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History with Mandarin BA (Hons)

Combine your cultural, social, and political awareness of global contemporary history with Mandarin to amplify your knowledge of the world around you.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

The History course is diverse, international in focus, and innovative. Primarily exploring modern and contemporary history, it equips you with the skills needed for effective research and analysis, honing the ability to absorb, communicate, and critically analyse complex information.

Reflecting the globalised world we live in, the curriculum covers British, South Asian, European, African, and North and South American histories. Key topics include colonialism, decolonisation, immigration, ethnic minorities, gender, photographic history, and the history of sport and leisure.

As the course progresses, you will be challenged with more in-depth explorations and given opportunities to deepen their historical interests. The programme is taught by a passionate team of leading experts in a dynamic learning environment that includes a variety of teaching and assessment methods.

Alongside the History curriculum, you will study Mandarin at either beginner or post-beginner level. This component develops linguistic skills while also providing an understanding of social, cultural, political, historical, and artistic contexts.

Key features

  • Specialise in distinctive areas such as photographic history, the history of sport and leisure, war and conflict, migration, ethnicity, and racism.
  • Develop a wide range of transferable skills, learning how to research and communicate complex information effectively. Graduates apply these skills to successful careers in fields such as teaching, law, marketing, and the heritage and museum sector.
  • Gain a competitive edge with recognised competence in Mandarin. Study Mandarin at a level and pace suited to your needs, while expanding your understanding of the country, its society, culture, and people.
  • Enjoy enhanced career opportunities with the combined study of history and Mandarin, providing access to a broader range of employment positions post-graduation.
  • Receive expert teaching from a team of renowned academics, complemented by lectures from visiting guest speakers.
  • Take advantage of organised visits to archives and museums such as the National Archives in London, as well as access to DMU’s historical collections, including the Stephen Lawrence Papers, the Ski Club of GB archive, and the Kodak collection held at Kimberlin Library.
  • Apply your skills in real-world contexts through placements. Previous students have gained professional experience at a regional newspaper, Leicester’s award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre, and by teaching at a school in Spain.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

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More courses like this

History

 

History with Education Studies

History, Heritage and Tourism

History, Politics and International Relations

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: V1T1

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time, four years full-time with a placement. Six years part-time.

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 fees: £9,535* per year 

*subject to the government, as is expected, passing legislation to formalise the increase.

Find out more about tuition fees and available funding.

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement.

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

Typical entry requirements

  • 112 points from at least 2 A levels or
  • BTEC Extended Diploma DMM or
  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points or
  • T Levels Merit

Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

  • Pass Access with 30 level 3 credits at Merit and GCSE English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above.

We will normally require students to have had a break from education from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

  • We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above

Interview required: No

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

 

First year

  • Block 1: Modern Britain Since 1800
  • Block 2: Journeys and Places
  • Block 3: Mandarin Beginner OR Mandarin Post-Beginner
  • Block 4: Ideology, War and Society in the 20th Century

 

Second year

  • Block 1: Global Cold War
  • Block 2: Exploring Work and Society
  • Block 3: Mandarin Post-Beginner OR Mandarin Intermediate
  • Block 4: Investigating the Past: Theory and Method

Third year

  • Block 1: Special subject
  • Block 2: Empire and its Aftermath
  • Block 3: Mandarin Intermediate OR Mandarin Advanced
  • Block 4: Dissertation

See detailed module information


Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Overview

Teaching is interactive and engaging, encouraging the development of independent thoughts, ideas, and viewpoints. You will build the skills necessary to excel in both historical study and the modern workplace.

Modules are designed to improve skills as effective historians, covering areas such as analysis, research, reasoning, and evaluation, with a focus on developing aptitudes that enhance employability across a wide range of careers.

Taught by experts renowned nationally and internationally for the quality of their teaching and research, you will receive a high-quality academic experience.

A varied mix of assessments includes pair and group work, primary source analysis, presentations, portfolios, podcasts or videos, essay writing, exams, and individual project work, culminating in a dissertation. Assessments build progressively, with opportunities for feedback throughout the course. This range of assessment methods allows you to build on your individual strengths while developing key skills in creativity, project management, teamwork, verbal communication, writing for diverse audiences, and using different technologies.

Mandarin language classes are offered throughout the year, with this continuous approach being recognised as the most effective way to learn a language. Mandarin language modules assess competence in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as knowledge of the cultural, social, and historical context.

Contact hours

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, group work, and self-directed study. You will normally attend around 9 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 28 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

Facilities and features

Placements

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. You will also benefit from access DMU’s historical collections, such as the Stephen Lawrence Papers, the Ski Club of GB archive and the Kodak collection, held at the library.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Campus Centre

The home of  De Montfort Students' Union, (DSU) our Campus Centre offers a welcoming and lively hub for student life. Conveniently located at the heart of campus, it includes a convenience store, a Subway and a Starbucks. Here you can find the DSU-owned charitable accommodation service Sulets and DSU’s shop, SUpplies, selling art supplies, stationery and clothing, and printing and binding services. The building is also home to the DSU officer team. 

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Placements

During this course you will have the option to complete a paid placement year, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress onto your chosen career.

Previous students have taken up placements in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including some international posts. Students Kayleigh Cardy and Cory Hancock secured year-long placements as English language teaching assistants in Spain though DMU’s Erasmus+ programme.

Kayleigh said: “It’s been so much more than a placement. I’ve travelled, I’ve learned about a whole new culture and I’ve grown as a person. It’s highlighted what I can achieve when I set my mind to something and I feel better prepared for my final year of university as I’m more independent and confident.”

Our Careers Team can help to hone your professional skills with mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and an assigned personal tutor will support you throughout your placement.

Students on the #DMUglobal trip to New York

DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons, helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK-based activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

History students have previously learned about Jewish immigrant life in New York, discovered Danish heritage in Copenhagen and explored the legacies of authoritarian rule in Berlin.

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Graduate careers

Employability skills are embedded in the curriculum to prepare you for a range of careers both related to your subject and in wider industries. Our  graduates have gone on to forge successful careers in various professions, such as in teaching, law, public relations, marketing, journalism, civil service and the heritage and museum sectors, including roles such as: 

  • Deputy Manager at the National Waterways Museum
  • Communication and Marketing Executive at Cambridge University Press
  • Associate at multinational law firm Eversheds Sutherland
  • Head of History at a high school 

Graduates also have the opportunity to undertake further studies such as Sports History and Culture MA at DMU.

Recent History graduate, Jessica, is now undertaking a PhD at DMU. She said: “The staff were clearly enthusiastic about their subjects and it felt like a vibrant department to be part of. I felt supported by my personal tutor and subject tutors; they were always there to ask about further reading or something I wasn't clear on, as well as individual support.”

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