university of hertfordshire thesis

How to find theses

Finding University of Hertfordshire Theses 

UK and Irish Theses 

EThOS  registration/login and search  

Theses from other countries

Finding University of Hertfordshire Theses 

Please note that retrieval of physical theses from the closed stack will be available from 09 September. 

To access UH theses (the UHRA electronic version of doctoral level submissions and the printed copies of  Masters  by Research and MPhil dissertations):  

• Click on Online Library on the top menu bar of StudyNet  
• Type your search in the Library Search box  
• To find a specific thesis, type the author's surname and keywords from the title , plus the word thesis , e.g. Williams networking business thesis  
• You can search for theses on a subject by typing subject keywords , using quote marks " " to search for a phrase, and adding H ertfordshire to narrow your search down e.g. "art therapy" thesis H ertfordshire  
• To narrow your search down further, look at the menu on the left of the screen: under Content Type click on Dissertation/Thesis (you may need to click on More first)  
• Electronic theses are available from the UH Research Archive .    
• Print theses are kept in a closed access stack at College Lane LRC and have to be requested in advance using a Stack Retrieval Form . They can be used only in the LRC and must be returned the same day as they are issued to you.   Please download the form and open it in Adobe before filling it in and submitting it by email.

  The University of Hertfordshire Research Archive ( UHRA ) contains electronic versions of research theses completed at the University.   

Students can deposit their  research thesis, if completed at UH, in the UHRA. UH electronic theses are being included in the British Library  EThOS  service (details below) so it is important that your final PhD is deposited in the UHRA.  

As more universities make theses available electronically via their own Open Access institutional archives (like UHRA) you will be able to find the full text of theses worldwide by simply searching on Google.  

UK and Irish Theses  

The British Library is currently digitising thousands of theses from UK Higher Education institutions to make the full-text freely available online for users to download through the Electronic Thesis Online Service ( EThOS ).   

Staff and students can request a PhD thesis from another UK institution via the British Library’s (BL's) EThOS service at: http://ethos.bl.uk  

EThOS  registration/login and search

To use EthOS , you first need to register, see EThOS  Login and Registration  

• You can then search  EThOS  for UK theses  
• If a thesis has already been digitised, you can freely download it immediately from  EThOS  
• If a thesis has not already been digitised and the owning institution does not/will not fund the digitisation costs, EThOS  will request payment for it  
• If payment for a thesis is required, you should  
• Contact the Inter- library Loan (ILL) team by email at [email protected]  
• The email should include your contact details, whether staff or student, and if a student then your course/research project details. You need to state that you want a dissertation from the  EThOS  service that requires payment .  

You should be aware from the outset that when digitisation is required, it usually takes around 30 days but there could be a delay of weeks (unknown), depending on how quickly the owning institution supplies the hard copy of the thesis to the BL for digitisation, and how quick the BL is at digitising it.  

Requests from staff  

If the request is from a member of staff, the ILL team will proceed directly with the request for the thesis.  

• The ILL team will be informed via email from the BL when the thesis is available for download from EThOS *  
• The ILL team will forward the email to you to say that the thesis is available on  EThOS . The forwarded email will include useful information to help you identify the thesis on the system and explain the need for you to download it yourself  
• You can then log into EThOS  and download the thesis yourself, for  free.* *  

Requests from students  

If the request is from a student, the ILL team will refer this to the relevant Information Manager  for approval.  

• The Information Manager will then  make contact with  you, ensuring that you are aware of the type/level of the resource you have requested, any alternative resources, the likely timescales required for digitisation  
• The Information Manager will approve (or not) the request on a case-by-case basis in consultation with you and will inform the ILL team of the decision  
• The ILL team will proceed with the request for the thesis  

* this email can take several days, or possibly weeks, to arrive via BL functional email.  

** By following this procedure, UH pays for the digitisation of the thesis and the user agrees to the terms and conditions of supply of the thesis, so all legal requirements are met.  

Theses from other countries  

Many international theses are freely available digitally (see below). However, if you are unable to obtain a digital copy, contact your Information Manager for further advice.  

