Key details
- Course areas
- A LevelsHumanities and Social Sciences
- Student types
- 16 - 18 coursesA Levels
- Course type
-
A Level course
- Course level
-
Level 3
- Start date
- Tuesday 1st September 2026
- Location
- High Pavement Sixth Form Chaucer Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LP
- Course code
- Parent course code:C000450 Child course code: Q000516
Course introduction
History is more than just studying the past; but also, it is a way to understand contemporary society. Engaging with A Level History will allow you to develop highly transferable skills to a range of various fields of employment such as law, politics, journalism and education. The requirement of developing coherent arguments based on an evidence-based mentality is a necessity for the future, and A Level History is a massive contributor to this development.
Studying A Level History will engage you with primary sources of the time as well as analyzing how the past has been interpreted by historians, developing your critical skills and immerse in historical debates. Skills that have been acquired at school (Critical Thinking, Essay and Research writing, etc) will be further developed .
There are two investigative themes with A Level History:
- A Breadth Study: Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855-1964
- A Depth Study: The Making of Modern Britain, 1951-2007
You will gain a broad understanding of significant political, social and economic developments of Russia over 109 years looking into the last three Tsars of the Romanov Dynasty as well as Communist Russia with Lenin, Stalin and finishing with Khrushchev in 1964 .
Making a Modern Britian module explores the dramatic transformation of Britain from the aftermath of World War II to the early 21st century. You’ll investigate the key political shifts, social movements, and cultural changes that shaped modern British identity.
From the rise of the welfare state to the impact of Thatcherism, and from post-war optimism to the challenges of globalisation, this module offers a fascinating insight into the forces that redefined Britain; aspects include multiculturalism and how Britain is what it is today.
Both topics are exam assessed and will be a combination of thematic essay writing as well as analysing and commenting on how the past has been interpreted by historians, both primary and secondary)
You will also carry out an Historical Investigation into the Tudor Rebellions between 1509-1601.
Independent inquires can be pursed but are subjected to a criteria by the history department.
There are opportunities for entering external competitions as well as trips away including the National Civil War Centre in Newark and Bishops Grosseteste University in Lincoln.
Other subjects most suitable to take alongside A Level History include
- A Level Law
- A Level English Language/Literature
- A Level Politics
- A Level Economics
- A Level Philosophy
- A Level Sociology
History truly is an exciting discipline that encourages you to think deeper about the world around you and develops high order thinking skills such as analysis and evaluation. Be prepared for a challenging yet incredibly rewarding experience as you explore significant events both overseas and within these very British Isles.
You will be encouraged to participate in a 30-hour work placement while you are studying.
Read moreCourse information
2 years
AQA A Level History
- To study 3 A Levels you’ll need at least 5 GCSE’s at grades 9-4 including GCSE English Language at grade 5 or above and Maths at grade 4 or above, as well as GCSE History at grade 5 or above
- To study 4 A Levels you’ll need at least 6 GCSE’s at grades 9-6 including GCSE English Language at grade 5 or above and Maths at grade 4 or above, as well as GCSE History at grade 5 or above
The programme of study is for 2 years, and you will be expected to be achieving a minimum of grade D in all subject assessments by the end of year 1 to progress to your 2nd year.
Applicants with predicted GCSE grades 1 or 2 points below the entry requirement for an A Level:
If your predicted grades do not meet the entry requirements for either 1 or 2 of your chosen A Level subject choices, don’t worry we will still make you a conditional offer. We advise that you think about a second choice of course as a back-up plan. You can meet with us for a supportive, friendly and impartial discussion to look at other courses that Nottingham College has to offer. For more information contact High Pavement Sixth Form admissions by telephone on 0115 9100 100 or email at feadmissions@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
You’ll undertake examinations and coursework:
Two 150 minute exam papers, each worth 40% of the marks; and a 3,000-3,500 word historical investigation worth 20% of the marks.
History A Level can lead to higher education in a wide range of subjects and is particularly useful for related subjects such as history, politics, law or teaching. History is a highly regarded academic subject which develops skills valued by employers and universities.
A Level History can lead into a variety of careers such as; researcher, museum curator, teaching, government officer and many more.
Students aged 16-18 don't have to pay tuition fees.
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information.
Careers related to this course
Select career:
Archivists, Conservators and Curators
Potential Earnings
£49,067.94
Average Earnings
£26,978.60
Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
Pathways
Media, Publishing and Information Services
People in these occupations produce, publish, and release media and provide library, archive, curation, and information services.
Skills
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.
