Who we are

High-quality research is the foundation for our work. We place emphasis on research-led teaching, engaging with other disciplines and creating a supportive learning environment.

Our academics’ interests span a broad chronological range, and our students and researchers have access to unique historical archives and special collections.

We are one of the leading History departments in the country: in the UK top 3 for the quality of research (REF 2014).

The University of Southampton is one of twenty members of the Russell Group - institutions which have distinguished themselves as research-led universities of international quality, and which are committed to the provision of teaching in a research-led environment.

This means that students are taught by staff who are working at the cutting edge of their particular discipline in terms of research and publication.

This commitment to research-led teaching is very much reflected in History's activities. We are proud of the contributions we as historians make to our individual fields, and see the quality of our research as a major reason for you to choose to come here. We also work hard to ensure that our teaching is informed by the latest developments in the field, and are constantly updating our courses to reflect this.

At the same time, we endeavour to foster a friendly, informal atmosphere in which students feel free to come and ask for advice and guidance. This is as true for the pastoral side of our support as it is for the academic side.

History research

History is closely associated with four research centres based in Humanities:

• Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/Non-Jewish Relations
• Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Culture
• Centre for Imperial and Post-Colonial Studies
• Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies
• Centre for Nineteeth-Century Research