Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

This is a broad-based survey course which gives an introduction to British history, culture and present-day British society. It has two main components, one historical and one contemporary. The historical part of the course charts the development of the British Isles from 1066 up to the end of World War 2, with a main focus on political history. The contemporary part focuses on the emergence of the modern British state and modern British society after 1945, as well as central institutions in present-day Britain.

A main theme in the course as a whole is the relationship between the four "historic nations" of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, past and present. We study this relationship both with respect to the gradual unification of the four nations into one British state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the subsequent division of this state into the UK and the Republic of Ireland; and the many and varied challenges facing the British state and British society today. In the contemporary part of the course we look at the UK after the partition of Ireland, which means Great Britain and Northern Ireland (not the Republic of Ireland).

The course provides students with a foundation for further studies of the British Isles as an area.

Learning outcome

By the end of the course, you will:

  • have knowledge and understanding of British culture and society in a historical perspective;
  • be able to analyse central themes in the historical development of the British state, and British society;
  • be able to analyse important questions and problems facing British society today;
  • have knowledge and understanding of central institutions in present-day Britain;
  • be able to demonstrate English language skills;
  • will be able to demonstrate essay writing skills.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Lectures are open to the public. Seminar teaching requires admission to the course.

The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Lectures, 2 hours weekly for 12 weeks, and groups, 2 hours 6 times during the semester. 36 hours in all.

Obligatory activities:

  • A timed, electronic take-home midterm test that consists of a set of different question types (e.g. multiple choice, short answer, etc.) and a prompt-based writing task. This course requires that references and bibliographic entries be in the?Chicago Manual of Style?(available in?full online?through the library).?Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements.?Information about?guidelines for obligatory activities.?Positive completion of the midterm exam is a qualifying requirement for sitting the final exam.

  • It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 4 of 6 seminars. The requirement is absolute.

The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.

If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.

If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.

In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for special needs accomodations.

All obligatory activities must be approved in the same semester for you to sit the exam. Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the next two semesters that the course is taught.

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As a full-time student you are expected to spend at least 12 hours a week studying for this course.

In the weeks with tutorials, two of those hours will be spent in groups with your teacher, two hours are spent attending lectures, and eight hours are free for your own studies. In non-tutorial weeks, two hours are spent attending lectures, while the remaining 10 hours are free for your own studies. These hours should be spent reading, making notes on, and reflecting on the syllabus texts; exploring secondary texts, and preparing to contribute your own viewpoint