Pursuing a degree in history abroad: what you must know 

History has always been a popular course to pursue among undergraduates around the world.  

A history degree is highly accessible and available for students, especially in countries where IDP has university affiliations, including the UK, USA, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.  

However, students must take note that study options and costs will vary heavily from country to country, and will further differ depending on the city and university you are in.  

But let’s take a degree in ancient history, for example. For a Bachelor’s Degree in Ancient History in the United States, undergraduates can expect their tuition fees to range from US$4300 to US$5600 for local students while international students have to fork out between US$21,000 to US$25,000.  

Since history is a broad area of study with multiple disciplines that fall under it, ensure that you check the programs, study options, as well as the cost for each course in order to make an informed decision.  

Some of the most common misconceptions about history majors are how job opportunities after graduation are incredibly limited, or that the only jobs available for them are the roles of a historian or museum curator.  

Here’s some good news for you: this cannot be further from the truth.  

With a history degree, graduates can go down a more conventional career path and pick jobs that are specifically related to their field of study.  

They may choose to pursue a job as an archivist, museum curator, historian, genealogist, archaeologist, academic or scientific researcher, conservator, or a heritage officer. Jobs that are a lot closer to home, if you will.  

However, jobs in more corporate fields that aren’t necessarily directly linked to history are also on the cards. History majors can pursue positions in education, journalism, management roles in business, legal professions, sales and financial operations, foreign affairs, as well as politics.  

This only proves that a history degree can be incredibly diverse and useful, and helps individuals develop transferable skills which can be applied across industries.  

As mentioned earlier, most people think that the only possible career paths for history majors are in academia.  

The truth is, having a history degree can bring about a wealth of opportunities to work across industries. The skills, information, and knowledge taught in these programs are not exclusive to history degrees alone.  

In fact, they are highly transferable and can be applied in various industries and fields of work from communications, business, education, law, as well as government positions.  

This means that graduates can look beyond conventional roles and provide a niche service in a particular industry.  

For example, you could become a writer for magazines or publications like National Geographic or Time Magazine with a niche in history content.  

You could also explore a role as a business consultant and provide expert advice for museums and other historical sites.  

Or perhaps you might end up as a market analyst whose job is to accurately interpret data, analyse trends and patterns, and turn them into reports.  

Don’t limit yourself to the ordinary career paths that you were told to pursue in the history field. Dig deeper and discover a plethora of other cross-industry opportunities out there!  

From analysing compelling and monumental events in the past, developing a myriad of transferable skills, and gaining a wealth of information, a history degree opens up a world of opportunities. 

If you’re ready to embark on your journey as a history major, IDP is here to guide you from start to finish.  

As the preferred overseas education specialist trusted by many over the decades, our team of educational counsellors are equipped to give you tailored guidance when it comes to course selection, scholarship application, settling into your study destination, and other areas you may need help in.  

Whether it’s a degree in ancient history, archaeology, or heritage you want to pursue, you don’t have to navigate the process alone.  

Book your free counselling session today and let us help you every step of the way!