Matthew Emery, BA History (1999)
'Understand why you want to work in publishing, beyond just a love of books and be able to convey that in an interview/covering letter.'
Academic Sales Director, UK & Export, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
What can I do with a degree in History?
The below offers a selection of the destinations University of Exeter graduates from History have gone on to. The information below is not exhaustive, however it does highlight the range of job and further study options available to you after your studies.
If you would like to learn more about any of the jobs listed below you may wish to browse the job profiles on the Prospects website.
Careers with a degree in History
Recent Exeter History graduates have entered a wide range of careers. Some recent examples include*:
- Account Manager and Commercial Analyst
- Advocacy Researcher
- Analyst
- Assistant Auditor for Government Department
- Business Analyst
- Careers and Employment Assistant
- Civil Service Fast Streamer
- Commercial Banking Graduate Analyst
- Community and Events Fundraiser
- Communications Officer
- Data Analyst
- Digital Marketing Consultant
- Editor
- Editorial Assistant
- English Teacher
- Events Coordinator
- Global Markets Researcher
- Global Rights Licensing Coordinator
- Intelligence Analyst
- Junior Broker
- Junior Digital Marketing Executive
- Junior Paralegal
- Learning and Special Development Specialist
- Life Sciences Recruitment Consultant
- Management Consultant
- Police Officer
- Policy Advisor Project and Governance Officer
- Postgraduate Research Administrator
- PR Executive
- Primary School Teacher
- Recruitment Assistant
- Safer Devon Partnership Project Support Officer
- Sales Consultant
- Sport Reporter
- Television Researcher
- Trainee Chartered Accountant
Many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed above.
Other resources:
- Employment sector pages
- Panopto - History students can explore their career options via this interactive webcast video.
- Prospects to find out more about job profiles
- Graduate Outcomes Data to do a deep dive into the data on what History graduates do after their degree
- LinkedIn Exeter History alumni tool (you will need to be logged in to LinkedIn to access this functionality)
* Data taken from aggregating the responses from full-time, first degree, UK domiciled students who completed 2017/18 and 2018/19 Graduate Outcomes surveys (ordered from most popular to least).
Employers of Exeter alumni with a degree in History
Recent Exeter History graduates have joined a wide range of employers. Some recent example include*:
- Associated British Foods
- Bracebridge Corporate Finance
- Carey Olsen
- Deloitte
- Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
- Gloucestershire Archives
- Harper Collins Publishers
- Hillgate PR
- Kinase Digital Marketing
- KPMG
- Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
- Mondelez International
- National Audit Office
- NHS
- Osborne Clarke
- Santander
- Green Recruitment Company
- Willis Towers Watson
Other resources:
- LinkedIn Exeter History alumni tool (you will need to be logged in to LinkedIn to access this functionality)
* Data taken from aggregating the responses from full-time, first degree, UK domiciled students who completed 2017/18 and 2018/19 Graduate Outcomes surveys.
Skills
An Exeter History degree will arm you with some great employability skills including:
- Use critical reasoning and analytical skills, including problem solving and creative thinking
- Conduct research using different types of tools, such as information and communications technology, and sources, demonstrating intellectual rigour throughout
- Negotiate, question, summarise and construct an argument by selecting and ordering relevant evidence, and communicate findings in a structured, clear and persuasive manner
- Discuss ideas in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement
- Think objectively and approach problems and new situations with an open mind
- Appreciate the different factors that influence the activities of groups and individuals in society
Further Study
Around 45% of Exeter graduates in History go on to pursue further study within 15 months of completing their undergraduate degree. Some recent progression routes include:
- MA Applied Security and Strategy
- MA Classics and Ancient History
- MA Conflict, Security and Development
- MA English Literary Studies
- MA Global History
- MA History
- MA Inter. Heritage Management & Consultancy
- MA Journalism
- MA Medieval Studies
- MA Public Policy
- MLitt Mediaeval History
- MPhil Politics and International Studies
- MRes Economic and Social History
- MSc Applied Social Data Science
- MSc Development Management
- MSc European and Global, Political Science and Government
- MSc Gender and International Relations
- MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy
- MSc Human Resource Management
- MSc International Politics
- MSc International Public Policy
- MSc International Relations
- MSc Marketing
- MSc Museum Studies
- MSc Psychology
- MSc Real Estate
- MSc Security Studies
- MSc Theory and History of International Relations
- PGCE History Secondary
- PGCE Primary
Some went on to study other courses including:
- Graduate Diploma in Law
- MA Music
- MSc Business Analytics
- MSc Management
- Professional Yachtmaster Offshore Course
Useful resources:
- Find a Masters
- Masters Compare
- Masters Portal
- Prospects
- University of Exeter PG Study
- LinkedIn Exeter History alumni tool (you will need to be logged in to LinkedIn to access this functionality)
* Data taken from aggregating the responses from full-time, first degree, UK domiciled students who completed 2017/18 and 2018/19 Graduate Outcomes surveys
**Individual course names were taken from the University of Exeter's Career Destination survey (2018/19 & 2019/20) as this information is not collected within the Graduate Outcomes survey.