History
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History Summer Courses
Explore the people, events and ideas that have shaped societies with Atlas Summer Courses. Our two-week History summer courses, available for students aged 13–15, 16–17 and 18–24, give you the opportunity to investigate the past in greater depth and consider how historians interpret evidence and construct arguments.
Through discussion, analysis and independent study, you'll examine historical questions and different perspectives while developing your ability to evaluate sources, challenge interpretations and build well-reasoned arguments of your own.
What's Included?
Your residential History summer course includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals, a certificate on completion, airport transfer from Heathrow and insurance.
Choose from Plus, Superior and Premier packages, with accommodation and additional benefits varying by package.
Why Study History?
History is the study of the past, but it involves much more than learning dates, events and names. Historians examine evidence, compare interpretations and develop arguments about why events happened and how societies changed.
Studying history means asking questions about cause and consequence, continuity and change, and the experiences of people living in different periods. It also requires you to consider the reliability and limitations of the evidence available.
The same event can be interpreted differently depending on the sources being used and the questions being asked. Learning to recognise and evaluate these competing interpretations is an important part of thinking like a historian.
A History summer course gives you the opportunity to explore the subject beyond your usual curriculum and engage more deeply with the process of historical enquiry.
What Will You Study on a History Summer Course?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors create their own syllabi, drawing on their expertise while taking the interests, abilities and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your course and age group, you could explore particular historical periods, political and social change, conflict, empire, revolution, culture or the ways historians use and interpret evidence.
You might consider questions such as:
- Why do historians disagree about the past?
- What causes societies and political systems to change?
- How can we judge whether a historical source is reliable?
- Why do revolutions and conflicts occur?
- How have ideas and beliefs shaped historical events?
- How does our understanding of the past change when new evidence or perspectives emerge?
The depth and approach will reflect the age group you're studying with. Tutors can also develop the course around their own areas of expertise and the interests of their students.
Any syllabus shown on our website is an example from a previous course rather than a guarantee of the exact topics you'll study.
How You'll Learn on a History Summer Course
How you'll study History depends on your age group, with each programme designed to provide an appropriate level of academic challenge and independence.
Ages 13–15
24 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in eight seminars where you'll explore historical questions through interactive discussion, sources, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to examine evidence, compare interpretations and explain the reasoning behind your own conclusions.
12 hours of private study
Between seminars, you'll complete independent work that could involve reading, analysing historical sources, researching a question or preparing a presentation.
Ages 16–17 and 18–24
18 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in six three-hour seminars, exploring historical questions, evidence and interpretations through discussion, case studies and activities.
2 hours of tutorials
You'll have one tutorial each week, providing a focused environment in which to discuss the essay or problem sheet you've been working on and receive detailed feedback.
Around 20 hours of private study
You'll complete reading in preparation for seminars and work independently on an essay or problem sheet for each tutorial.
Across all age groups, you'll be encouraged to participate actively, engage critically with evidence and develop the confidence to construct and defend your own historical arguments.
Who Are Our History Summer Courses For?
Our History summer courses are designed for students who are curious about the past and want to understand not only what happened, but why events unfolded as they did and how we know about them.
You don't need to know which period of history interests you most before joining. The courses may particularly appeal to you if you enjoy examining evidence, discussing different interpretations or exploring the political, social and cultural forces that shape societies.
You'll develop transferable skills including critical thinking, source analysis, evaluating arguments, independent research and communicating complex ideas clearly.
If you're interested in related subjects, you can also explore our Politics summer courses and International Relations summer courses.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists active across academia, industry and education.
They bring their own academic expertise and interests into their teaching and have the freedom to shape their syllabus around both their specialism and the students in their group. This allows each History summer course to explore different periods, themes and historical perspectives while maintaining an appropriate level of academic challenge.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously taught with us rather than confirmation of who will teach your course.
Where Can History Take You?
History connects with a wide range of subjects across the humanities and social sciences.
Students interested in the field may go on to study History itself or related subjects such as politics, international relations, archaeology, classics, law or other humanities disciplines.
The research, analytical and communication skills associated with History can also support future paths across law, journalism, government, public policy, education, research, publishing, museums and heritage.
A History summer course gives you the opportunity to explore the subject before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which periods, themes and historical questions interest you most.
Don’t see the course you’re looking for?
Explore our full range of courses by subject, age, and location using our course finder. With over 40 subjects available across top locations, there’s something for everyone.
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FAQs about Our Summer Courses
No. You don't usually need to have studied your chosen subject before joining an Atlas Summer Courses summer course. Courses are designed for the relevant age group, and tutors can adapt their approach to the abilities, interests and experience of the students in their group.
There is no fixed curriculum that every student follows. Our tutors create their own syllabi based on their academic expertise and the interests and learning needs of their students.
This means the exact topics can vary between courses and years. Any syllabus or topics shown on our website are examples from previous courses and shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of exactly what you'll study.
Teaching depends on your age group. Students aged 9–12 and Scholars aged 12–14 learn through structured, interactive small-group classes. Students aged 13–15 combine small-group seminars with private study, while students aged 16–17 and 18–24 experience seminars, tutorials and independent study.
Across our programmes, teaching is designed to encourage active participation, questioning and independent thinking rather than simply listening to lectures.
Your course includes your academic programme, accommodation, meals and a certificate on completion, alongside the activities and experiences included within your programme.
What's included can vary depending on the programme, age group and package you choose, so we recommend checking the individual course details for the full inclusions before applying.
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Choose from over 40 subjects taught through flexible, age-appropriate programmes. Our tutors adapt their teaching methodologies to different age groups and shape course content around students’ interests, rather than following a fixed curriculum.
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