The article describes the results of an empirical study of the effectiveness of historical education in the process of forming the civic identity of modern university students. According to the constructivist approach, civic identity is a cognitive values-based phenomenon that is formed in the process of personal development and expressed in the subjective significance of nationality. Within the framework of the study, such qualitative methods as a case study are used. The authors of the article develop tools for data collection. The method of content analysis was selected for data analysis. At the ascertaining stage, the research results reveal that university students have some knowledge about the history of their country but partial awareness of intangible objects of cultural heritage. The conducted experiment emphasizes the importance of using intangible resources of cultural heritage in the educational process and the need to create new educational programs. The study also reveals the main reasons to form the civic identity of university students. This is done through an analysis of the experience of predecessors in the field of forming the civic identity of university students and a comparison of various pedagogical approaches, as well as the definition and update of the role of individual elements in the education system that are of particular importance for this process and on whose basis a comprehensive conclusion can be drawn.