Australasian Digital Theses . Access to full-text electronic theses submitted at Australasian universities is now available via the National Library of Australia's Trove service.  

Caltech ETD Database . Contains electronic theses and dissertations submitted by students undertaking research in science and technology.  

DART-Europe . A single European portal for the discovery of open access electronic theses and dissertations.  

Dissonline . Search for German electronic dissertations and post-doctoral theses held by the German National Library. Coverage from 1998.  

DIVA . Portal for research publications and student theses from 26 Scandinavian universities and colleges of higher education.  

HKU Theses Online . Holds over 18,000 Hong Kong theses and dissertations submitted for higher degrees since 1941. Mostly in English, with some in Chinese. Over 16,500 are available in full-text.  

NARCIS . Portal to open-access e-theses and other research publications from all  Dutch universities.

National Archive of PhD Theses . Contains the PhD theses from all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Greece as well as PhD theses awarded to Greek scholars by foreign HEIs.  

Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) . International organization which contains more than one million records of electronic theses and dissertations from universities in the USA and other countries.  

Open Grey multidisciplinary repository for European grey literature.  

Shodhganga . Full text digital theses from over 100 Indian universities.  

SUDOC . Catalogue of materials held in French university and research libraries. Use the advanced search to limit your search to theses, many of which are available online in full-text.  

Theses Canada Portal . Maintained by Library and Archives Canada and provides free access .  

For more information about requesting a thesis, see Inter-Library Loans (ILLs).

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Writing successful undergraduate dissertations in social sciences: a student's handbook

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T1 - Writing successful undergraduate dissertations in social sciences: a student's handbook

AU - Jegede, Francis

AU - Hargreaves, Charlotte

AU - Smith, Karen

AU - Hodgson, Philip

AU - Todd, Malcolm J.

AU - Waldman, Julia

BT - Writing successful undergraduate dissertations in social sciences: a student's handbook

PB - Routledge

CY - London

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Dissertation School of Law University of Hertfordshire

2016, Postgraduate Dissertation

International Legal Framework should be revised, it should be based on country interest and society interest.

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Julia Constanze Elser

This paper analyzes the international regime of investment protection. It examines how international investment treaties and the enforcement of the rights conferred on private investors impact the states’ ability to regulate in public interest towards a sustainable future. Using data collected by UNCTAD, this article depicts the foundations, dynamics and trends of the international investment regime. It explains the reasons for the replacement of customary international law by treaties and the enforcement mechanism. This shows the basic rationale of the system, which is the protection of private business interests, but not a balance between them and public interest. It also demonstrates a shift in role allocation: while formerly developed countries used investment treaties to safeguard their nationals’ outbound FDI, recently they conclude treaties among themselves. Facing exposure to investment arbitration, developed countries’ governments seek to protect public interests especially regarding the adoption and implementation of environmental policies. A scrutiny of model treaties of the 21st century shows that investment treaties generally contain the same protection standards, but states differ significantly in how they express them. The analysis reveals that some states are more cautious than others and do not bank on arbitrators to interpret investment treaties in a regulation-friendly manner. Instead, some states follow the recent trend to incorporate wording aimed at preserving regulatory space. The paper also deals with the criticism of investment arbitration. By reviewing arbitral jurisprudence, I come to the conclusion that tribunals adopt different approaches to reconcile regulatory and private interest but do consider states’ right to regulate by majority. I argue that in the end investment arbitrators are not the right ones to blame for restrictions on regulatory freedom. Instead, investment treaties have been invented for the purpose to restrict regulatory freedom. The experience that the reciprocity of investment agreements can backlash on developed states has changed policymakers approach to negotiating treaties. Governments, not arbitrators are the ones in charge of striking the balance between investment protection and public interest. They have the prerogative power of both negotiating and interpreting treaties. Governments should thus use this power for integrating some scope for the pursuit of sustainability concerns into the international investment regime. While withdrawing from the international system of investment protection would mean throwing the baby out with the bathwater, governments should take clear and specific treaty wording as to regulatory needs for sustainability as a precondition for the conclusion of new treaties. Additionally, they should make an effort to achieve broad international consensus on the interpretation of typical standards of protection.

