History and Journalism Studies Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Studying history lets you explore different times and places from medieval Scotland and revolutionary America to Victorian Britain and modern Africa. History helps us to:

* understand the modern world,

* debunk myths,

* see all sides of an issue.

At Stirling, we help turn your passion and curiosity for history into practical skills that employers value.

By studying history you’ll develop skills such as:

* critical thinking

* communication

* research

* problem‑solving

* evidence evaluation

* data analysis

* interpersonal relationships

These are many of the capabilities that are needed across UK labour market (NFER – Essential Employment Skills (EES) November 2025).

### What you’ll learn on our History degree

* Explore how different societies across the world have changed over time. You can investigate Scottish history from the Viking period to the present day. Also British, European, American and African history since around 1700.

* Engage with various types of history including political, social, cultural, gender, race and environmental.

* Learn how to locate and evaluate historical interpretations in secondary literature.

* Develop and demonstrate an understanding of the problematic nature of the past.

* Become adept in communicating arguments and analysis, both independently and within peer groups.

* Use historical concepts to interpret and draw conclusions from primary sources.

* Gain an understanding of how forms of historical enquiry inform specific professional sectors and areas of employment.

* Apply your learning to produce an extended piece of research in an area of history you’re passionate about.

You’ll be taught by staff whose research placed us in the top 15 in the UK for research impact and 3rd in Scotland for research outputs and impact (REF 2021).

Journalism

The fast-moving journalism industry offers exciting career opportunities around the world. From news websites and podcasts to social media platforms, video production, sports media and digital publishing, journalism graduates have more ways than ever to make their mark.

A degree from the University of Stirling is the perfect preparation for this ever-evolving sector. You’ll study at one of the UK’s leading universities for journalism and graduate with cross-platform, practical skills that employers need.

The UK media industry generated an estimated £100 billion in revenue in 2024, and this figure is expected to rise to £121 billion by 2028 (Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2024–2028). Many Stirling graduates have already built successful careers across news, sport, digital media and broadcasting - and our Journalism programme is designed to help you join them.

Your Journalism Studies course will cover:

* Why journalism matters in a world of misinformation and AI generated content;

* How to identify and craft compelling stories, communicate clearly and work to tight deadlines;

* Hands-on experience that reflects real newsroom practice;

* Cross-platform journalism skills, including print, digital, data-journalism, open-source research, photojournalism, investigative journalism, audio and video production;

* Writing across a wide range of genres, including news reporting, magazine features, commentary, interviews and long-form journalism;

* Creating multimedia journalism for online, social media and broadcast environments;

* Journalism ethics, editorial decision-making and public affairs knowledge;

* An introduction to key areas of media law – from defamation and copyright to contempt of court and confidentiality.

Throughout the course, you’ll build a strong professional portfolio showcasing your journalism skills across multiple formats and genres - from news reporting and long-form features to podcasts, video packages and social media content.