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Department of History

History reveals the complexities of the present. Passionate and innovative undergraduate teaching and postgraduate supervision lie at the heart of the Department of History’s mission, creating a vibrant space where historical inquiry intersects with contemporary issues. We deliver thought-provoking lectures and guide cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of historical understanding. Our programmes emphasize analytical and communication skills, equipping students for careers in education, public service, research and media. Our diverse research interests challenge conventional narratives: from political history and social history to the Anthropocene, to the history of ethnicities, the pre-colonial past, animal history, the history of sex, gender and feminism, the history of science and more.
 


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Undergraduate Teaching

Our undergraduate modules show how history shapes today. Passionate teaching, bold research and diverse perspectives prepare students not only with the fact of the past but also the critical skills needed to thrive in a changing present.


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Postgraduate Programmes

Our postgraduate programmes fuel bold, original historical research – pairing expert mentorship with diverse scholarly perspectives to challenge conventional narratives and illuminate the past in ways that matter for the present.


Research
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Research

Our scholarly reputation rests on our diverse interests: from political history and social history to the Anthropocene, to the history of ethnicities, the pre-colonial past, animal history, the history of sex, gender and feminism, the history of science and more. We have the capacity to supervise postgraduates in all these topics.

Our lecturers have published scholarly articles and books, but also write for newspapers and appear on television, on radio and in documentaries. We engage in outreach programmes and use our research into the past to have an impact on the future. Our interests take us across southern Africa and around the world. Our range covers from the Big Bang until today.