# What can you do with a History degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/history/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A History degree commonly leads to roles such as heritage assistant, museum assistant and research assistant. Five years after graduating, History graduates had median earnings of £33,000 (middle half: £26,700–£42,500), and 89.5% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for History and archaeology graduates is education (19.2% of those in work).

History degrees train archival reading, argument, and context. Graduates enter heritage, research, and policy-adjacent roles. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a History degree?

- **Heritage assistant**: Helps a heritage site run day-to-day: objects, audiences, and basic records. Skills often asked for: collections care, visitor information, events support.
- **Museum assistant**. Skills often asked for: front of house, object handling rules, interpretation.
- **Research assistant**. Skills often asked for: archives, citation, briefing notes.
- **Archive assistant**. Skills often asked for: cataloguing, enquiry desk, digitisation support.

## Where do History graduates work?

History and archaeology graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 19.2% | £31,500 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 17.9% | £40,300 |
| Public administration and defence | 12.1% | £34,800 |
| Information and communication | 8.5% | £37,000 |
| Wholesale and retail | 7.2% | £28,900 |
| Finance and insurance | 6.3% | £39,500 |
| Administrative and support services | 5.6% | £31,800 |
| Health and social work | 5.6% | £28,900 |

## How much do History graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in History (CAH20-01-01). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £23,800 | £18,300–£28,500 | 89.7% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £28,900 | £23,800–£35,100 | 89.7% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £33,000 | £26,700–£42,500 | 89.5% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £41,000 | £29,300–£57,800 | 86.9% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning History and archaeology graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [London School of Economics](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/lse/) | £51,100 | 85 |
| [University of Oxford](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-oxford/) | £46,100 | 370 |
| [University of Cambridge](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-cambridge/) | £43,900 | 295 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £40,600 | 270 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £40,300 | 250 |
| [University of St Andrews](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-st-andrews/) | £39,900 | 190 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £39,500 | 345 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £39,200 | 355 |
| [University of Edinburgh](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-edinburgh/) | £38,800 | 355 |
| [University of Exeter](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-exeter/) | £38,100 | 360 |

## Is History the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You like long-form reading and footnote discipline.
- You want to argue from sources rather than slogans.
- You enjoy museums, archives, or public history.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a course with no independent research.
- You dislike ambiguity and competing interpretations.
- You expected a single vocational licence.

## Interview questions for History graduate roles

Heritage, museum and research-assistant interviews usually test how you handle sources, visitors, and incomplete catalogues. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- A visitor says a label is wrong. How do you respond on the floor? (What it tests: Courtesy, checking the record, and not inventing a correction on the spot.)
- How would you write a 100-word object label for a mixed-age audience? (What it tests: Plain language and one idea, not an essay crammed onto a card.)
- Two secondary sources disagree. How do you show that in a short note? (What it tests: Historiography as a working habit, not a named historian recitation.)
- You are asked to find everything on a theme in a week. How do you scope the search? (What it tests: Catalogues, keywords, and saying what you did not have time to open.)
- Why might a digitised scan not be a substitute for the original item? (What it tests: Material evidence and handling rules in heritage work.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a History degree?

Common starting roles include heritage assistant, museum assistant, research assistant and archive assistant. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for History and archaeology graduates in work were education (19.2%), professional, scientific and technical services (17.9%) and public administration and defence (12.1%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do History graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled History graduates of £23,800 one year after graduating, £28,900 three years after graduating, £33,000 five years after graduating and £41,000 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a History degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 89.5% of History graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £33,000. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places History 82 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning History and archaeology graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for History and archaeology were at London School of Economics (£51,100), University of Oxford (£46,100) and University of Cambridge (£43,900). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study History in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=History