How is the Certificate in History Studies different from a Diploma?

The Certificate covers introductory source work, period readings and essay craft. The Diploma builds on that with sustained period modules, a longer research essay and deeper historiography. The Certificate in History Studies is the right starting point if you have no prior formal study.

Do I need to be a history graduate to enrol in the Certificate in History Studies?

No. The Certificate in History Studies is open to anyone over 16 with a secondary-school qualification. Most students are career starters, teachers without history backgrounds, heritage volunteers or mature readers preparing for further study.

Can I complete the Certificate in History Studies online?

Yes. The online route runs live cohort sessions and tutor-marked essays on the same syllabus as on-campus. Distance learners follow the same syllabus on a structured deadline schedule with weekly tutor contact.

How long does the Certificate in History Studies take to complete?

Three months full-time or six months part-time. Distance learners typically finish within nine months. Admissions can confirm the next intake date and a study plan that fits your schedule.

Will the Certificate in History Studies count toward a Bachelor's degree?

Credit counts toward the LSJHML Diploma in History, which in turn articulates toward a BA in History or Humanities Research at LSJHML or a partner university. Admissions maps your credits at the application stage for the next step.

Certificate in History Studies | LSJHML London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in History Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a short, structured UK introduction to historical study for readers who want a foundation before committing to a Diploma or Bachelor's degree. Over three to six months you will read closely across selected periods, learn how a historian uses primary sources, and produce short essays under tutor critique to the standard a first-year undergraduate would meet.

This Certificate is taught with the assumption that you read for pleasure but want the discipline of a structured curriculum. The Certificate in History Studies gives you a working method, not just a tour of dates — and a credential that opens the next step in formal historical study.

Key Features

UK entry-level credential in historical study, suitable as CPD for teachers or as a foundation before a Diploma.
Source-handling workshops with printed primary sources, photographs and digital archives.
Period-led modules across early modern, modern and twentieth-century history at introductory level.
Essay craft strand — structure, argument, footnoting, the conventions of academic history writing.
Three study modes — on-campus in central London, online with live cohort sessions, or distance learning with structured deadlines.
Industry-aligned outcomes mapped to Historical Association introductory-study standards.

What You Will Learn

The Certificate in History Studies is structured around the practical skills a new history student needs — reading primary sources, situating them in historiographical context, building an evidenced argument, and writing it down to academic standard.

Foundations of historical study — what the discipline is, what it isn't, what historians actually do.
Source criticism — provenance, authorship, audience, the limits of evidence.
Early modern history — selected topics from c.1500 to 1750.
Modern history — selected topics from c.1750 to 1914.
Twentieth-century history — selected topics across the world wars and post-1945 settlements.
Archive basics — using printed catalogues, digital archives, the major UK repositories.
Essay structure and argument — introduction, evidence, counter-argument, conclusion.
Footnoting and referencing — Chicago and other UK academic conventions.

Who This Course Is For

Career starters considering history-related work in schools, heritage or archives.
Teachers without a history background wanting structured preparation for teaching the subject.
Volunteers at heritage sites and museums wanting credentialled historical training.
Mature readers preparing for a Diploma or Bachelor's degree in History.

Career Pathways

The Certificate in History Studies is a foundation credential. Graduates typically use it to support a route into heritage volunteering, school-based history support roles, or further study. Typical destinations include:

Heritage Volunteer or Assistant (museum, trust, archive)
Teaching Assistant (school history department)
Library Assistant (specialist or academic library)
Editorial Assistant (publisher, magazine with historical content)
Tour Guide (heritage site, walking tour, cultural trust)
Researcher (genealogy, family history)

Credit from this Certificate counts toward the LSJHML Diploma in History and articulates into the BA Humanities Research or relevant Bachelor's degree at partner universities.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age 16.
Secondary school qualification (GCSE/O-Level or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
No prior history-study experience required.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.