1. Welcome to the Department of History Alan Booth and Kristofer Allerfeldt March 2014

2. Overview of today’s welcome talk The University of Exeter History on Exeter’s Penryn Campus Meet [some of] our historians What do our degree programmes look like? Study Abroad Student perspectives Your prospects

3. History at Exeter Exeter ranked 10 th in The Complete University Guide (2014) College of Humanities ranked 65 th in World Rankings (Times Higher Education) Ranked 6 th for History by The Times and Sunday Times league table Ranked 8 th for History in The Complete University Guide In the top 20 for research in History in the UK, with 60% of research classed as world leading or of international standard

4. Our Students Opinions: Cornwall Campus has been in the top 3 NSS scores for History every year since our first cohort In NSS 2013 97% of final year students satisfied or very satisfied by their programmes Amongst Russell Group universities, 3 rd most ‘intellectually stimulating’ History programme in the UK

5. . Our aim To produce high quality graduates…...who have enjoyed the Cornwall-Exeter experience...who have been stimulated and challenged throughout their studies...who are equipped for life after university, whether in further study or employment

6. What do we offer? History of landscape and environmental politics, history of science and technology Community, museology, and oral history Crime and violence in US history Beyond Europe – Japan, Middle East, US, Canada Twentieth century conflict, esp. First World War British political history since 1850 ‘Critical Futures’ Everyday life in Stalin’s Russia

7. Our Distinctiveness Informality, approachability and regular contact An Oxbridge-style tutorial education Innovative teaching, assessments and programmes A public history element in which our students work with outside organisations thus developing employability skills A collective of leading historians who use history to reflect on past, present, and future issues

8. The Syllabus (SH History) Year 1: Basic (History Foundation); Intro to Public History; Broadening (World History & People’s History) Year 2: Project work; 3 Option module Year 3: Dissertation; 3 Research-based modules New modules under development every year Modularity each year

9. What’s special about History at Exeter? Structure – Not just stand-alone ‘modules’, degree has coherence from years 1 to 3 Breadth & depth – Survey courses, detailed subjects, projects Choice – 50 staff across two campuses, specializing in Political, Religious, Economic, Social, Cultural, Military, Naval, Medical & Scientific histories How We Teach Lectures, seminars, projects and work placements Collaborative projects with external stakeholders Assessment varied and innovative – based on exams, essays, wikis, presentations, workshops, reports and more… Transferable skills embedded in every module Dedicated work placements officer Our students get involved and have a voice!

10. Workload (1) Year 1: 4 modules. A typical module may involve: 6 x 750 word portfolio assignments (e.g. critical review, quantitative exercise, annotated bibliography, primary source analysis) 2 x 2,000 word essays 1 x 30 minute group presentation 1 x 2 hour exam Lecture/seminar preparation Year 2: Independent Project (c.10,000 words); 3 Option modules. A typical option may involve: 1 x 3,000 word portfolio (e.g. critical review, source analysis) 1 x 3,000 word research essay 1 x assessed group presentation 1 x 2 hour exam Lecture/seminar preparation, unassessed work.

11. Year 3: Dissertation (c. 10,000 words + unassessed drafts); 3 Research-based modules. A typical research-based module may involve: 1 x 3,000 word research essay 1 x assessed presentation and portfolio 1 x 2 hour exam Two un-assessed presentations Extensive seminar preparation and student-leadership of sessions. Workload (2)

12. Public History – a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience Available at Level 1 and 2 Practical application of academic ideas, debates and theories Work placements as part of the assessment Links with US MA programme including field visits Industry relevant skills

13. Past placements include: Royal Air Force The National Trust Imperial War Museums The National Archives Royal Cornwall Museum V & A Falmouth Exeter Plus The British Postal Museum & Archive National Museum Wales English Heritage Cornwall Council Helston Museum Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

14. Study Abroad One semester abroad OR one year Europe OR International options Number of International Partner Universities including - USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan Erasmus placements including - Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Malta, Turkey, Switzerland

15. A student shares a few reasons to go abroad... Experiencing a different learning environment Meeting many new people from all over the world Being able to choose completely different modules Travelling Working hard, but having lots of fun!

16. Student Perspectives - Studying Studying at the Penryn Campus is an academically stimulating experience Excellent academic support, with the benefit of one-to-one supervision when needed If you ever have a problem, someone will be there to help you solve it! Academics are experts in their field and make the modules enjoyable and thought-provoking New resources. Employability and Career Zone talks.

17. Not that it is all work University of Exeter has the highest level of student engagement in the UK – through clubs and societies, volunteering, and our two students’ unions. At the Cornwall Campus students can join 86 sports clubs and societies. The more you put in, the more you get out: so we encourage students to get involved, whether in sport, society or the University Cornwall offers unparalleled opportunities for sport in the community, and especially beside and on the water. Students are involved in all key University decision-making. We see student opinions as a way of improving our performance – which perhaps explains our NSS scores

18. Student Life (when not studying...) Variety of activities available, including various societies, sports clubs and most importantly- History Society. Student friendly town – loads to do and a night out doesn’t break the bank! Nothing beats a relaxing day on the beach surfing, kayaking or paddle boarding, especially after exams (or a night out...)

19. Your Prospects as an Exeter History Graduate Employability is embedded in every year of our degree programme Careers in heritage, education, media, consultancy and research sector Transferable skills for other career routes (business, charity, publishing, anything!) Conversion courses esp. law PhD and MA further study 75% Cornwall History graduates in graduate destinations 12 months after graduation (DLHE, 2011)

20. What do our students do? Journalism, media studies, media research Recruiting, financial services, armed forces, tourism Further professional study - teaching, law conversion Further study – MA, PhD According to an employment insider, Law or History graduates are desirable recruits because “both disciplines taught the careful analysis of evidence and placed very high value on presentational skills.”

21. Thank You We hope to have the opportunity to get to know you all over the next three years Please complete your feedback forms! Questions? Got questions when you get home? Email: historycornwalladmissions@exeter.ac.ukhistorycornwalladmissions@exeter.ac.uk