• What kind of membership is right for me?

  Our Primary and Secondary Memberships are designed for teachers or those involved in history education at a primary or secondary level, whilst Historian Membership is designed for general history enthusiasts or those studying history at degree level and beyond. You can sign up as an individual member for personal access, or as a corporate member if you are part of a school or organisation and would like enhanced benefits and to be able to share the benefits with other members of staff. Student Membership is designed for individual history students studying at secondary school aged 14-18, or undergraduate level history, and is an online-only membership. Our ‘At a Glance’ pages might help you decide which kind of membership is the best fit for you. If you’re still undecided please feel free to contact our membership team on 0300 100 0223 or by emailing membership@history.org.uk. We are open between 9.30am - 5.30pm on weekdays and we’d be happy to help!

• How much does it cost to become a member?

  The membership rate starts from as little as £31 and varies depending on your membership type and the journals you take. Full information on subscription rates and current offers can be found here.

• What’s the difference between individual and corporate membership?

  Individual membership is for just one person.  Corporate or school membership is ideal for multiple members of staff working in the same school or institutional department (twelve staff in primary schools, eight staff in secondary schools, and four staff in all other organisations), giving each person the benefits of HA membership including a member login to the HA website and discounted rates for CPD courses and events. All corporate schools are eligible to apply for the Quality Mark Scheme, and secondary corporate members also receive a Student Zone login which supports their GCSE and A-Level students. Individual membership is available at a cheaper rate for personal use by one individual, and you can upgrade to corporate membership at any time if you change your mind.

• Can I subscribe to more than one journal?

  Yes, you can subscribe to as many journals as you like! Simply sign up with what you would consider to be your ‘core’ membership (e.g. if you are a primary teacher then primary membership), and you can add extra journals on the final 'confirm subscriptions' page during sign-up at a reduced cost. We also offer an online ‘access all areas’ package to supplement core membership, which would give you access to all areas of the website.

• Can I upgrade from individual to corporate membership partway through my membership?

  Yes, you can upgrade at any time. Simply call our membership line on 0300 100 0223 to arrange this.

• When will my membership start/expire?

  Memberships run forward for 12 months from the date of sign-up. For example, if you join as a member on 2 June 2021 your membership will run through until 30 June 2022. We’ll send you a renewal reminder about 6-8 weeks before you’re due to renew.

• How can I pay for my membership?

  We accept payment by credit/debit card, paypal, or Paperless Direct Debit. We can send over an invoice prior to payment if requested. If you would like to pay by BACS/overseas transfer please email membership@history.org.uk for further details. You can also sign up offline and pay by cheque by completing our downloadable membership form and returning this to: Historical Association, 59a Kennington Park Road, London, SE11 4JH.

• Can you invoice my school/employer for my membership?

  Yes, you can request an email invoice for membership by completing our online sign-up form, and this can be sent either to yourself or directly to your employer. You can also enter a PO Number during sign-up. Alternatively, you can request an invoice by calling 0300 100 0223. Please note that payment is due within 30 days.

• Am I eligible for concessionary membership?

  Concessionary membership is available for retired, student, trainee, ECT (Years 1 and 2) and unwaged members. We do not require proof of concessionary status, but please let us know if your circumstances change.

• I am based overseas. Can I still sign up for membership?

  Absolutely – we welcome all international members. Please note that there is a postage fee attached to print subscriptions overseas, which helps to cover our shipping expenses. The price is £10 per subscription for delivery within the EU, and £21 per subscription for delivery outside of the EU. If you would prefer not to receive print copies of the journals you can set up an online-only subscription instead, which works out cheaper.

• Do you offer gift membership?

  Yes! Gift membership of the HA is a unique and thoughtful gift for anybody who studies, teaches or has an interest in history. Your recipient will receive a personalised gift card with space for your own message, a welcome pack with the latest edition of your chosen journal, a year’s subscription in print and online, as well as all the regular perks of membership. Call us on 0300 100 0223.

• Do you offer joint membership?

  Unfortunately we don’t currently offer joint membership as a standard membership option, but if you call us on 0300 100 0223 we’ll see what we can arrange.