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Open days are the perfect opportunity for you to explore our vibrant campuses, get a taste of your course(s) of interest and hear first hand from our staff and current students about life as a student at Herts.

Our next open day is Saturday 27 April 2024 from 09:30 - 15:00 .

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Ba (hons) history, book your virtual open day, key information, typical offer:, fees: see below, ucas code: v150, institute code: h36, study abroad option, work placement option.

To ensure this course continues to be cutting-edge and enables you to be ready for the modern workplace, it is due to be reviewed by December 2024.

Our website will typically be updated within a month of the review confirming any enhancements, including:

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The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

Clearing entry requirements

We’re committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. Over Clearing, we’ll be taking a flexible approach so if you don’t have the advertised grades, please submit a clearing application via our online application form or by calling our Clearing hotline on 0300 303 6300 , and we’ll review and consider your application on an individual basis.

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If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our  Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our  Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.

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Why choose this course?

• 91% overall student satisfaction rating (National Student Survey, 2022)
• Top 25% in the UK for research impact (Research Excellence Framework, 2021)
• No exams ever again – all our assessments are coursework based

​Join us on an exhilarating journey through time with the BA History course at the University of Hertfordshire, a twentieth-century degree designed for the curious, the passionate, and the ambitious. This course is not only about the study of the past, but a bridge to your future, offering depth, flexibility and a commitment to turning your fascination with history into a rewarding career.

What we give you: 

• Support from research active academic tutors
• A flexible programme of study, allowing you to concentrate on areas you find interesting
• Opportunities for work placement and study abroad

This is a history degree for today’s evolving world. You can choose to explore the complexities of faith, science and the supernatural in Faith, Magic, and Medicine 1500-1800 , or investigate the use of Propaganda in Twentieth Century War and Politics . With modules like Postcards from Empire you'll traverse continents and centuries, gaining an essential global perspective that makes sense of today's interconnected world. Alongside our history modules, you can choose pathways that include combining history with another subject such as literature, philosophy, film, creative writing or a language.

The University of Hertfordshire is distinguished by its strong focus on research impact, ranking in the top 25% of UK universities for research impact (Research Excellence Framework, 2021), and enjoys a 91% overall student satisfaction rating (National Student Survey, 2022). We have an active extra-curricular offering, giving you real-world experience and connections with the heritage industry and local communities. Our history students are active in the Oral History Team in projects that have been recognised by the BBC and the Royal Historical Society. We have a very active History Society, run by students for students. You will also have the opportunity to engage with some of the 100+ clubs and societies on campus, to play sports, get involved in music and drama, or help run the award-winning Students’ Union. With our state-of-the-art facilities and a buzzing campus, you’ll find a supportive and fun community that fosters your academic and personal growth.

For anyone looking to turn their passion for history into a promising career in a fast-paced world, our BA in History at the University of Hertfordshire offers a vibrant and supportive environment where you can explore the past, understand the present, and shape the future. Join us and embark on a journey that not only deepens your understanding of history but also equips you with the skills, experiences and confidence to succeed in whatever path you choose. 

What's the course about?

The first year is supported by a targeted skills module Historian’s Toolkit that will help you make the transition to degree level work and develop your understanding of the many ways in which and you can be a historian. Alongside this you can dive into the cultural powerhouse of the twentieth century with the module The American Century 1900-2000 . In the module History on the Page, Stage, and Screen you will see that from the ever-popular Bridgerton series to Shakespeare’s masterful retellings the vibrant tapestry of the past can come alive, shaping our contemporary cultural landscape through the power of historical storytelling. 

In your second year , the course offers great flexibility and choice, encouraging you to follow your interests wherever they lead. Whether it’s delving into the intricacies of family life in the eighteenth century, understanding the pivotal political movements of the 20th century, investigating the evolution of crime and society in the sixteenth century, or mastering the art of historical documentary film making, the choice is yours. Our teaching ensures a dynamic and interactive learning experience that not only broadens your knowledge but also hones your analytical and critical thinking skills, all crucial for today’s world of employment.

Work placement/study abroad option:  Between your second and final year, you’ll have the option to study abroad or do a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about but will also give your CV a boost. If you’d rather go straight to your final year, that’s absolutely fine too.   

