Politics and Modern History

Learn more about studying Politics and Modern History as an international student.

Image reflecting the subject area of Social Studies, relating to the program.

Key facts

Degree type
Bachelor's
Duration
3 years
Delivery method
On campus
Pace
Full-time
Annual tuition fee
27,800GBP
Start date
Sep
University ranking
#35

Program overview

What The University of Manchester says about their program:

BA Politics and Modern History is an undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester and one of the longest established programmes of its kind in the country. It combines the historical development of the modern world with the study of political machinery and political thought.

Broad course units in history, government institutions and political thought form the core of the first two years, with more specialist options and a dissertation in Year 3. Themes range from globalisation in historical perspective to the politics of modern China.

Students may apply to spend one semester studying abroad in the second year, or take a placement year. Graduates enter careers with employers such as the BBC, KPMG and Deloitte, and many go on to further study.

Admission requirements

Undergraduate academic requirements

Precise entry requirements vary from degree to degree, so applicants must check the entry requirements listed on the individual course page before applying.
Applicants from outside the UK must check the entry requirements and accepted qualifications that apply to their country on the university's country pages.
Some courses set additional requirements such as previous work experience, submission of written work with the application, or previous study of a particular subject.

Postgraduate academic requirements

Entry requirements for postgraduate research and master's courses vary by course and department, so applicants must check the requirements on the individual course or programme page.
Some courses and programmes have additional entry requirements such as previous work experience, submission of written work with the application, or previous study of a particular subject.
Applicants from certain countries must meet specific country entry requirements set out on the university's country-specific information pages.

English proficiency

Undergraduate

IELTS
Usually the equivalent of 6.0-7.0 overall, or 5.5 for foundation courses; the minimum for each programme is specified on the individual course profile.
TOEFL
TOEFL iBT is accepted for degree-level entry; the required score is specified on the individual course profile.
PTE Academic
Pearson PTE Academic (UKVI and non-UKVI versions) is accepted for degree-level entry; the required score is specified on the individual course profile.
Cambridge (CAE/CPE)
Cambridge Advanced (CAE/C1 Advanced) and Cambridge Proficiency (CPE/C2 Proficiency) are accepted for degree-level entry; the required score is specified on the individual course profile.

Postgraduate

IELTS
Usually the equivalent of 6.0-7.5 overall; requirements vary by course and department.
TOEFL
TOEFL iBT is accepted for degree-level entry; the required score is specified on the individual course profile.
PTE Academic
Pearson PTE Academic (UKVI and non-UKVI versions) is accepted for degree-level entry; the required score is specified on the individual course profile.
Cambridge (CAE/CPE)
Cambridge Advanced (CAE/C1 Advanced) and Cambridge Proficiency (CPE/C2 Proficiency) are accepted for degree-level entry; the required score is specified on the individual course profile.

Note: only in-person tests taken at official test centres are accepted. IELTS General, IELTS Home, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Life Skills and IELTS Online are not accepted, TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition is not accepted, and Pearson PTE Academic Online and Pearson PTE Academic Home are not accepted.

English proficiency waivers

Nationals of the countries on the UK Visas and Immigration list of majority English-speaking countries may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and USA.
Applicants who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from one of those countries may also be exempt from submitting further evidence.
Nationals of Canada do not need to prove their knowledge of English.
Applicants coming to the UK for a study abroad programme as part of a university degree course in the USA do not need to prove their knowledge of English.

Documents required

Undergraduate application submitted through UCAS.
Evidence of English language proficiency, such as an accepted English language test result or qualification.
Scanned copies of certificates and transcripts for qualifications being offered, where the university asks for them to be assessed.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued by the university, required for a Student Route visa application.
Financial evidence, as set out in the university's visa application guidance.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate, for subject areas flagged under the scheme.
Evidence of the right to study in the UK, usually the visa granted using the CAS, provided for the Right to Study check.

Illustration of academic elements representing admission requirements, including a graduation cap, clock, documents, resumes, ID card, a calendar, and a clipboard.

Scholarships at The University of Manchester

Carbon Reduction Scholarship
Official page
A 10% reduction in fees for up to 30 students per year enrolling on the MA Education for a Sustainable Environment by distance learning. The university explicitly states the award is open to 'all home and overseas applicants', so international (overseas) students are eligible alongside domestic students. Selection is based on merit and potential contribution to the programme; qualified applicants are automatically considered with no separate application required.
Global Futures Scholarship
Official page
Merit-based scholarship programme worth more than £6 million in total, open to international, self-funded students who are permanent residents of one of 20+ eligible countries (including Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, UAE, USA, Vietnam and Zimbabwe) and hold an offer for a course starting September 2026. Undergraduate awards are worth up to £30,000 (£10,000/year for three years) as a discount on international tuition fees, conditional on maintaining 60% average each year; master's awards are also available. Applicants must be self-funded (not sponsored) and, for undergraduates, must not have previously studied in the UK and must not be applying to excluded courses such as Medicine, Dentistry or Architecture. Eligibility criteria and deadlines vary by country of residence.
Humanitarian Scholarship
Official page
Undergraduate scholarship (up to six awards for September 2026 entry) for students who are at serious risk due to war or conflict and who have had to leave their home country, or move within it, in the last three years because of conflict. The award covers tuition fees, living expenses, and visa costs. Applicants must never have studied in the UK or EU before and must not currently be resident in the UK or EU, confirming this is exclusively for international students displaced by conflict who demonstrate strong academic performance.

All scholarship information on Studee is provided for guidance only. Always check the university's official scholarship page for the latest information on eligibility, award amounts, deadlines, and application requirements.

Fees

The University of Manchester charges tuition fees according to whether a student is classed as Home or Overseas, and the current fee for each course is published on the individual course page. The University of Manchester also offers bursaries and scholarships and provides financial advice and budgeting guidance to its students.

Illustration of education and financial elements including a graduation cap, trophy, diploma, books, a piggy bank, stacks of cash notes, and coins, representing fees and funding.

What is the cost of living near The University of Manchester?

Category	Cost (in British Pound Sterling)
Rent, 1-bed apartment in city centre	£1,145
Rent, 1-bed apartment outside centre	£853
Utilities (electricity, heating, water, refuse)	£131
Internet (60 Mbps unlimited)	£32
Mobile phone plan (data + calls)	£13Range: £9 to £30· UK average
Monthly public transport pass	£89
Monthly grocery basket	£137
Books and study supplies (monthly)	£20
Coffee shop drink	£4
Cinema or cultural event ticket	£10
Gym membership	£37

Indicative monthly costs per person.

Data sourced from livingcost.org (Crowdsourced), numbeo.com (Crowdsourced) and savethestudent.org (Editorial estimate).

Visa requirements for The University of Manchester

Navigating the visa process is a crucial step in your study abroad journey. Make sure to seek guidance and support to ensure you meet all necessary requirements for your time at The University of Manchester.

UK student visa requirements