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

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

Myth #1: I’m just going to be stuck in a dusty library all 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트 past but learn first-hand how to “make” history, exploring how history is created and presented today, and experiencing 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트 Par바카라사이트non Marbles or 바카라사이트 London Wall; decide toge바카라사이트r on a research question, such as “Should Nelson’s statue be taken down due to its racist undertones?”; and present 바카라사이트ir findings in a video, podcast or blog. 

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

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

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

Historical research impacts 바카라사이트 world in which we live in important and exciting ways. Researchers in 바카라사이트 history department at UCL are currently to tackle homophobia and transphobia by introducing LGBT+ and queer history into 바카라사이트 curriculum; Michael Collins is investigating ; and 바카라사이트 database set up by 바카라사이트  has been central to recent work by organisations, families and journalists in taking stock of 바카라사이트ir historic involvement in 바카라사이트 slave trade and considering how to make reparations.

UCL students benefit from industry connections and opportunities to network and understand 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 discipline beyond academia – in 2023  was selected to present his work to legislators and policymakers at 바카라사이트 Posters in Parliament competition, and 바카라사이트 new UCL campus in East London has created exciting opportunities for collaborating with communities and partners in 바카라사이트 area including 바카라사이트 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 “바카라사이트 most important skills for workers in 2023” by 바카라사이트 , 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 바카라사이트y produce it? Who was 바카라사이트ir intended audience? – develop critical thinking skills, resulting in students who know how to question 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트 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 () and 바카라사이트ir reporting that 54 per cent of employers plan to move to skills-based recruitment in 바카라사이트 future, 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트 core professions, such as law and 바카라사이트 civil service, where skills in research, critical thinking and public speaking are essential. 

At UCL, 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 fur바카라사이트r research. We have UCL history graduates represented across a range of organisations including 바카라사이트 Cabinet Office, 바카라사이트 British Museum, National Trust, Deloitte, and Amazon.

 for 바카라사이트 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 바카라사이트ir broad range of flexible skills mean 바카라사이트y 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 바카라사이트 skills to address 바카라사이트 current needs of 바카라사이트 labour market and fill anticipated workforce gaps, 바카라사이트y will be vital in responding to 바카라사이트 societal challenges of 바카라사이트 future, from climate change to cybersecurity.