In your third and final year , you can write a dissertation on a topic of your choice, an optional extended project that allows you to showcase the depth of your understanding and the breadth of your research skills. This is your chance to contribute original insights to the field of history, guided by staff renowned for their cutting-edge research and innovative teaching methods. Final year modules are driven by our teaching staff’s specialist research area and give you the opportunity to work closely with source materials from the past related to your own chosen topics and passions.  

Your main campus is College Lane

This is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based. This means you’ll share the campus with future nurses, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus pub or cafes. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.

What will I study?

Degree programmes are divided into levels, 4, 5 and 6.  These correspond to your first, second and third/final year of study.  Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each.   

An opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.  

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.  

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it. 

Find out more about Study abroad opportunities  

Please note Erasmus+ funding is only available until May 2023. For students starting their course in September 2022 and wishing to study abroad in 2023-24 or 2024-25, please refer to the Turing Scheme .

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.  

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.  

Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process. 

If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you will pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it. 

Find out more about work placements  

You’ll get a personal tutor to guide you through your course, all the way to graduation.

You might also want or need extra support during your time with us. Rest assured, no matter what you study, we’ve got you covered. For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions, and online tutorials. Both our LRCs (Learning Resources Centres) run drop-in study skills sessions. And the best thing is, it’s all free.

Check out our student blogs

Student Blogs

Jasmine - Week at a glance

My week at a glance

History lessons are taught between a mixture of lectures and seminars for the first two years (Level four and five). A typical week would consist of one-hour lectures per module followed by a seminar, which could either be immediately after or on a different day. The seminars consist of smaller groups of people where you discuss both the lecture’s information and the assigned reading. These can be debates, presentations, or simple discussions. So, despite only having contact time for four hours per week, there are independent reading and assignments which need to be completed.

I start my week by completing the required reading, making notes of anything I do not understand so that I can ask my lecturer. After completing the weekly reading, I will work on the assignments. Even though they are mostly due at the end of the semester it is a good idea to work on them throughout, so you do not leave them until last minute.

I participated in active students, which is free for all Hertfordshire students. Here I would attend yoga classes, but there is a wide range of fitness and wellbeing events that take place. I also enjoyed badminton, as you could either go alone or with a group of friends. It is also a good idea to join society as it not only boosts your CV, but it is a way to meet likeminded people and develop friendships.

I also had a part-time job which I would do alongside studying. This means that planning is vital as you want to be on top of your workload to ensure you have enough time to complete it to the best of your ability. It worked well with the history course as most of the work was independent, meaning I could work around my other commitments.

It is important that you allow downtime alongside work as it recharges you and you can produce better quality work. It also prevents you from being overworked and ensures that you enjoy the course.

Jasmine - Things you should know

Things you need to know before studying History at Herts

Preparation is key! Once you know what modules you are taking it is useful to do some research prior so that you can enter the module with basic knowledge. This makes studying it that much easier and you are less likely to be left behind. It prevents your workload from building up and be unbearable. History is a very independent course and will consist of quite a bit of reading, so you need to organise your time efficiently. Leave enough time to work on your assignments from the start so that if you have any issues you can get them sorted in time.

Complete the required reading as that way you will be able to contribute to the seminar discussions. Furthermore, if you stumble across words you are not familiar with or useful words it’s a good idea to make a keyword list and ask your lecturer if you are unsure of a specific concept. When completing the reading highlight important themes and produce short notes. Put them in your own words and as simple as possible, as it makes them easier to understand in the future. It is usually best to find a spot away from distractions and turn your phone off. Moreover, take regular short breaks, to allow what you have read to sink in.

Do not be afraid to talk to the lecturers, they are lovely and always willing to answer questions, especially on assignments. I found that discussing my drafts with lecturers before completing them allowed me to get high grades as they were able to point me in the right direction. They are there for you, so make sure you use them as much as possible.

Most importantly make sure you are having fun and enjoy yourself. Allow downtime so that you can recover and have the right amount of work/life balance.

