Course Catalogue

Modern Britain at War: From Rorke's Drift to Port Stanley HIST4186

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

Focusing largely on conflicts involving the British Army but encompassing a global context, this course will explore the history of modern warfare from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.

Timetable

Two one-hour sessions per week consisting of 15 lectures and 5 seminars over 10 weeks. This is one of the honours options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Requirements of Entry

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into History, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ One essay (2000 words) 50%

■ Five seminar papers (400 words each) 50%

 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the assessments, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

 

Course Aims

This course will provide the opportunity for students to:

 

■ Explore Britain's place in European and world history between the nineteenth and the late twentieth century through an interdisciplinary approach encompassing military history and conflict archaeology.

■ Consider the changing relationship between military and civil society in Britain during the 19th and 20th centuries.

■ Develop skills in source analysis, collaborative discussion and persuasive writing.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Characterise effectively and accurately British military history during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

■ Assess the interrelationship between the military and civilian spheres in this period and how they impacted one another.

■ Analyse a range of primary source types in dialogue with secondary literature and write succinct, evidence-based reports and essays.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions