History and Politics

History and Politics at St John’s

St John’s is the ideal environment to study History and Politics. We offer a supportive atmosphere to our students and we encourage them to develop self-motivated and independent minds from the outset. The atmosphere and ethos of St John’s is that of a mutually enriching and collaborative conversation between equals, fostering firm friendship and intellectual camaraderie through supervisions, talks and social events.

The College’s longstanding strength in research is reflected in our current Fellowship, and this breadth of expertise leaves us exceptionally well placed to offer our students in-college teaching and the individual attention they deserve throughout all years of the Tripos.

Students have access to the exceptionally well-stocked St John’s library which offers 24 hour borrowing facilities and a pleasant working environment in one of the best stocked libraries in Cambridge. It has many of the books, journals and electronic resources that you will need to prepare for your weekly supervisions, and students can also benefit from an introduction to archival material with the Archivist.

Course

Course information

History and Politics at Cambridge is an exciting new Honours degree which will run for the first time in October 2017. It offers subjects from our highly-regarded History and Politics and International Relations courses, together with bespoke papers which will allow students to explore the space between the two disciplines. Students will develop skills in analysing the operation of power and politics across histories, institutions, and societies around the world. Students will also be able to build strengths in understanding the nature of evidence, methodology, and approaches in both History and Politics. They will be able to choose from a wide range of topics in British, European, American and World history and politics.

Cambridge is uniquely placed to teach History and Politics and International Relations together. Both Faculties are widely regarded as world-leading.  The History Faculty is one of the largest in the United Kingdom and is consistently ranked as the best in research and teaching assessments. It has internationally recognised experts in all relevant fields of study. 

The Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) is a medium-sized department with about 30 academics with a huge range of specialisms. It has particular research strengths in international politics, international history and international law, comparative politics and political thought.

Staff in the Faculty of History and the Department of Politics and International Studies have a wide range of shared interests in political and international history, the origins of contemporary politics and international relations, and the history of political ideas. This new degree balances a strong grounding in the two component subjects with the opportunity to explore the ways in which historical and political understanding together illuminate the modern world.

Further information regarding the Tripos structure can be found at the Faculty website here.

Watson Tomaselli book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tombs book

Entry Details

Typical Entry Requirements

A Level: A*AA 

International Baccalaureate: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level

Essential Subjects: None

Desirable Subjects: A Level/IB Higher Level History

Submitted Work: Two school essays (may include timed work)

At-interview Assessment: Candidates are required to sit the new 2020 History Admissions Assessment. Please see here for further details. 

 

Admissions Interviews

Details regarding the operation of admissions interviews in the 2020-2021 admissions round have yet to be confirmed.