• We are a SCITT/Training Provider and would like to set up membership for our trainees – is this possible?

  HA Membership is a great way to support your trainees and keep them up to date with current pedagogical debates and best practice. Please email Emily Randall on emily.randall@history.org.uk to discuss your options and what kind of membership packages might best suit yours and you trainees’ needs.

• Do you offer membership for Multi-Academy Trusts?

  Yes, if you would like corporate membership for more than one school in your Trust we may be able to offer a bespoke discounted package. Please email Emily Randall on emily.randall@history.org.uk to find out more.

• We are a library and would like institution-wide online access to the journals – is this possible?

  Yes, we offer institutional IP Access to the journals on a per title basis. If you would like to apply please contact Emily Randall on emily.randall@history.org.uk

• Is the HA only for teachers and academics?

  The Historical Association welcomes everybody with an interest in history – whether that be in a professional capacity as a teacher or student, or simply if you have an enthusiasm for learning more about the past in your spare time. The HA has something to offer you whatever your level of interest.

• I subscribe to your e-newsletter – does that mean I’m a member?

  Sadly not, but you can join at any time. Membership is a paid subscription which needs to be renewed on an annual basis to continue. If you’re a member you get tons of added bonuses including access to our digital resources and podcasts, discounts to HA and partner events, a subscription to your chosen journal(s), local branch membership, copies of our biannual members magazine HA News. Plus you will be supporting the HA's charitable mission to support the teaching, learning and enjoyment of history at all levels.  Why not give it a go?

Existing Member FAQs:

• When will I receive my membership card?

  We aim to send out all membership packs within 5 weeks of joining. If you haven’t received your membership card within 5 weeks please email membership@history.org.uk or call 0300 100 0223 and we’ll send one out right away.

• I’ve lost my membership card. What should I do?

  Simply call us on 0300 100 0223 and we’ll send you a replacement right away.

• I’ve forgotten my password/can’t log in to the website. Help!

  If you’ve forgotten your password you can re-set this automatically through the website. Simply click 'Sign In' in the top right corner and then 'Forgotten Password' to go through the process.  If you’ve re-set your password and are still having trouble logging in, please contact us at enquiries@history.org.uk or by calling 0300 100 0223.

• Can I claim tax relief on my subscription?

  Yes! If you are a history teacher or academic and take membership as part of your career development, you can claim the cost of your subscription as a professional expense against income tax. The Historical Association is an approved Inland Revenue body for this purpose. This could reduce the cost of your membership by 20%, or more if you pay tax at the higher rate. You can claim on your tax return by writing to your tax office or by accessing the HMRC gateway, although you may wish to run a self-assessment to check the claim is eligible. Please speak to your tax advisor if you wish to obtain professional advice.

• What is my Student Zone login?

  If you are a Secondary or Historian corporate member you should have a Student Zone login which allows all your GCSE and A-Level students to access the Student Zone area of the website. This is normally emailed to you the first time you log into the website as a new member. If you’re having trouble, please contact our Membership Team on 0300 100 0223.

• We have a corporate membership. How can we add other members of staff to our account?

  Extra logins will need to be set up by the Corporate Main Login (usually the main teaching contact) for the membership. To set up the extra logins, visit history.org.uk and click ‘Sign in’ in the top right-hand corner to log in to the Main Login account. Once signed in, click on your name at the top of the page, then ‘My Account Details’. Click on the name or your school or organisation in the left-hand profile box, and this should take you to a ‘Manage Extra Logins’ page with further instructions. You can add extra logins for each member of staff to grant them online access to membership resources, enable them to sign up for e-newsletters, and allow them to add and share resources within ‘My HA’. Please note: There is a cap of eleven extra logins if you are a primary school member, and seven extra logins if you are a secondary school member. These must be registered to individual named members of staff for personal use. If you have any problems call us on 0300 100 0223.

• I can’t access a resource on the website

  If you’re having trouble accessing a resource online, it’s worth checking that your membership is still current, and that you are accessing the resource through the area relevant to your membership type - so for example if you are a Primary member you need to be accessing the resource through the Primary section of the website. If you’re still having issues please contact us at membership@history.org.uk or by calling 0300 100 0223.

