Official Course Summary · 2027 Entry
History and Politics at University of Cambridge
Official course requirements for History and Politics at University of Cambridge, with 1-to-1 tutoring from Cambridge graduates.
In a nutshell
History and Politics (HAP) is a three-year course combining History Tripos papers with political thought, comparative politics and international relations from HSPS. It is a distinct course from HSPS — narrower, but with a deeper historical core.
Official course summary
What University of Cambridge publishes for History and Politics.
- UCAS code
- VL12
- Degree
- BA (Hons)
- Duration
- 3 years
- Typical A-Level offer
- A*AA
- Recommended subjects
- History
- Admissions test
- No pre-registered admissions test. Most colleges set short at-interview pre-read or argument tasks — College admission assessment, no advance registration. There is no Oxford-style HAT for Cambridge HAP.
- Interview
- You will be tested on both halves. A primary source for the history interview, plus a political-theory text or contemporary policy question for the politics interview, is typical.
- Official course page
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/history-and-politics
Always verify these details on the official University of Cambridge course page before applying — entry requirements and assessment formats can change between cycles.
Insider tips
Things History and Politics applicants commonly miss.
- 01
HAP is not HSPS. HSPS lets you mix politics, sociology, anthropology and psychology; HAP locks you into history + politics. Apply for HAP only if you want both halves equally.
- 02
A-Level History is strongly recommended. Without it, evidence equivalent depth (e.g. an EPQ in history, regular reading of historical journals).