Why Study History?
"Important abilities and qualities of mind are acquired through the study of History. They are particularly valuable for the graduate as citizen and are readily transferable to many occupations and careers." [Extract from: QAA History Benchmarking Statement]
"Its subject matter, distinguishing it from other humanities and social sciences, consists of the attempts of human beings in the past to organise life materially and conceptually, individually and collectively, while the object of studying these things is to widen students' experience and develop qualities of perception and judgement. History provides a distinctive education by providing a sense of the past, an awareness of the development of differing values, systems and societies and the inculcation of critical yet tolerant personal attitudes."
[Extract from: QAA History Benchmarking Statement]
Apart from being extremely enjoyable and enabling you to learn about the past and come to a better understanding of the present, a History degree provides you with important skills that will be of value after leaving university. In learning to absorb, analyse and assess a wide variety of information and viewpoints, in learning to express your arguments in oral and written form, and in learning to think and work both independently and in co-operation with others, History students acquire skills which employers in all fields value.
Employability
The History Department recognises the importance of preparing you for working life by developing 'transferable skills' - intellectual skills that graduates can take to the workplace - and these skills are integral to our the degree programmes and modules we offer:
- How to read critically and think independently
- How to gather, organise and evaluate evidence
- How to analyse and assess a wide variety of viewpoints and complex situations
- How to construct a logical, well-supported argument
- How to communicate effectively in writing and in oral presentations
- How to organise and manage your time to complete assignments
- How work independently and as part of a group
These skills will be developed through courses that ask you to deliver:
- Oral presentations and arguments in seminars
- Group work in seminars
- Essays based on independent research
- Research skills in the third-year dissertation
- Writing under time constraints in exams
Career Prospects
History does not just suit you to a career as a teacher. Although a History degree is not job specific, because history graduates have a wide range of transferable skills they can pursue a wide range of careers. Many employers are looking for people who, in addition to a good educational achievement, are articulate, capable of thinking for themselves and able to tackle problems intelligently. In this sense, the degree schemes offered in the Department are an excellent preparation for a wide range of interesting and rewarding careers. Our History degrees equip students with skills to research and assess material, to marshal facts and develop arguments, and to arrive at logical conclusions, precisely those skills which employers are looking for in graduates.
A History degree offers a very strong basis for employment and career development, with our degree programmes providing an excellent qualification for a very wide variety of jobs in industry and business, law, the creative industries, government and elsewhere.
| Discipline | Entering employment | Entering further study / training | Working and studying |
| Graduates (all disciplines)* | 59% | 15% | 8% |
| History graduates* | 49% | 25% | 8% |
| Cardiff History graduates | 65% | 31% | 5% |
* 2009 figures from What do Graduates Do? (HECSU / AGCAS 2010)
History compares very favourably with other disciplines in the Humanities, and with those in the social sciences and sciences. Some of our students go on to careers which make direct use of the subjects they have studied: over 24% of history graduates go on to postgraduate study (well ahead of the average of 15% across all subjects) in academic or vocational subjects, such as law, accountancy, journalism, librarianship, or teaching. Historians have, for example, colonized key positions in the media and publishing, law, the museum sector, business (historians do, in fact, provide more directors of Britain's leading companies in proportion to the number of graduates than any other subject), politics, and in the arts (as writers, screenwriters, etc).
Our graduates have similar career destinations and have gone on to a range of careers in the private and public sectors. Destinations include the law, industry, publishing, HR, government, the media, and journalism, the armed forces, with many of our students continuing their studies at MA and PhD level, both at Cardiff and elsewhere.
Many important jobs are within the grasp of History graduates – it just depends on you, and what you want to do with your degree.
For further information on careers visit the University's Careers Service website.