Join us on campus to discover history, politics, IR and ID at university
Description:
This day is for year 12 students interested in History, Politics, International Relations or International Development. Students will be able to pick from two taster lectures, as well as participating in a Q&A with our friendly student ambassadors.
Choose from two dates:
12 November 2026 or 23 June 2027.
Year group:
Year 12
Open to:
School and college groups
Gatsby benchmarks:
2, 4, 7
Number of participants:
No cap
On this History, Politics, International Relations and International Development taster day:
- Investigate different areas of History and PIRID
- Learn about graduate destinations
- Uncover placement opportunities to gain valuable work experience to set you up for after you Graduate
- Chat with current students about life as a student at Portsmouth and the different courses they study
- Gain useful experience that you can talk about on your UCAS personal statement, showing your passion for History and PIRID
- Learn about Connected Degrees at Portsmouth, the only UK uni to offer a three-year course with 4th year placement
Why study History and Politics?
Discover how the politics of the past have shaped the world we know today on our interdisciplinary BA (Hons) History and Politics degree. Meet one of our academics and learn about the opportunities you'll have here at Portsmouth.
Jodi Burkett
The theme of the course is changing the world.
The History and Politics course is really exciting because it really combines a good, deep understanding of history with current political ideas so you get a really good sense of why society in the world is the way that it is and also, what we can do about it.
The course is extremely interdisciplinary in that it creates a real foundation.
They get the foundation level four in both history and politics as well as optional modules, so they can go in depth in both the politics and the history side.
I think that really sets them up for a great career because it gives them the opportunity to see how different disciplines work and I think the theme really brings it together so we have lots of really interesting researchers who do work on NGOs and on social movements and on activism, and it brings all of that together to see both how the world currently works and how people are working now to change things, but also how they did in the past.
It's possible for students to do a full year placement which would make it a four year degree for them.
We have the placement and internship centre set up at the university to support them to find a placement that works for them. I think the History and Politics course sets students up for a huge range of different kinds of career opportunities.
I would expect students to be able to go into local government or national government, or to be able to go into the heritage sector, to the third sector, and to charity work, to teaching, to all sorts of different kinds of things.
Portsmouth is a fantastic city to live in. I really love living in Portsmouth. It's really beautiful along the seafront. There's lots of things. There's always stuff going on because it's quite a vibrant city, especially in the student areas.
I think it's a really great place that combines a big city feel, but actually quite a close knit cohort of students and lecturers.
Sample programme
Here's a preview of what your taster day will look like*
Update with your taster day programme:
Check-in from 9.15am at BUILDING AND ADDRESS TBC and get ready to learn about studying History, Politics, International Relations and International Development at uni.
Here's our guide to visiting us on campus, should you want to learn a little more before booking or arrival.
After a warm welcome to the university, find out what courses are on offer at Portsmouth before kicking off your activities for the day.
History Taster 1 or International Development Taster
History Taster 1 ‘There are no revolutions in well-governed countries’: The Russian Revolution in British films - Robert James
What impact did the Russian Revolution have in Britain? Join this session to see how the British state responded to the Communist threat through film censorship. In the session we will explore the ways in which this explosive and far-reaching event was presented (or oftentimes not!) to audiences in British feature films. We will examine how audiences were presented with a particular viewpoint about the nature and importance of the Russian revolution and the revolutionaries themselves, and also explore how and why historians use film as an historical source.
International Development Taster - Rethinking Aid and Development in the Global south: Does aid really benefit the beneficiary? - Lana Chikhungu
On the global scale, the idea of concerted international effort in the provision of aid is attributed to USA President Truman’s underlying belief that large investment capital together with technical expertise would contribute to growth and development in countries from the Global South. With Keynesian economic theory dominant at the time, there was strong support for foreign aid. However, over seven decades later after Truman's famous inaugural speech, countries in the Global South are still dependent on aid from the Global North. This session will review the debates on how aid perpetuates the Global South’s economic dependency on the Global North.
Break
Time for a quick break to re-fuel!
History Taster 2 or Politics & International Relations Taster
History Taster 2 - Speaking Out Against a Tyrant: Challenging the Authority of Henry VIII - Katy Gibbons
Tudor society was fundamentally hierarchical, and obedience was a powerful concept for contemporaries. So what happened when a monarch acted in ways that were seen by his subjects as problematic? This session will explore examples of Henry’s subjects speaking out against royal policy, from rude words spoken to neighbours, to printed polemic and propaganda. In doing so, it will explore the limits to royal authority and the extent to which Henry’s subjects might be seen as a threat to his power.
Politics and International Relations Taster - Rethinking ‘uncomfortable pasts’: learning from the German experience? - Brigitte Leucht
In recent years, Britain has begun to systematically address the legacy of its colonial past, evidenced through ongoing investigations into National Trust properties, leading British universities, and cities instrumental to the transatlantic slave trade. In this context, it has been proposed that Britain can learn from the German experience in coming to terms with the legacy of its Nazi past. This session will explore the debates surrounding this controversial proposal examining how nations address uncomfortable aspects of their histories.
What next talk
TBC
Time to get your questions answered. Our friendly staff and student ambassadors will be on hand to answer all of your questions. From module options and employer partnerships to student accommodation and nightlife, it's time to ask away!
After completing a quick evaluation form, it's time for you to head home.
*Sessions may be subject to change.
Location and meeting point
Update for your taster day
Check in opens at 9.15am in Park Building, King Henry I St, Portsmouth PO1 2BZ. Look out for our students in purple T-shirts who'll help direct you.
If you're arriving by coach or minibus, we recommend parking on Museum Road, Portsmouth which is just outside of the Ravelin Sports Centre.
For more information on checking in and how to get here, take a look at our guide to visiting us on campus.