Which historical periods does the Diploma in History cover?

Module choice spans medieval Europe, early-modern Britain and Europe, modern Britain, modern European history and modern global history. Students typically take three modules across the year, with the extended essay in a chosen specialism. The exact module list varies by intake — admissions can confirm what's running.

Do I need to read Latin or another non-English language for the Diploma in History?

No. Primary sources in non-English languages are read in established translations. Students with classical or modern language backgrounds are welcome to read sources in the original where useful.

Does the Diploma in History include any archive visits?

On-campus students attend at least three structured archive visits across the year — typically to the National Archives at Kew, the British Library and the London Metropolitan Archives. Online and distance students complete an equivalent online-archive workshop using the same institutions' digitised collections.

Can I take the Diploma in History fully online?

Yes. The online route delivers live seminars, recorded foundational lectures, structured written-work feedback and tutor-supervised extended essay work. Distance-learning students set their own pace within structured deadlines.

Will the Diploma in History help me get into a BA in History elsewhere?

Yes — the Diploma is a recognised UK Level 5 qualification, and credit is often accepted as recognised prior learning by UK history programmes. Admissions teams at partner universities will assess your transcript and the extended essay alongside your application.

Diploma in History in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Diploma in History at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a nine-to-twelve-month UK qualification structured around the historian's craft — primary-source analysis, archival research, historiography, and writing extended evidenced argument. The course covers a curated set of modules from medieval Europe to contemporary global history, with British history threaded through the syllabus given LSJHML's London base.

This Diploma is for adults who already enjoy history as readers and want to develop the disciplined research and writing habits that distinguish a historian from a well-read enthusiast. You leave able to read a primary source critically, situate it in its historiographical context, and write extended evidenced argument to publishable undergraduate standard.

Key Features

Primary-source workshop series — read, transcribe, analyse and interpret manuscript and printed primary sources from across the chronological range.
Historiography module covering the major schools (Annales, Marxist, postcolonial, gender, cultural turn) and contemporary methodological debate.
Module choice across medieval, early-modern, modern British, modern European and modern global history.
Archive skills workshop — practical training with the National Archives' online resources, the British Library, the London Metropolitan Archives and the Wellcome Collection.
Three study modes — on-campus in central London, fully online with live seminars, or distance learning with structured weekly readings.
Extended-essay project — a 5,000-word piece of primary-source-grounded historical argument supervised by a tutor with relevant expertise.

What You Will Learn

The Diploma in History is structured around the working practice of a historian — reading evidence critically, situating it methodologically, and writing extended argument grounded in sources. You finish able to plan and execute a small piece of original historical research, navigate UK archive systems, and write to undergraduate honours standard.

Primary-source analysis — reading manuscripts, printed sources, visual and material evidence.
Palaeography basics — reading early-modern and earlier hand-written documents.
Historiography — the major schools and the methodological debate of the last fifty years.
Research design — framing a question, locating sources, building a working bibliography.
Extended essay writing — structuring evidenced argument across 5,000+ words.
UK archive systems — the National Archives, British Library, county record offices, university special collections.
Comparative and global perspectives on Britain's place in wider European and world history.
Ethics of historical practice — handling difficult evidence, dealing with under-represented voices, contemporary debates over public history.

Who This Diploma Is For

Adult learners with a strong interest in history who want a structured, rigorous qualification short of a full degree.
Working professionals — teachers, lawyers, civil servants, journalists — who use historical knowledge in their work and want it formalised.
Returners to education considering a BA in History or a related humanities subject.
Family-history researchers and amateur historians ready to formalise their research practice and produce extended written work.

Career Pathways

History is one of the foundational humanities disciplines and is recognised across the labour market for the analytical and writing skills it develops. The Diploma in History is not directly vocational but supports a wide range of careers and academic progression routes. Typical applications include:

Junior Archivist and Records Roles (county record office, university archive)
Heritage Officer (English Heritage, National Trust, local authority heritage team)
Junior Researcher (think tank, public policy organisation, documentary production)
Museum and Gallery Assistant (national, regional or specialist collection)
Civil Service Generalist (Fast Stream, policy and analyst roles)
Continued Study (BA, MA in History or related humanities)

The Diploma articulates into the Advanced Diploma in History, the BA History and the BA World History at LSJHML, and is recognised as prior learning for related humanities programmes at partner UK universities.

Entry Requirements

Completion of secondary school (A-Levels, BTEC, or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement.
Mature applicants (21+) may apply with two years of relevant work experience.

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.