Jasmine - Why I love History

What I love most about my course

I loved that with history you could do as much or little as you wanted. Alongside completing the required tasks, lecturers indicated further reading sources if you wanted to. That meant to if there was a part of the subject that interested you, it was possible for you to explore it further. Moreover, most of my lecturers would ask at the start of the semester what we wanted to get from the course. This meant if there were specific areas that we were most fascinated with or wanted to learn, they aimed to include that into the module.

I also loved that there is a range of topics that are covered, and the ability to choose which ones you wanted. I minored in public history which meant that instead of the typical essay assignments I created a documentary for one module. Another module was work experience, so I got to volunteer. We also went on trips to the archives and Bayfordbury campus which offered alternative styles of learning and experiencing history outside the classroom. This was exciting as I got to try new things, which I would not have thought to do.

The humanities department was extremely inclusive. They have an Instagram and post regular events like rollerblading and film nights which allowed you to socialise with your lecturers and peers. The staff were all friendly and welcoming and always happy to help with any issues. I felt that they truly wanted me to succeed, and they had my back. The events helped to create a work/live balance.

Due to the independent nature of studying history, I was able to adapt to studying around my lifestyle. Because the contact time was only eight hours per week, I was able to work alongside studying. I was also able to study on the train journey or at home when I returned to visit family, meaning that I was not left behind on my workload.

Mercedes - Unibuddy

Alumni Stories

Eleanor Pilcher

Meet Eleanor Pilcher who since graduating in 2016 has taken the publishing industry by storm. Eleanor currently works as a Marketing Manager at Avon, HarperCollins Publisher.

University experience and employability

Eleanor is a keen writer with great creative ambitions. During her degree she undertook a six-month internship at a literary agency in her final academic year. In 2016, shortly after her studies, Eleanor landed a placement at Penguin before getting a job in publishing recruitment. After developing her skills within the industry and amassing and impressive amount of knowledge and experience, Eleanor began her current role at HarperCollins Publishers.

Eleanor's degree encompassed a broad spectrum of critical, analytical and evaluative skills and helped shape her as a writer. Throughout her studies she had been writing a novel, which she submitted to literary agencies after being encouraged by her tutor to do so. It was Eleanor's passion for writing that uncovered her interest in working for a literary agency. Due to the fantastic lecturers on her course and the invaluable industry networks available to students, Eleanor managed to secure impressive opportunities in her chosen industry that have informed her career.

Sher recognises the impact the University has had on getting her to where she is today. 'For me the advice and feedback I received on both my History essays and Creative Writing finals was incredibly useful to my academic and professional development. I learnt to take criticism and to harness it and also write more because of it.'

Ambitions for the future

Eleanor has established herself in her chosen industry yet still has ambition to continue pursuing new goals. On her hopes for the future, she says: 'I hope to run a marketing department within a publishing company, possibly the one I'm at now. I hope to publish a novel and continue my freelance writing and public speaking on the side.'

Callaghan French

Meet Callaghan. Callaghan’s love of history inspired him to study at Herts and now he is teaching in Italy.

A love of history

Callaghan’s love of history started in primary school, and it stuck with him up until it was time to apply to university. He visited Herts for an open day and was impressed. He says, ‘Herts offers the opportunity to study a wide range of historical topics, they have a huge library, and extensive resources available to students. I also had a compulsory academic support module in the first year which was very helpful for my studies.’

His time at Herts was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but one of Callaghan’s favourite moments was when he and fellow committee members were able to revive the History Society once restrictions were lifted. He says, ‘Working together to achieve this after such a tough period is an experience I will always value. I’d recommend that everyone join a society!’

Callaghan says that the most interesting part of his degree was his dissertation because he had the opportunity to research a topic of his choosing and present it to his lecturers and course mates.

Teaching in Italy

Callaghan is now a Teacher in Italy, where he teaches English as a Second Language. He says, ‘My course shaped me into a strong and confident speaker, which has greatly helped me in my current role. I was able to practice this skill in seminars and the occasional presentation.’

Callaghan is considering a career in academia or the Civil Service. His advice to current or future Herts students is to, ‘Work hard, but ask for help if you need it.’

• View our Alumni profiles Eleanor Pilcher Callaghan French

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