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Historian

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Historians study and interpret the past using primary sources, archives, and scholarly methods. In the UK they work in universities, museums, archives, heritage organisations, or as researchers for media and public bodies. Day to day work includes researching, analysing sources, writing reports or articles, curating exhibits, and presenting historical knowledge to the public. Careers can be focused on specific periods, regions, or themes such as social history, political history, or maritime history. Strong research, critical thinking and communication skills are essential, along with proficiency in accessing and handling historical records.

Historian

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📊 Statistics

UK salary range

Typical salary in the United Kingdom ranges from around 25,000 to 40,000 pounds per year for early career roles, rising with experience and seniority to between 40,000 and 65,000 pounds for specialised or academic positions.

Job market

Estimated number of roles in the UK today is in the low to mid hundreds for permanent historian positions, with additional opportunities in museums, archives and higher education.

Education requirements

Most historians hold at least a BA in history and often an MA or PhD for academic or research posts; postgraduate programmes typically take 1 to 3 years after the undergraduate degree.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Museum curator

Work in a museum organising exhibitions, researching artefacts and creating engaging displays for the public

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Heritage consultant

Advise organisations on protecting cultural sites, recording histories and planning sustainable access for visitors

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Archivist

Preserve and catalogue historical documents in libraries or archives and assist researchers with inquiries

Education and Foundations

Choose a university degree

Select a history related degree and plan modules around your interests such as medieval, modern or social history.

Aim for a degree with a strong emphasis on research methods, source analysis and critical writing. Look for programmes with historical theory and option modules in areas you want to specialise in. Consider pursuing a year abroad or study exchanges to broaden perspective.

Develop research and writing skills

Enhance your ability to locate sources, evaluate reliability and construct coherent arguments.

Practice creating annotated bibliographies, historiographical essays and structured essays. Seek feedback from tutors and join writing groups. Use university resources such as the library, archives and research consultations.

Engage in work experience

Obtain relevant experience through internships, volunteering or part time roles in libraries, archives or museums.

Apply for museum helpers, archive assistant roles or research assistant placements. Document projects and outcomes for CVs and to discuss in interviews.

Specialisation and Advancement

Pursue postgraduate study or research

Consider a masters or PhD to specialise in a chosen period or methodology.

A postgraduate programme deepens research techniques, provides mentorship and can lead to academic roles or senior research positions in museums or heritage organisations.

Build a portfolio of research outputs

Develop a record of essays, articles, conference papers and presentations.

Submit articles to student journals, present at conferences and keep an online portfolio. This demonstrates depth of expertise to employers in academia, museums and cultural institutions.

Gain professional curatorial or archival skills

Acquire practical skills in curation, artefact handling, cataloguing and public history.

Seek roles or courses in curatorial practice, archival management or digital humanities. Build an understanding of governance, funding and audience engagement.

Career Launch and Diversification

Apply for roles in museums, galleries and heritage

Look for positions such as assistant curator, collections assistant or public history project coordinator.

Tailor applications to highlight research skills, historical knowledge and communication ability. Include story of impact and public engagement ideas.

Develop public history and outreach

Create programmes, exhibitions or digital content that engages diverse audiences.

Collaborate with educators, communities and schools. Use social media and podcasts or online exhibitions to raise knowledge and interest in history.

Plan ongoing professional development

Continue learning through courses, networking and professional bodies.

Join organisations such as the Society for the Study of Labour History or local historical societies. Attend conferences and seek mentorship to advance the career.

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🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Historian. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

Both careers require rigorous research, critical analysis and an interpretive approach to artefacts and records. While historians analyse sources to understand past contexts, art valuers assess provenance, condition and value, often drawing on archival knowledge to determine significance.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • working towards this role
  • a graduate training scheme

University

You could complete a degree in a subject, such as art history, fine arts and restoration or fine arts conservation.

After your degree if you could then take professional training in valuation. You could also do a specialist postgraduate course, like art market and appraisal or arts business.

Internships

Some large auction houses offer internship programmes for university students.

Your university careers service can give you advice about internships and work experience placements, and how to find them.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

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Work

You could work in an auction house or antiques business as an assistant, porter or cataloguer. This is a great opportunity to learn through experience and part time study.

Volunteering

You might find it useful to get some work experience as getting in to this work can be competitive. Volunteering can also help you to get started in this career.

Other Routes

You could join a graduate training scheme with a large auction house. Employers only offer a few of these each year.

You'll usually need a degree in a subject like history of art or fine art, along with relevant art and business experience.

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about careers in culture and heritage from the Museums Association.

You can also get information about working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

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