A History degree opens doors while helping you develop skills that employers genuinely value. You’ll develop strong analytical and research skills, alongside the ability to construct clear, evidence-based arguments. These skills are in demand across a huge range of careers,

History is not a narrow or restrictive degree. Rather than training you for a single job, it prepares you for many different pathways, from media, law, politics and business to marketing, education, policy, heritage, the charity sector and beyond. Its value lies in training you to evaluate evidence, understand complexity, recognise bias, and communicate persuasively.

For students who enjoy thinking deeply, asking big questions, and keeping their future flexible, History offers a strong foundation for a wide variety of fulfilling careers.

History graduates work across a wide range of sectors, including:

• Law and legal services
• Civil service, government, and policy
• Business, management, and graduate schemes
• Education and teaching
• Museums, heritage, and archives
• Journalism, media, and publishing
• Marketing, communications, and PR

Many employers recruit graduates from any discipline and value how you think, not just what you studied.

History at university level is:

• More independent. You take responsibility for research and reading.
• More analytical. It’s less about narrative and more about arguments.
• More critical. Sources are questioned and not taken at face value.
• More specialised. You can explore periods, regions, and themes in greater depth and shape your studies around your interests.

You are taught how to work with primary sources, engage with historians’ debates, and build sustained arguments.

History is a reading-intensive subject, but you are supported in developing the skills to manage this effectively. With this in mind, you can expect to read primary sources (documents, speeches, letters, date) and secondary sources written by historians. You are not expected to read everything, but you will learn how to read selectively and critically.

History at university is not about memorisation. While knowledge about dates and facts does matter, you will be assessed primarily on how you analyse evidence, how you construct arguments, and how you engage with historical debates. Understanding why the events happened matters more than recalling the exact dates.  

A History degree is not “too subjective” but is a discipline that balances objective facts with subjective interpretation. Studying History trains you to weigh evidence, evaluate arguments, and justify your conclusions, which are highly valued skills in many careers.  

History graduates are employed across a wide range of sectors, reflecting the broad, transferable skills the degree develops. A History degree develops skills like critical thinking, analysis, and clear communication, which are valued by employers across many sectors and open doors to a wide range of careers beyond academia.

History BA graduates from King’s have gone on to a variety of careers, including:

• Public relations, advertising, and marketing
• Finance and investment
• Consulting and business analysis
• HR and Industrial Relations

There is an optional year abroad on the History BA, History & International Relations BA, and History & Political Economy BA/BSc. Find out more about your destination options here: Undergraduate study abroad destinations by subject | King's College London 

• History focuses on analysing past societies using evidence, context, and interpretation, encouraging independent thinking and critical judgement.
• Politics focuses on power and governance, often in the present
• International Relations focuses on global systems and diplomacy
• Law focuses on legal systems, rules, and reasoning, rather than historical interpretation.

There can be overlap, but the focus and methods may differ.

Every History degree will help you develop strong research, writing, and analytical skills, but the experience you have can vary depending on where you study.

On the History BA at King’s College London, you’ll benefit from a broad syllabus covering medieval, early modern and modern global history, allowing you to explore a wide range of periods, regions and themes while shaping your degree around your interests. You’ll be taught by research-active academics who are specialists in their fields, and learning takes place in a mix of lectures and small-group seminars so you can discuss ideas, test arguments, and build confidence in your own voice.

Because King’s is in London, the city itself becomes part of your learning: access to the capital’s libraries, archives, museums, theatres and cultural institutions are on your doorstep and give you chances to see history in action. We even have archives on-site at King’s!

You also have opportunities to study abroad - spending a semester at one of King’s partner universities can give you a global perspective on the past. If you’re interested in languages, you can take language modules alongside your History studies or explore interdisciplinary pathways that bring language study together with history (such as History & Modern Languages).

Outside the classroom, there are extra-curricular opportunities such as history societies, reading and discussion groups, volunteering with archives or heritage organisations, and student-led events that help you deepen your interests and build skills in different contexts.

Above all, this degree is designed to help you become a thoughtful, confident and adaptable graduate with skills that are valued across many careers, giving you flexibility in where you go next and how you apply what you’ve learned.

History BA

History and Modern Languages with a year abroad BA

History & Political Economy BA/BSc

History & International Relations BA

Find out more on the Department of History page.