• If I’m affiliated to one branch can I attend other branch events?

  Yes absolutely. Members are normally affiliated to their nearest local branch, but can attend events from any of the other 45+ branches across the UK for free. Some branches may levy a small charge for special trips, however these will still be at a reduced member rate. Find out more about our branch network and local events.

• I’d like to attend events at my local branch but don’t want to become a national member – is this possible?

  Most HA Branches offer associate membership which allows you to attend local branch events for free, but means you miss out on the benefits of national membership including journals, online resources, reduced rates to national events and more. National membership is also a great way to support the ongoing work of the HA as the national charity for history. If you’d like to join as an associate member rather than a full member please contact your local branch directly.

• I need to change my postal address

  You can change or amend your postal address within a few clicks by logging into your online account, clicking your name at the top of the page and then ‘My Account Details’.  Don’t forget to let us know your new phone number also! Depending on how far you are moving you may also like to amend your local branch affiliation at the same time.

• How do I renew my membership?

  Simply log into your online account, click your name at the top of the page and then ‘My Account Details’.  If you are an individual member you should see a big ‘Renew’ button against your profile.  If you are a corporate member you will need to click on the name of your organisation in your profile, which will take you to a page with the ‘Renew’ button.  You can review and amend your current subscription choices as you renew, however if you would like to change your membership type you’ll need to contact us.  Alternatively, you can also renew over the phone by calling our Membership Team on 0300 100 0223.

• Can I add an extra journal to my existing membership?

  Yes, however please note that you cannot do this online. Simply call our membership line on 0300 100 0223 to arrange this.

• When can I expect my next journal?

  Primary History magazine is published on a termly basis and editions are normally sent out in February (Spring edition), May (Summer edition) and October (Winter edition). Teaching History magazine is published quarterly – normally in March, June, September and December. The Historian magazine is also published quarterly – normally in January, April, July and November. The academic journal History is published five times a year in January, April, July, October and December. Our members magazine HA News is published in January and August for all members in the UK. Please note that these are only rough guidelines and our publication schedule may be subject to change on occasion. Online editions of each journal will be available roughly a week after publication and we’ll let you know when they’re available.

• I haven’t received a copy of my latest journal

  If you haven’t received your latest journal, it’s worth checking your online account to confirm that your membership is still current, and your address details are up to date. If journals are returned to us at Head Office as undeliverable we will contact you directly to let you know. If everything is up to date please get in touch by emailing membership@history.org.uk and let us know what journal edition you are missing. We’ll be able to send a replacement if we have enough spare copies!

• Can I lend my membership card to somebody else?

  Unfortunately memberships can only be used by the individual to which they are registered, or in the case of corporate membership by the staff linked to the member organisation. Why not treat your friend to a gift membership instead? Call 0300 100 0223 to find out more.

• Can I pause my membership?

  Yes, this is an option if you're an individual member on a parental or long-term break due to sickness. Individual members who want to continue full membership in these circumstances can do so on our usual concessionary/hardship rate. Alternatively, if you are partway through an existing membership term, and don't envisage using it during your parental or sickness break period, you can contact us to 'pause' your membership and resume it again when you return. Whatever remaining term of membership you have will be reactivated on your return on request. To organise this, please contact our membership team.

• Can I declare Gift Aid on my membership?

  If you are a UK taxpayer and not currently a history teacher or academic, the HA is able to claim Gift Aid on your membership subscription. Using Gift Aid means that for every £1 you give us we get an extra 25 pence from the HMRC, so if you want your money to go further please do register. If you haven’t already submitted a declaration you can fill one out here and return it to membership@history.org.uk
  Thank you for your support.

• How do I cancel my membership?

  If your circumstances have changed and you would like to cancel your membership please email membership@history.org.uk. If you have any comments or feedback these would also be gratefully received.

• Any other queries?

  Can’t find your question here? Please do get in touch with us on 0300 100 0223 or by emailing membership@history.org.uk. Our offices are open between 9.30am-5.30pm on weekdays and we endeavour to reply to all queries within 72 hours.