, movements, and concepts in society, culture and politics.

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE


1. Combining two subjects boosts your employability and gives you the opportunity to develop knowledge and expertise in two subject areas, making you a more versatile graduate


2. Our Law facilities are based One Friar Gate Square in the heart of Derby’s city centre, featuring a replica Crown Courtroom, Custody Suite and Student Legal Advice Centre


3. Explore the vibrancy, cultural significance, social value and political relevance of history over the last 500 years


4. Develop all the key skills required to succeed in the legal sector - including drafting, advocacy, interviewing and negotiation


5. Explore a range of historical themes from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century and have the chance to undertake fieldwork at historical locations ranging from country houses to industrial cities


HOW YOU’LL LEARN:

You'll be taught through a variety of methods, such as:
- lectures


- seminars


- workshops and tutorials


- student presentations


- debates


- one-to-one sessions with a tutor


- work projects


- self-directed study


- video discussions with overseas partner institutions


- case preparation


- mooting - where you present a legal issue against opposing counsel in a mock court case


- interviewing


- negotiation


Engaging in real or simulated legal practice, you will build a range of the key skills required to succeed in the legal sector at every stage of the course.

You will also develop skills in legal scholarship, with the chance to undertake problem-based research and original academic enquiry. If our teaching team consider the work you produce to be of sufficient quality, it could be published in the Derby Law School Journal.

Through our peer assisted mentoring scheme, students from later years of the course also give helpful guidance and support to first year students.

YOUR CAREER:

Studying History and Law will lead to a wide range of careers in the education profession, libraries, museums, archives, law, the civil service, management, marketing and the uniformed services. Recent graduates have, for instance, taken up professional roles in local government, in Human Resource roles for major national businesses, and in project consultancy roles in global companies.

STUDY OPTIONS:

On the Joint Honours programme, there are different pathways of study available. You can often study both subjects equally or choose to major in a subject. Please view the course page on our website for more information on pathways.

Based solely on more than 24,000 student reviews, we were named Uni Compare's University of the Year 2027, and voted 1st in the UK for employability and 2nd in the UK for course quality. Not only that, but 97% of students would recommend the University of Derby*, which we can offer you industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, multi-award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

*Uni Compare 2027