Peterhouse

Cambridge University

History BA (Hons)

UCAS code: V100

There was lots of flexibility in terms of modules. I studied:

– Early Modern Britain (1485-1750)

– Modern Europe (1789-1945)

– Modern Britain & Ireland (1750-Present)

– Early Modern Britain (Social)

– Modern USA (1776-present)

– The First World War (1914-1918)

– Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement

– The British Problem (1485-1653)

– General Historical Problems

Intense. We usually wrote eight or nine 2,500-3,000 word essays per term.

Our supervisor changed every term and my college always tried to place us with the best available teacher in the university. So although Peterhouse was my college, I was also taught at Trinity, Pembroke and Selwyn. This is a great feature of the Cambridge system.

We were set an essay each week and given a long reading list. We then had a weekly 90 minute supervision to analyse the essay and be taught around the research we had done. This was one-to-one with an expert in the field of study – we were worked very hard indeed in those sessions. There was nowhere to hide if you hadn’t done the reading.

There were also lectures every week for us to attend and sometimes group seminars on special subjects – for me these were on The British Problem and Martin Luther King.

There were big examinations (Part 1) at the end of the second year and then “Finals” (Part 2) at the end of the third year.

The British Problem in my third year was fascinating. We studied the British Isles1485-1653 but from the varying perspectives of the different peoples (Irish, Welsh, Scottish, English). We also looked holistically at the problems associated with trying to govern these islands during their most turbulent period and how the modern British state emerged. This paper changed the way I think.

Generally, I worked pretty hard but I should have gone to more lectures. I regret that now. My attendance was a bit haphazard due to football, rowing and social commitments!