The Aberdeen History Department was established in 1898, although of course the University’s first Historian was also its first Principal, Hector Boece of King’s College (d.1536). The Department’s first professional chair, the Burnett-Fletcher Chair of History, was founded in 1903. Since then professors of History at Aberdeen have included eminent scholars with a breadth of talent, such as historian of Scotland and musicologist C.S. Terry, the medievalist and legal historian G.O. Sayles, and the Africanist John Hargreaves.

All members of staff in the History department are actively pursuing their research interests at the cutting edge of their respective fields. We have experienced and committed teachers and supervisors who will strive to enrich your experience at the University of Aberdeen and enable you to realise your ambition.

Aberdeen was ranked the leading University in Scotland in History for Research Impact and 2nd in the UK for Outstanding Impact after the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. These outstanding results reflect a strong commitment to research innovation.

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