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 2026

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

95% of students find the course intellectually stimulating (National Student Survey 2024)

4th Guardian University Guide 2026

Ranked among the world's best

In 2025, Durham University has achieved its strongest ever performance in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject, with a record 21 subjects ranked among the world's top 100, up from 19 last year. History is ranked 36th out of 231 departments worldwide.

Read more about our undergraduate degree programmes

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

Durham is University of the Year 2026

We are The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide University of the Year 2026. We are also joint runner-up University of the Year for Graduate Employment and ranked third overall, up two places from last year.

Look at our latest video

Professor Markian Prokopovych from our Department of History discusses his research and career. The war in Ukraine has transformed Markian's research, prompting him to explore how the past can help shape Ukraine's future.

See related videos

Department News

Medieval wall painting clue to Durham Castle’s high-status past

A hidden section of medieval wall painting, not seen for hundreds of years, is giving clues to the grand past of Durham Castle.

Research news
Spotlight on: Professor Markian Prokopovych – advocating history’s role in supporting Ukraine's future

Our Spotlight On series highlights the leading work of our academics. Professor Markian Prokopovych from our Department of History specialises in modern European history. The war in Ukraine has transformed his research, prompting him to explore how the past can help shape Ukraine's future.

Global research
Book prize for Talitha Ilaqua

Congratulations to Talitha Ilacqua, Career Development Fellow in Modern European History, who has won the Society for the Study of French History Book Prize for her book Inventing the Modern Region: Basque Identity and the French Nation-State, published by Manchester University Press.

Research news

Medieval wall painting clue to Durham Castle’s high-status past

A hidden section of medieval wall painting, not seen for hundreds of years, is giving clues to the grand past of Durham Castle.

Research news

A man with a beard and glasses looks at a fragment of medieval wall painting in a masonry style with a red flower and stem motif

Spotlight on: Professor Markian Prokopovych – advocating history’s role in supporting Ukraine's future

Our Spotlight On series highlights the leading work of our academics. Professor Markian Prokopovych from our Department of History specialises in modern European history. The war in Ukraine has transformed his research, prompting him to explore how the past can help shape Ukraine's future.

Global research

Professor Markian Prokopovych smiling and facing the camera with a blurred background

Book prize for Talitha Ilaqua

Congratulations to Talitha Ilacqua, Career Development Fellow in Modern European History, who has won the Society for the Study of French History Book Prize for her book Inventing the Modern Region: Basque Identity and the French Nation-State, published by Manchester University Press.

Research news

Book cover with illustration of Basque men playing sport

More news

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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.