History BA Welcome Pack
Welcome to History BA – September 2026.
Welcome to the UON BA History learning community. We are looking forward to working with you!
History at Northampton offers you the opportunity to explore your interest in the past whilst developing your skills for the future. This includes introducing you to new areas of study, different approaches to the study of History, and different types of research and communication skills.
We are a small, friendly and supportive department of students and staff. Tutors are passionate about promoting the transferable skills and knowledge that the advanced study of History can give students.
We have an exciting range of modules for you, covering a wide range of time periods and interdisciplinary approaches to Historical studies. We have modules with content from periods from c.1300 CE to the present day and contemporary history. You will be supported in your studies by a team of expert tutors, who are actively engaged in innovative research in these fields.
We prefer to teach and learn via smaller, more interactive collaborative classes rather than via lectures and seminars. This means that you will be asked to contribute to classes via different types of activities and tasks.
Our course is assessed by coursework rather than by exams. We use different forms of coursework throughout the course. This ranges from essays, primary source analyses through to posters, podcast writing, research projects using original materials and practical work-based projects with other organisations.
We feel that this broad range of assessments enables our students to develop a wider range of transferable skills for the future, whilst also recognising that everyone has strengths in different areas.
You will have a full induction to the course in our Welcome Week (w/b 21 September 2026). This week will combine key information sessions with activities and trips to help you in your classes in the first weeks of study. It is important to attend these. Please see the Welcome Week timetable below for further information.
You will also be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) in this week, who will support you as you progress through your studies. You will meet your PAT in Welcome Week.
There will also be some online pre-induction meetings on Monday 14 and Wednesday 16 September. (please see below for further information).
If you have any questions or would like to chat about any aspect of the course or coming to study with us in advance, please do not hesitate to contact the Course Leader Dr Caroline Nielsen.
Your Course Leader
Dr Caroline Nielsen
Senior Lecturer in History and Heritage
Caroline.nielsen@northampton.ac.uk
Preparing for your course
We run a full in-person course induction to help you transition to university-level History study and welcome you to our community of students and staff at Northampton. This will commence on Monday 21 September 2026.
It includes taught sessions, activities, and a trip to help you start your course.
We also run two pre-induction welcome online meetings in advance of the in-person induction. These will take place on Monday 14 September and Wednesday 16 September. The aim of the sessions is to help you prepare for enrolment and so you can ask any questions you may have before you arrive in Northampton. It also means that you will have met the tutors leading the Welcome Week induction before you arrive.
Information on these activities is available below.
If you have any questions about induction, please do not hesitate to contact the Course Leader Dr Caroline Nielsen caroline.nielsen@northampton.ac.uk.
Monday 14 September
Session: Preparing for Your First Week on the BA History Course at Northampton
- Time: 10 – 10:30am (BST)
- Joining Link: https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/cc4e1031da9843c2b8fa10648284dac3
Wednesday 16 September
Session: Transitioning to University-Level Study: Sources of Information, Help and Advice at the University
- Time: 10 – 10:30am (BST)
- Joining Link: https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/4ad3a895a9bd44d7a88219e4e8528588
We will be using a platform called Blackboard Collaborate. Please check that your internet browser is fully updated. It works best on Google Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox. The sessions will open shortly before the published start time. Please remember that these are public forums so please only add your preferred name and do not share personal information in the chat or via audio. If you have specific questions about your enrolment or application, please contact the Course Leader directly via email.
Monday 21 September
Session: BA History Course Induction Part 1: Course Structure, Your Timetables and Your Module Choices. This core induction session will go through all of the core information relating to the course structure, your Personal Academic Tutor, your timetable and your module choices.
- Time: 11am – 1pm (BST)
- Location: LH125 (Learning Hub Building, Room 125 first floor), Waterside campus
Tuesday 22 September
Session: BA History Course Induction Part 2: Personal Academic Tutoring, Student Support and Transitioning to University Level Study.
This core induction session will introduce all of the key information relating to student support on the course and the personal academic tutoring system, and discuss what to expect during your first year on the degree.
- Time: 11am – 1pm (BST)
- Location: LH125 (Learning Hub Building, Room 125 first floor), Waterside campus
Session: BA History Course Induction Part 3: Meeting and Learning to Work with Your Classmates: Board Game Social. Join us for some short, silly board games – some with a historical theme – to break the ice and meet other students and tutors on the course. No experience or game skills needed! This session is focused more on the social side of your studies. It is designed to help you meet other students in the class.
- Time: 2 – 4pm (BST)
- Location: LH125 (Learning Hub Building, Room 125 first floor), Waterside campus
Wednesday 23 September
Session: Personal Academic Tutor Induction Meetings.
Individual meetings with your Personal Academic Tutors (PAT) will be scheduled for Wednesday 23 and Friday 25 September. These will take place on Waterside Campus, in person. Room information will be given on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September.
More information will be given in the meeting on Monday 21 September.
There will also be events taking place across campus for Welcome and Induction Week.
Thursday 24 September
Session: First Year Course Trip to London’s British Museum with coach travel included.
We will be discussing different elements of History related to different modules on the course once in the museum. You will also have an opportunity to get to know others on the course and your new classmates.
- Time: specifics to be confirmed, but please note that the trip will last all day. The coach usually leaves around 7:50am (BST) in the morning from Waterside Campus.
Friday 25 September
Session: Personal Academic Tutor Induction Meetings + UON Welcome Meeting
Individual meetings with your Personal Academic Tutors (PAT) will be scheduled for Wednesday 23 and Friday 25 September. These will take place on Waterside Campus, in person. Room information will be given on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September.
Session: Welcome Talk from the Students’ Union and University Leadership Team
- Time: 2 – 2:30pm (BST)
- Location: Engine Shed building, Waterside Campus
Preparation
Pre-Course Reading Materials
We are sure you are all eager to get started!
It is not necessary to access materials prior to starting. We go through key information about resources in our inductions in Welcome Week.
Please note we don’t have any set pre-course reading and you do not need to buy lots of books before starting your course.
You will be able to access materials via the University Library and Learning Services shortly after your formal enrolment on campus. There is not usually a single textbook for modules on the course. Tutors will use multiple resources across each module as well as original materials, of some which will not be easily accessible or may be very expensive to purchase independently prior to enrolment.
Computer or Laptops
You will need to have access to a laptop or computer during your studies. Class activities often include elements with digital resources. Many of these resources do not function as effectively or are harder to use on smaller screens. Assessments are also submitted digitally.
Eligible Home Fee Status Students can get a laptop as part of their UON students (or opt for other discounts).
Microsoft Office 365 with Word, Excel and PowerPoint is available for UON students for free. Please see our Student Perks page for further information.
