Careers

What can I do with a History degree?  

We take your career seriously and embed graduate attributes throughout all our programmes. This way, you'll develop the knowledge, skills, adaptability, and resilience to succeed in an ever-changing global job market and become active global citizens. We work in conjunction with the Careers and Enterprise Centre to ensure you know how to communicate your competitive edge in the job market.

You’ll acquire vocationally crucial skills such as critical thinking, information analysis, communication, deadline management, and an understanding and respect for other values and cultures — key requirements for operating in a globalised world.  

Opportunities to put theory into practice

History & Heritage Internship module

Our History & Heritage Internship module offers you the unique opportunity to complete a placement with one of our 60+ internship partners in the heritage sector. The module will enable you to gain real-life work experience in museums, archives, galleries, and community projects, developing vital transferable skills and access to professional networks.

qHeritage

qHeritage is part of SKETCH, Queen Mary’s award-winning student knowledge exchange programme. qHeritage offers you the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams on projects that support the work of heritage initiatives - giving you real-life experience working on projects that develop your professional skills. 

Widening Histories Academic Development Programme

Our Widening Histories Academic Development programme is designed to nurture and support undergraduate students who are underrepresented in postgraduate study and the history profession. It aims to work particularly with students who are the first generation in their family to attend university and encourage them to continue their studies at the postgraduate level.

Mile End Institute

The Mile End Institute is our primary centre for the study and discussion of the major issues in British politics, policymaking, and public life. There are year-round events with high-profile politicians and policymakers, with recent guest speakers including Yvette Cooper MP, Sir Simon Schama, Sir David Lidington, Rushanara Ali MP. As a Queen Mary student, you can get involved with the Mile End Institute as a Student Ambassador or Intern, as well as attending the lecturers and networking with speakers.

A History degree provides a foundation for careers in a wide range of sectors, with the more popular areas including government (local, national and international), media, the heritage and arts sector; law; public relations, public affairs, and business.   

Examples of jobs our recent graduates have gone into include:

• Policy and Rewards Officer – UK Civil Service.  
• Commissioning Editor – Palgrave Publishing.  
• Researcher – Centre for Armed Violence Reduction.  
• Communications Officer – European Banking Authority.
• Senior Associate - The Omerta Group.
• People Systems Analyst - Soho House & Co.
• Implementation Solutions Analyst - J.P. Morgan.
• Auditor - Deloitte.

Careers advice  

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a dedicated Careers Consultant.  

The Careers service offers a range of sessions designed to prepare you for life as a graduate, such as one-to-one advice clinics, workshops and evening events tailored to History students that will focus on, for example, interview technique, CV writing and ways to build networks.  

You can also get advice and guidance on internships and work placements from the Careers Service.  

Learn more about our Careers and Enterprise Service. 

Further study  

Many of our undergraduate students continue to explore their passion for study at postgraduate (MA) level and some then embark upon research for a PhD. We have a diverse range of MA programmes to choose from. Discover our MA programmes.