Bachelor in History and Politics

• Program modified in 2025. In 2025/26 will be offered 1st year. 

• Field of knowledge: History, archaeology, geography, philosophy and humanities.

Study plan for students who started in the academic year 2024/25 or earlier. More information in Aula Global.

• In 2025/26 only 2nd, 3rd and 4th year will be offered.

Exchange programs

The Erasmus programme permits UC3M first degree and post graduate students to spend one or several terms at one of the European universities with which UC3M has special agreements or take up an Erasmus Placement, that is a work placement or internship at an EU company. These exchanges are funded with Erasmus Grants which are provided by the EU and the Spanish Ministry of Education.

The non-european mobility program enables UC3M degree students to study one or several terms in one of the international universities with which the university has special agreements. It also has funding from the Banco Santander and the UC3M.

These places are offered in a public competition and are awarded to students with the best academic record and who have passed the language threshold  (English, French, German etc..) requested by the university of destination.

Movilidad Europea

Movilidad no europea

Entry profile

In view of the above access routes and requirements, it is highly recommended that students entering this degree have studied either the Humanities or Social Sciences baccalaureate (or, where appropriate, equivalent baccalaureate courses or similar in terms of the subjects studied when the student comes from other non-Spanish educational systems).

As has been seen in previous sections of the report, this proposed degree combines the learning of historical knowledge, competences and skills with those of the political sphere.

Hence, the recommended entry profile focuses on the aforementioned bachelor's degrees in Humanities and Social Sciences, where specific training is obtained in these fields, which develop the corresponding knowledge and competences and better prepare students for access to these studies. In these Baccalaureate courses, in accordance with Spanish regulations, students must take core subjects such as: Spanish History, Philosophy, Latin, Spanish Language and Literature, Mathematics applied to Social Sciences, Business Economics, Greek, History of Philosophy, History of Art and Geography, among others. These are subjects that, to a large extent, are clearly linked to the curriculum of the Bachelor's Degree syllabus, due to the basis they provide for students interested in accessing it.

Along with Baccalaureate students, the other main access group to the Bachelor's Degrees is that of Vocational Training students. There is no longer a preference for certain training cycles in access to the degrees in accordance with the branch to which they are attached. Therefore, any student coming from higher level training cycles will be able to gain access; in this case, and given that there are none related to the proposed degree, students will have an academic background that is less similar to the degree and it is likely that this will oblige them to make a greater dedication and effort during the progress of their degree.

If we are to highlight any suitable competence content in relation to the entry profile, the student should have a good prior training in History, Geography, Mathematics and Language. Personal attitudes of initiative, teamwork, personal organisation of work, capacity for abstraction, critical thinking and responsibility and interest in the practical application of knowledge to solve real problems are highly valued.

Finally, the University offers the degree in a bilingual option, which means that students must complete at least 120 ECTS (half of the ECTS of the degree) in English. Therefore, students must demonstrate a good level of linguistic competence in English equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, given that most subjects will be taught in English and students will be working with texts, materials, exercises, etc. entirely in English. Similarly, and given that the degree is taught in Spanish and English, international students will have to accredit a level equivalent to B2 in Spanish. In particular, section 5 of this report details the subjects that will be taught in English.

Application for a place in the degree

Graduate profile

The Bachelor's Degree in History and Politics aims to train people who, with a dual humanistic and scientific approach, can analyse the problems of our time through knowledge of history. At the end of their studies, students must be able to carry out historiographical studies and data analysis. Likewise, they should be able to study different subjects in depth with a comparative logic. The aforementioned methodological skills will make it possible to overcome the traditional disciplinary barriers in favour of broader approaches that take into account both the weight of history and the structural determinants analysed from the social sciences. Such an approach will make it possible to combine courses in Political History, Economic History and Social History with courses in Comparative Politics, International Relations and Political Sociology.

The Bachelor's Degree in History and Politics was created in response to the growing demand for qualified professionals in different fields. As a pioneering degree in Spain, it is clear that it can provide an outlet for the hitherto unsatisfied demand for interdisciplinary studies in History and Politics. The proposed Degree is a differentiated and attractive option compared to the traditional Degrees in History and Political Science. The Degree will be of interest to future historians with a more analytical and comparative vocation and to future political scientists and social scientists in general who wish to understand the historical roots of present-day problems. The offer of a multidisciplinary degree such as the one proposed could attract not only students interested in History and Politics in their teaching and research careers, but also those inclined towards other Human and Social Sciences, such as Philosophy, Sociology or Political Law.

