Core Module Information
Module title: Contemporary British History

SCQF level: 07:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10

Module code: SSC07100
Module leader: John Burnett
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Social Science
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

Description of module content:

Understanding the past gives us valuable perspective when looking at today's world. This course explores the rich and varied experiences of people in twentieth century Britain, considering the social, ethnic and cultural diversity that shaped the multi-nation state of the UK. Through this historical lens, you'll develop a deeper understanding of current debates and issues in British society. The course draws mainly on secondary readings, alongside a selection of primary sources. You'll learn through lectures, tutorials, practical online seminars, and workshops, all of which you are expected to attend. By examining key themes, conflicts and debates from a historical angle, you'll build a more well-rounded and insightful view of the issues that matter in Britain today.Typically, the module will include themes from some of the following areas:Introduction to interpreting British history; Industry, class and labour; Poverty, unemployment and welfare; Changing lifestyles – the media, leisure & entertainment; Ideological struggle & political conflict; Empire, immigration & race relations; Crime, policing & punishment; Youth, women & the family; Nationalism, identity & devolution.

Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Identify key themes in twentieth-century British history and demonstrate familiarity with the relationship between past and present in shaping contemporary British society.

LO2: Demonstrate understanding of the changes and continuities in British life since c.1900.

LO3: Recognise some of the major controversies in historical writing about modern Britain.

LO4: Engage in primary source criticism, discussion and understanding of the scope and variety of sources in modern British history.

Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2026/7, Trimester 1, In Person, Edinburgh Napier University
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 002
Primary mode of delivery: In Person
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: John Burnett
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Face To Face Lecture 14 You will receive a two-hour in-person lecture covering the broad outline of the topic for each week. Focusing on formative moments in twentieth-century Britain, the lectures trace the development of key issues and themes and explore how they connect to British society today. Short extracts from documentaries will be used to highlight specific aspects of the week’s theme and connect with the questions you’ll discuss in tutorials. [LOs 1-4]
Face To Face Tutorial 6 Tutorials are one-hour in-person sessions that build on what you’ve covered in the lecture. They’re designed to deepen your understanding of the week’s topic through discussion and close engagement with key texts. Make sure you come prepared by completing the assigned pre-reading before each session, so you can contribute to the discussion and engage with any additional material provided that week. [LOs 1-4]
Online Guided independent study 142 Your guided independent study time involves going over lecture, tutorial, and workshop notes after classes, engaging in independent reading beyond the essential and recommended readings, and working on the different parts of the assessment. [LOs 1-5]
Online GROUPIND_STUDY 10 As part of your primary source evaluative assessment, you will work with your group to plan, research, edit, and finalise your joint report. [LOs 4-5] Weekly guidance on Moodle will point you to resources to help build your knowledge.
Independent Learning Seminar 14 A series of online seminars will focus on practical tasks to help you complete the assessment successfully. You will also be introduced to a series of tasks that feed into the face-to-face workshops that follow. Guidance will be provided on the key aspects of the primary sources you’ll need to engage with, and on how to find the reading material required for the assignment. [LOs 1-5]
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 14 A series of interactive two-hour workshops in a computing lab will take you through the key tasks linked to the assessment. Building on the preparatory work from the online practical sessions, your tutor will guide you in evaluating media sources, identifying the historical context for each primary source, analysing key themes, and finding the readings you need for your evaluative report. Some workshops will also focus on study skills. [LOs 4-5]
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Report 100 1~2~3~4 Week 13 , WORDS= 2000 words For this group assignment, you'll pick a historical newspaper item from The Times Digital Archive (chosen from a list your module leader provides) and write a 2,000-word report worth 100% of your mark, submitting just one copy per group to Turnitin by week 13. The report has three core sections: first, reflect on newspapers as a historical tool — thinking about bias, tone, readership, and how The Times specifically fits into the broader media landscape of its era. Second, place your article in its historical context, explaining what was happening in society at the time and how that shaped both what was written and how it would have been received. Third, focus on 3–4 specific aspects from the newspaper source you’ve chosen to analyse, grouped under clear thematic headings, and use authoritative academic sources (with proper page numbers in your citations) to offer some evaluation and analysis.
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
SSC07100 Contemporary British History