What’s the value of a history degree? Debunking the myths and misconceptions

As the number of students enrolled on history degrees at UK universities declines (Hesa, 2021/22) and the wider debate around the value of a humanities v STEM degree continues, Rebecca Jennings (UCL history admissions tutor) has compiled this myth-busting guide to address some of the concerns you might hear from prospective history students and their parents.   

Myth #1: I’m just going to be stuck in a dusty library all the time…

Studying history at university is a lot more fun and interactive than old books and endless essays.

There are lots of opportunities to debate ideas, visit sites of cultural and historical significance and work directly with primary sources including oral history, art, ancient texts, material objects and film. Students don’t just study the past but learn first-hand how to “make” history, exploring how history is created and presented today, and experiencing the challenges of communicating histories to non-academic audiences.

At UCL, first-year history students create a public history group project about London’s history as part of our hands-on “Making History” module. They make an independent site visit to a monument or material object, such as the Parthenon Marbles or the London Wall; decide together on a research question, such as “Should Nelson’s statue be taken down due to its racist undertones?”; and present their findings in a video, podcast or blog. 

Of course, a history degree does involve some reading, but as universities continue to diversify their curricula, what students read has become more and more fascinating and unexpected, from the history of medicine, to India and the global economy. UCL’s connections with museums and heritage institutions and the incredible provision of online collections mean the experience of a history student is certainly not restricted to a physical library.

Myth #2: History has no relevance to the modern world…

History helps us understand how the world around us came to be as it is: it gives us the tools to examine and explain human behaviour, understand how society functions, learn from the past and apply those lessons to the present, and analyse the drivers and implications of a changing world and how different countries, places and cultures interact.

Historical research impacts the world in which we live in important and exciting ways. Researchers in the history department at UCL are currently working with secondary school teachers to tackle homophobia and transphobia by introducing LGBT+ and queer history into the curriculum; Michael Collins is investigating racism, sexism and classism and the legacy of the Windrush generation in cricket; and the database set up by the UCL Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery has been central to recent work by organisations, families and journalists in taking stock of their historic involvement in the slave trade and considering how to make reparations.

UCL students benefit from industry connections and opportunities to network and understand the impact of the discipline beyond academia – in 2023 BA history student Keir Chauhan was selected to present his work to legislators and policymakers at the Posters in Parliament competition, and the new UCL campus in East London has created exciting opportunities for collaborating with communities and partners in the area including the V&A and BBC.

Myth #3: I’ll turn into an essay-writing machine…

History degrees allow students to develop a range of valuable transferable skills, including those identified as “the most important skills for workers in 2023” by the World Economic Forum, such as analytical and creative thinking, technological literacy and quality control.

In this digital age where we have vast amounts of data at our fingertips, studying history helps people learn how to sift through this information and identify reliable sources. The sorts of questions you are taught to ask as a historian – where did this information come from? Who produced this source? Why and when did they produce it? Who was their intended audience? – develop critical thinking skills, resulting in students who know how to question the reliability of information and weigh up its value.

Students learn lots of practical skills such as teamwork, self-management, public speaking, presenting information in different formats to a range of audiences and, depending on the type of history degree, quantitative research or language skills. With only 14 per cent of Institute of Student Employers stating that specific degree subjects are used as selection criteria (Student Recruitment survey 2019) and their 2023 survey reporting that 54 per cent of employers plan to move to skills-based recruitment in the future, the skills developed during a history degree prepare graduates well to meet employer demands.

Myth #4: All I can do with a history degree is become a teacher…

History is an incredibly versatile degree that is valued by employers for giving its graduates a broad and flexible skill set. It is seen as an excellent grounding for some of the core professions, such as law and the civil service, where skills in research, critical thinking and public speaking are essential. 

At UCL, history graduates go on to develop successful careers in a range of sectors including journalism, finance, energy and tech, NGOs and charities, as well as teaching, heritage and further research. We have UCL history graduates represented across a range of organisations including the Cabinet Office, the British Museum, National Trust, Deloitte, and Amazon.

Analysis for the British Academy by policy consultants London Economics has shown that graduates of humanities degrees such as history enjoy comparable rates of employment and earnings to STEM graduates but that their broad range of flexible skills mean they are adaptable to economic change and enjoy more varied career paths.

The report argues that not only do arts, humanities and social science graduates have the skills to address the current needs of the labour market and fill anticipated workforce gaps, they will be vital in responding to the societal challenges of the future, from climate change to cybersecurity.