Careers and employability

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We offer a wide range of support and guidance to help to shape your future career and fulfil your aspirations. A Masters degree in History will equip you with advanced analytical and research skills which will ensure that you stand out to potential employers. We work closely with the Careers Centre and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Graduate School to provide development opportunities, training and work experience to prepare you for your future. We also offer a work placement module with opportunities relating to heritage and archiving.

Your professional development

You'll have a dedicated personal tutor who will be a key contact for you throughout your degree. They will be able to support your academic studies and can also provide guidance in relation to your career development.

As well as developing advanced subject knowledge, you will enhance your transferable skills including presentation skills, critical thinking, project management and research.

Our experts in the University’s Careers Centre will support you to make informed decisions about your career path. They can provide advice about the range of opportunities available to you and support you in taking the steps you need to take to pursue your choices. Regular events such as careers fairs and networking events also run on campus, giving you the chance to meet potential employers.

Previous History Masters students have gone on to a range of careers including:

  • Archiving
  • Research
  • Project management
  • Teaching
  • Information management

Your academic development

As a postgraduate student, you will also gain advanced research skills, building on those you developed during your undergraduate studies. During the first semester, you'll study a module in Research Methodology which incorporates workshops on primary research, academic writing, publication and presentations. The module ends with a two-day conference where you get the chance to present research to staff and students, in addition to receiving collective advice and encouragement. This is a fantastic opportunity as presenting research findings is a vital skill for academia but is also very important in roles in other sectors.  

Gain experience whilst you study

You can also gain experience while you study through enrichment opportunities. We offer, wherever possible, the chance to undertake paid work mentoring undergraduate dissertation students which will develop your mentoring and teaching skills. There are also a wide variety of opportunities available through Leeds for Life, such as volunteering at Harewood House and assisting at the International Medieval Congress.