Bachelor in Licence - Histoire

Historical inquiry and the methods used to reconstruct the past are at the core of the Licence - Histoire at Université Marie et Louis Pasteur in Besançon, France. The three-year bachelor's degree, taught in French and commencing each September, covers a broad chronological span from antiquity to the contemporary period, with thematic modules addressing political, social, economic, and cultural history in both French and comparative international contexts. Students develop skills in archival research, critical reading of primary sources, historiography, and structured historical argumentation that serve as tools for understanding complex change over time. The programme asks students to engage with evidence at first hand, not merely with secondary interpretations, cultivating intellectual independence alongside disciplinary knowledge. Yearly tuition is 178 EUR. Career paths for history graduates include secondary and higher education, archival and library work, journalism, cultural mediation, public administration, and heritage management across museums, monuments, and regional cultural bodies. The discipline's emphasis on research and structured writing also prepares graduates for careers in law and policy, where the ability to read evidence carefully and argue from it matters greatly. Many students proceed to master's programmes in modern history, medieval studies, archive management, or teacher training. Besançon's regional archives and historical institutions offer practical resources that students can draw on during the degree.