History (with Foundation Year)

Foundation course

Foundation Year

The information presented on this page relates to the 1 year Foundation year.

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Key facts

UCAS code

V101

Start dates

September 2025 / September 2026

Course length

Full time: 1-year foundation course leading to 3-year undergraduate degree (or 4-year undergraduate degree if it involves a work placement or you take a study abroad year)

Overview

A history degree is about far more than studying the past. Discover why people act the way they do. Explore how societies develop. Then see how your insights apply to the present day so you can uncover answers to issues that could affect everyone's future. 

History with a Foundation Year is a unique integrated degree programme, enabling you to develop academic skills crucial to university study, such as critical analysis, academic writing and collaboration. And we'll support you as you grow your confidence, get to know your strengths and build your knowledge. 

In your first year, you'll undertake our Foundation in Humanities course, and you'll then progress to the three year undergraduate programme in History, with an opportunity to do an optional study abroad or work placement, as an additional year. With the diverse experience, confidence and skills you'll gain, you'll be fully prepared for a career in a variety of sectors - with hundreds of years of historical insight to inspire you.

Group discussion

How to apply

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 72

A Level: DDD

IB Points: 24

BTEC: MMP

Further offer details

Applications are welcomed from candidates with alternative qualifications, and from mature students.

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Applicants whose main language is not English should have IELTS 6.0.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.

Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.

Application process

Full time Home (UK) applicants

Apply through UCAS

Part time Home (UK) applicants

Apply direct to the University

International applicants

Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
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Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

International full time
£15,950

2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£5,760

International full time
£16,750

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

For further information please see our 2025-26 tuition fees FAQs.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Learning and assessment

On this course you’ll:

  • join a tightly knit and supportive student community
  • have the opportunity to actively explore your interests
  • be taught by experts in their fields - people passionate about teaching history.

For the Foundation Year, you'll focus on the oral, written and interpersonal skills you'll need to succeed at university. You might examine international development or global politics. Or you could explore philosophy, education or even the history of art. You'll also undertake a research project, enabling you to delve deeper into your area of choice.

Once you complete your Foundation Year, you'll be fully prepared to progress onto the three year History undergraduate degree. You'll explore major themes like war and conflict, cultures, races and identities, and crime and justice. You can even choose your own topics and we'll encourage you to think about how your findings can provide insights to modern-day issues.

You can find out more via our BA History webpage.

Students studying

Study modules

Teaching for this course takes place face to face, and you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.

Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

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Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

You’ll experience a wide range of humanities disciplines through:

  • lectures
  • workshops
  • tutorials
  • project work
  • presentations
  • group seminars
  • supervised independent learning
  • critical thinking tasks
  • skills acquisition sessions.

You’ll have a dedicated academic advisor throughout your course, for support and guidance when you need it. You’ll also have 1-1 academic supervisor for your second semester research project, providing support and guidance as you need it.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

You’ll be mostly assessed by coursework, including:

  • essays
  • reflective logbooks
  • critical commentaries
  • video assignments
  • e-portfolios
  • small group projects.

After you graduate

Career prospects

Studying History with a Foundation Year at Oxford Brookes not only instils a lifelong passion for history. It opens up possibilities for career development and makes you a versatile employee in any organisation.

Our work placement modules enable you to gain practical experience and specialist knowledge that will stand out on your CV and are valuable in a variety of fields. With the adept communication skills you'll develop, you may consider jobs in areas like advertising or journalism. One of our graduates is a photojournalist for National Geographic. Others are working in advertising, banking, and retail.

By studying in Oxford, you'll already be familiar with some of the country's best museums and historical sites. This has benefited our graduates. For example, past students are now working in places like Blenheim Palace, the National Army Museum, and the Battle of Britain Bunker.

You'll be a valuable addition to a variety of sectors like:

  • politics
  • the Civil Service
  • charity
  • education
  • media
  • law.

Further study

Successful completion of the course will give you a place on:

Learn a language

Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.