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Your future career

Your future career

We understand that, however much you love studying History with us, you want your degree to be the first step in a long and successful career.

At Royal Holloway we are proud of our track record in supporting History graduates to find good jobs, and you might be surprised where a History degree can lead you. Did you know that 55% of global leaders and 58% of FTSE executives have degrees in the arts, humanities and social sciences?

The World Economic Forum and the UK government’s Commission for Employment and Skills agree that the skills most sought after by employers today are the human and cultural behaviours that computers cannot easily replace: critical thinking, creativity, self-motivation, and effective interpersonal and public communication.

Studying History helps you develop all of these, while also giving you the subject-specific expertise that has enabled generations of History graduates to make powerful contributions to professional and public life: cultural awareness, knowledge of the deep background behind current events, commitment to accuracy, and the ability to research and present information quickly and professionally.

Because of this versatility, History is a degree that opens doors rather than closing them. No surprise that our recent graduates have gone on to careers with employers that include Penguin Books, Channel 4, the Science Museum, the Cabinet Office and BNP Paribas, while many of our students each year use their degrees as a launchpad for further training in professions like teaching and the law.

Take a look at our graduate profiles to see where a History degree has taken some our recent students.

We Support You

Beyond the degree, the Department of History will support you develop experience and learn about your options. Each year we run a popular Careers Day with recent graduates from different industries who share their tips for getting on the career ladder.

Our students are also well supported by the Careers Service team who provide information, advice, events, work experience and volunteering opportunities. And if you are looking for a longer period of experience, every degree at Royal Holloway can be turned into a four-year degree with Placement Year in Industry or Volunteering.

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