History Subject regulations
The History programme teaches papers in global, oral, intellectual, religious, cultural, social, war, comparative, environmental, health, indigenous and science histories in local, national and international contexts. We also explore, methodological, intellectual, and historiographical issues at both undergraduate and graduate levels. History teaches advanced skills in high-level critical thinking, research, communication, and the gathering and assessing of complex evidence, skills in great demand from among prospective employers.
History is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC) and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). History may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete History as a single major for the BA, BCC or BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for History, including 105 points above 100 level, and a further 60 points above 200 level.
To complete History as part of a double major for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for History, including 90 points above 100 level, and a further 45 points above 200 level.
To complete a minor in History, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the History major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.
Students are encouraged to contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office for programme advice.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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GradCert(Hist) and GradDip(Hist) A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included History at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
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PGCert(Hist), PGDip(Hist), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc To complete a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in History, students must gain 120 points from approved 500 level papers, including at least 30 points in research.
The qualification regulations define the admission requirements for enrolment into the MA or MSocSc in History.
Completion requirements for the MA or MSocSc in History vary according to admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including ALPSS500 and at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.
Students admitted under b) above must complete 120 points from approved 500-level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.
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MPhil The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
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PhD The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
History papers
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
HISTY106
Violence and Resistance: Making the Modern World
Explores the long histories of violence and resistance that have shaped the modern world. Students investigate histories of colonisation, genocide... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY117
Global Oceans
This paper explores what global history looks like from the perspective of the oceans. With a focus on the Pacific, we will examine environmental... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
HISTY202
Gender in History
What do we learn about history when we ask questions about gender? Gender in History investigates this question by examining significant themes, time... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY206
What Historians Do: Methods and Sources
The paper focuses on the fundamental and accepted practices in academic historical scholarship and surveys a variety of significant historical and... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY211
Modern United States
This paper introduces students to histories of the modern United States, with a focus on the twentieth century. We will cover histories of race... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY235
Māori and Treaty History in Professional Practice
This paper examines the application of Māori and Treaty history to professional practice. It explores how these histories are relevant to historical... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
HISTY301
Sugar and Spice: Colonialism, Capitalism and the Environment
This paper examines key commodities that have reshaped diets, economies and societies across the globe since the early modern period. We consider how... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY302
Blood, Land, DNA: Contemporary Indigenous Histories and Archives
This paper explores critical questions about power, sovereignty, and belonging in contemporary Indigenous history, focusing on Aotearoa, the Pacific... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY303
Reproductive Histories
This paper examines the history of reproduction in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We cover global case studies and, where possible, we focus... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY390
Directed Study
A Directed Study is a taught paper enabling an undergraduate student to undertake a piece of extended historiographical research. Students enrolled... |
15 | 27X (Hamilton) |
|
INTLC317
French Culture from Versailles to the Revolution
A study of France's literary, social, and historical movements from the Golden Age of Versailles through to the Enlightenment and the Revolution it... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
ALPSS500
Academic and Professional Research and Writing
In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills... |
30 | 27A (Online) & 27B (Online) |
|
HISTY512
Global Environmental History
Global Environmental History explores the ways in which human societies, cultures, and economies have imagined and shaped, as well as been shaped by... |
30 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY516
History and Theory
This paper prepares students for professional historical practice and higher study through an investigation of relevant historiographical theories... |
30 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY591
Research Project
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. |
30 | 27X (Hamilton) & 27X (Online) |
|
HISTY592
Dissertation
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. |
60 | 27X (Hamilton) & 27X (Online) |
|
HISTY593
History Thesis
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. |
90 | 27X (Hamilton) |
|
HISTY594
History Thesis
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. |
120 | 27X (Hamilton) |
|
INTLC517
French Culture from Versailles to the Revolution
A study of France's literary, social, and historical movements from the Golden Age of Versailles through to the Enlightenment and the Revolution it... |
30 | 27B (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| HISTY800 History MPhil Thesis | 120 | 27X (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| HISTY900 History PhD Thesis | 120 | 27I (Hamilton) & 27J (Hamilton) & 27K (Hamilton) & 27X (Hamilton) |
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HISTY106 Violence and Resistance: Making the Modern World
Explores the long histories of violence and resistance that have shaped the modern world. Students investigate histories of colonisation, genocide...
Points 15This paper explores what global history looks like from the perspective of the oceans. With a focus on the Pacific, we will examine environmental...
Points 15 -
HISTY202 Gender in History
What do we learn about history when we ask questions about gender? Gender in History investigates this question by examining significant themes, time...
Points 15The paper focuses on the fundamental and accepted practices in academic historical scholarship and surveys a variety of significant historical and...
Points 15This paper introduces students to histories of the modern United States, with a focus on the twentieth century. We will cover histories of race...
Points 15This paper examines the application of Māori and Treaty history to professional practice. It explores how these histories are relevant to historical...
Points 15 -
HISTY301 Sugar and Spice: Colonialism, Capitalism and the Environment
This paper examines key commodities that have reshaped diets, economies and societies across the globe since the early modern period. We consider how...
Points 15This paper explores critical questions about power, sovereignty, and belonging in contemporary Indigenous history, focusing on Aotearoa, the Pacific...
Points 15This paper examines the history of reproduction in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We cover global case studies and, where possible, we focus...
Points 15A Directed Study is a taught paper enabling an undergraduate student to undertake a piece of extended historiographical research. Students enrolled...
Points 15A study of France's literary, social, and historical movements from the Golden Age of Versailles through to the Enlightenment and the Revolution it...
Points 15 -
ALPSS500 Academic and Professional Research and Writing
In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills...
Points 30Global Environmental History explores the ways in which human societies, cultures, and economies have imagined and shaped, as well as been shaped by...
Points 30This paper prepares students for professional historical practice and higher study through an investigation of relevant historiographical theories...
Points 30A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
Points 30A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
Points 60An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
Points 90An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
Points 120A study of France's literary, social, and historical movements from the Golden Age of Versailles through to the Enlightenment and the Revolution it...
Points 30 -
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HISTY900 History PhD ThesisPoints 120
2027 Subject regulation information current as at 12 Aug 2026 01:00am