Department of History

The History Department at Durham has established itself firmly as one of the top departments in the UK. Staff and students are part of a vibrant learning community, set within the magnificent location of Durham’s World Heritage Site.

Welcome to the Department of History

Welcome to the Department of History. We are a successful, expanding department, engaged in teaching and research across an exceptional range of chronological, geographical and thematic areas.

Find out more about us

4th The Complete University Guide 2025

6th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

88% student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2021)

5th Guardian University Guide 2025

Study with Us

Learn more about our degree programmes using the links below

Undergraduate study

Our Department offers modules that range from the local to the global. We teach everything from the history of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria to the making of modern Africa.

Students sitting round a table with laptops

Postgraduate study

The History Department is deeply committed to postgraduate education, and has a strong and dedicated postgraduate community made up of MA and PhD students.

Outside view of brick building which houses History Department

Look at our latest video

Learn more about Professor Rebecca Clifford's research exploring the history of child Holocaust survivors.

See related videos

Department News

Black History Month

Held every October in Britain, Black History Month (BHM) was first introduced in London in 1987 through the Greater London Council, as a means for offering a sense of history, achievement and continuity within the Black community.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Royal Society APEX award for Joseph Martin

Congratulations to Dr Joseph Martin who has won a Royal Society Apex award for his work on the history of soft matter physics.

Research news
Transformative Humanities framework launched

Durham University's Transformative Humanities launched yesterday and gathered more than 130 researchers, colleagues, students, and partners from across the region and beyond to celebrate this new interdisciplinary framework.

Research news

Black History Month

Held every October in Britain, Black History Month (BHM) was first introduced in London in 1987 through the Greater London Council, as a means for offering a sense of history, achievement and continuity within the Black community.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Royal Society APEX award for Joseph Martin

Congratulations to Dr Joseph Martin who has won a Royal Society Apex award for his work on the history of soft matter physics.

Research news

Transformative Humanities framework launched

Durham University's Transformative Humanities launched yesterday and gathered more than 130 researchers, colleagues, students, and partners from across the region and beyond to celebrate this new interdisciplinary framework.

Research news

Transformative Humanities launch news banner

More news

Find out more

Diversity and inclusion

Find out more about our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.
Job opportunities

See current job opportunities.

Diversity and inclusion

Find out more about our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.

Job opportunities

See current job opportunities.

Students sat round a table engaging in a seminar

Our research

Find out more about our research.
Alumni

Find out more about our alumni community.

Our research

Find out more about our research.

A close up shot of an open historic text

Alumni

Find out more about our alumni community.

Our location

The History Department at Durham has established itself firmly as one of the top departments in the UK.

Staff and students are part of a vibrant learning community, set within the magnificent location of Durham’s World Heritage Site.

Find out where we are

Wall mural behind a staircase in the Department of History

Student blogs

Hear from our history students at Durham University.

Highlights

My Supported Progression journey

History student, Liv tells us about the Supported Progression Programme and the opportunities it has created for her at Durham.
24 hours in the life of a 2nd year History student

Find out what it's like being a History student at Durham.