History is being made right now. It is a living, breathing subject that is constantly renewing, evolving and revealing new information that teaches us about the past, anchors us to the present and informs our future. Historians are passionate, focussed, curious, intellectual and open to new experiences and information. If this sounds like you, then read on. This course offers a broad curriculum, covering periods from AD 700 to the present day, with subject areas as diverse as dictatorship and warfare to youth and gender. We offer a wide range of options so that you have the greatest possible choice of areas to study in-depth. Politics is designed for students who want an understanding of the issues dominating our lives: from the war in Afghanistan, to the European Union, to whether we’ll receive a pension when we reach retirement age. Politics follows two basic themes: Political Systems, which includes such things as government, political parties and interest groups; and Political Thought, which introduces you to the basic ideas, movements and language through which politics are enacted. Politics will familiarise you with political systems and government in Europe – East as well as West – and beyond. During your studies you’ll gain an understanding of the various political ideas and ideologies which have informed them. It’s assumed that you’ve not previously studied Politics. The main requirement is that you have an enthusiasm for understanding how the world works and a preparedness to engage in discussions around key issues facing society. The first-year modules are designed to introduce you to basic political concepts and approaches. This will allow you to support your opinions with appropriate concepts and methods of investigation.