About the Department of History

Since its foundation in 1896, many celebrated historians have taught and researched in Sheffield's Department of History.

The Jessop West building
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The department

The Department of History's outstanding reputation is built upon a rich tradition, with many celebrated historians having taught and researched here in fields of study which remain at the heart of the department.

The department is based in the award-winning Jessop West building. We are at the heart of the central University campus, directly opposite the Information Commons and close to University Halls of Residence, lecture halls, libraries and local amenities.

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High-quality teaching at a leading research university

The Department of History is one of the largest, most active and successful centres for teaching and historical research in the UK.

Our historians are engaged in cutting-edge research in a huge variety of fields which range from the first century right up to the twenty first, and with particular strengths in the history of Britain, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Eastern Asia and America.

The diversity of our research feeds into a vibrant and varied curriculum which allows students to pursue their interests across both space and time, from ancient Rome to the modern Middle East, and from fifteenth-century human sacrifice to twentieth-century genocide.

Our teaching is consistently rated as excellent, and our modules develop students into well-rounded and flexible historians, and capable, confident graduates.


Wide-ranging academic excellence

Our historians are international leaders in their fields who contribute to public as well as academic debates, regularly appearing on and providing advice to radio and television.

As well the writers of award-winning books, the department’s staff includes prominent members of professional bodies, funding agencies and leading journals.

Our outstanding record of research has been consistently recognised by external bodies. We're ranked among the UK's top three History departments for the impact and quality of our research in the Research Excellence Framework 2014.

We were awarded a prestigious grade 5 in the 1996 and 2001 national Research Assessment Exercises.

Discover our research

REF 2021


News and events

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International Merit Scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international students including 75 undergraduate scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee and 125 postgraduate taught scholarships worth £5,000 towards the tuition fee. Applications are now open for existing offer holders.