History of Department
The Department of Politics, History and International Relations (PHIR) has evolved from the Department of European Studies that was established in 1972. Over the past thirty-five years the Department has established a strong record of research and teaching in Politics, International Studies and language teaching which until recently formed the basis for its major degree programmes.
In 2003 the Department began the transition from European Studies to Politics and International Relations. The University took a strategic decision to further invest in Politics and International Relations, resulting in a name change for the Department and the introduction of new degrees in International Relations.
In early 2005, in recognition of the Department’s successful transition, the University agreed to three new appointments (at Professorial, Senior Lecturer and Lecturer level) and in early 2007 to three further new appointments at Lecturer level, all of which have considerably enhanced the teaching and research strength of the Department.
In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, the Department was ranked 5B, and also in 2001 the Department was rated 23/24 in the External Subject Review which covered both its Politics and Languages/Area Studies teaching activities.
History has been taught within the Department since October 2009 following a strategic decision by the University to reintroduce this subject area. Five new posts in History have been created as a consequence and the Department now offers four new joint Honours degrees in History and Politics, History and International Relations, History and Geography and History and English.