This new degree may be of particular interest to those who wish to enter the Diplomatic School to pursue a career in the highly sought-after field of external action. History and Political Science, and, more importantly, the confluence of the two disciplines is a transcendental training base in this field.

In addition, it could be of interest to managers, advisors and consultants in international organisations, public administrations, political and trade union bodies, NGOs, foundations and other branches of the private sector. It would also be of interest to journalists who aspire to specialise in general political information, specialists in archives and historical-political research, or analysts linked to companies and think tanks. The aim is to extend historical culture in the professional performance not only of historians, but also of political scientists, policy makers and managers of public and non-governmental bodies.

1. Knowledge of Titles

K1 - Identify key historical processes in history, from antiquity to globalization, recognizing their political and social implications.

K2 - Know the historical evolution of political institutions, from Antiquity to the present day, identifying their impact on government systems.

K3 - Explain the main techniques of historical research, noting the importance of critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, and recognize the main political and philosophical theories from Plato to contemporary debates on democracy, justice and power.

K4 - Classify the different political systems and government structures at the global level, comparing their similarities and differences.

K5 - Describe the actors, institutions and processes that shape international relations, explaining their influence on the global landscape.

K6 - Compare historical economic systems, relating them to their socio-political context from Antiquity to the present day.

K7 - Relate social movements and civil rights struggles to changes in social structures throughout history and analyze changes in cultural expressions (art, literature, religion) and their link to historical and political processes.

K8 - Communicate knowledge, methodologies, ideas, problems and solutions to all types of audiences (specialized or not) in a clear and precise manner.

K9 - Be able to debate and formulate critical reasoning, using precise terminology and specialized resources, on international and global phenomena, using concepts and knowledge from different disciplines as well as analysis methodologies, paradigms and concepts from the Humanities and Social Sciences.

K10 - To know the principles and values of democracy and sustainable development, in particular respect for human rights and fundamental rights, gender equality and non-discrimination, the principles of universal accessibility and climate change.

2. Skills of Titles

S1 - To build solid historical and political arguments from a rigorous documentary base.

S2 - Apply logical and creative thinking in solving complex historiographical and political problems.

S3 - Experimenting with research methodologies, simulating historical or political situations relevant to their analysis.

S4 - Simulate geopolitical scenarios and international conflicts, demonstrating understanding of their implications.

S5 - Demonstrate academic writing skills by producing essays and articles based on original research.

S6 - Execute critical analyses of historical and geopolitical maps, relating them to historical events and processes.

S7 - Compose interdisciplinary research projects, integrating economic, sociological and cultural perspectives.

S8 - Create innovative approaches to address historical and political problems.

S9 - To observe historical and political phenomena with a critical and contextual perspective.

S10 - Plan and organize team work making the right decisions based on available information and gathering data in digital environments.

S11 - Use information interpreting relevant data avoiding plagiarism, and in accordance with the academic and professional conventions of the area of study, being able to assess the reliability and quality of such information.

3. Competences of Titles

C1 - Have critical and analytical skills evaluating historical sources and political texts to interpret their relevance in real contexts.

C2 - Solve complex problems by adapting historical and political knowledge to propose effective solutions in contemporary situations.

C3- Actively participate in interdisciplinary projects to analyze historical and political phenomena from multiple perspectives.

C4 - Demonstrate the ability to integrate theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios such as public policy analysis or cultural-historical projects.

C5 - Develop skills to convey clear and substantiated ideas about history and politics orally and in writing.

C6 - Know and be able to handle interpersonal skills on initiative, responsibility, conflict resolution, negotiation, etc., which are required in the professional environment.

Career opportunities

The Degree in History and Politics provides an interdisciplinary training in History and Politics, with a double intencion: that students acquire a global understanding of the great processes of political

change in historical perspective, and that they can study History with the help of the categories of Political Science.

Graduates of this degree will be able to work in the following areas:

• Consulting
• Human resources management consulting, quality consulting companies.
• Foreign trade consulting firms and market research and public opinion institutes
• Companies in the field of political and corporate communication.
• Teaching and research
• Representative activities
• General Administration Technician in local corporations
• International organizations(Word Bank, UN, cooperation offices)
• Councill of foreing affairs and cooperation (or equivalent)
• Third sector organizations operating in the internacional field

Schedules and calendars

Schedule in bachelor's degree

Academic calendar

Exams calendar (first semester)

Exams calendar (second semester)

Exams calendar (recovery tests)

Schedules and calendars

Schedule in bachelor's degree

Academic calendar

Exams calendar (first semester)

Exams calendar (second semester)

Exams calendar (recovery tests)