I'm going to move from a European country to the UK to study a History undergrad. I'd say I have an above average insight on history but I still want to start learning more "specifics" (because right now most of my knowledge comes from school history books) before I go there so I can steadily get more and more information to my head. I know it's a broad question but where should I start if I have a good base of knowledge? I'm not even sure what I'm asking so all ideas are welcome!
(Also: if anyone here has studied History in the UK, specifically in Scotland, I'd love to hear more about that.)
Thanks in advance :)
If you've got an offer from a specific university then take a look at their website for the modules that will be available to study. There's usually a generalised reading list for each module so try and read a few of those books in preparation. Once you get to the University then the range of things you can access for free will become much larger as well. Additionally, take a look at our reading list, which can be found on the sidebar.
I've taught and studied (at a postgraduate level) in Scotland, so can perhaps offer some advice. The obvious thing to do if you're worried about knowledge is to start reading - exactly what will depend on your tastes and interests, but most fields have a number of classic texts that provide a broad yet scholarly overview. The various works of Eric Hobsbawm are an excellent starting point if you're into modern history, I'm sure others can make similar suggestions for other periods.
That said, the issue that many students face in their first year of study is not pre-existing knowledge (after all, you'll almost always be writing on specific subjects requiring specific research), but rather their approach to and understanding of what history writing is actually about. Generally speaking, UK history departments tend towards emphasising a thesis-based approach. That is, making a specific argument in response to the question asked that is then substantiated by evidence, rather than simply recounting what happened or providing different perspectives on a question. If you're asked what caused the First World War, for instance, your lecturer expects you to make an argument in favour of a specific interpretation, not simply to list various factors that different historians have identified. Coming to grips with these expectations (which differ greatly from studying history at school) is the big challenge for the first year or so of the degree.
Of course, these expectations will vary according to your subject and university - simply listening to your tutors/lecturers when they explain what they want from you will already help a great deal!