The Value of Studying History: A Subject at Risk

“So, you’re going to be a history teacher?” This is the most common question I hear as an undergraduate History student. While teaching is certainly an option for some, it is not for me and is far from the only career path available to history graduates. Yet, the assumption that history is only valid for teaching or academia is a concerning factor in its under appreciation. Whether openly stated or implied, history as a subject is increasingly undervalued by our society.

I’ll admit my bias—I chose to study history. But why? My path to this degree wasn’t straightforward. Initially, I intended to pursue a science-based degree, selecting A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, History, and English Literature. However, after the immense stress of Chemistry led me to drop it, I was drawn more toward History and Biology. The UK education system tends to push students toward the sciences or the humanities, making it difficult to pursue both. By dropping an additional science, my university options became more limited, and it wasn’t until September 2022 that I fully committed to studying history. A decision influenced by a project with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, my Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and my A-Level History coursework.

As ABBA famously sings in Waterloo, history has a way of repeating itself. This cyclical nature makes history invaluable – it allows us to recognise patterns, critically analyse current events, and anticipate potential outcomes. History is, therefore, incredibly invaluable to shaping the decisions we make. In my personal statement for my university application, I argued that this repetition of history makes it invaluable to us as a society. I used the example of the position of the Jews in Medieval England being persecuted and how this was later repeated in the 20^th century in Europe in events such as the Holocaust. Persecution is an idea of hatred for a particular group in society; as such, it can transcend time. This idea of patterns being recognised has been widely reported on social media recently with the Inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025. When Elon Musk decided to make that bizarre gesture on stage, the world stopped and reflected on what they had just witnessed. Historians of the 20^th century, in particular, must have begun to see the comparison to the infamous ‘salute’ used by one specific party in Germany in the 1930s and 40s. Modern experiences of such events, coupled with paralleled desperation of society to avoid financial issues – such as that of the 1920s in Germany – make events build into a pattern that may or may not repeat itself. History, as such, helps teach us the ‘perfect storm’ in which events may happen based on previous experiences and, as such, shouldn’t be undervalued.

 

A Subject Under Threat

Despite its importance, history as a discipline is facing significant cuts. In June 2023, the Royal Historical Society reported that universities such as Brighton, East Anglia, and Kent were reducing their history faculty through voluntary and compulsory redundancies. At the University of East Anglia (UEA), the number of full-time history staff decreased from 40 to 30 in just 2 years.[1] Meanwhile, Sunderland, Kingston, and London South Bank Universities have all cut history courses. Aston University in Birmingham has even considered shutting down its entire Department of History, Languages, and Translation as of 2021.[2] A shift which has pushed history's importance to long-standing institutions such as Oxford and other Russell Group universities. This is potentially dangerous for the subject as a whole.

The factor driving these cuts could be a shift towards “high-value” courses. The government and growth in vocational courses have seen a change from university to more practical-based courses. In addition, the focus on STEM-based degrees has only increased in recent years. And who would blame potential undergraduates? In today’s economy and the cost-of-living crisis, it may make sense to pursue a degree in a subject that may lead to higher future earnings. The average starting salary for a History graduate falls between £18,000 and £24,000, whereas for a Physics graduate, their salary likely falls between £18,000 and £28,000.[3] Financial measures, however, should not be the sole measure of a subject’s worth. History continues to ignite public interest through academic passion, bestselling historical fiction, or popular period dramas like Netflix’s Bridgerton. Yet, despite its relevance, funding cuts signal that history is not being given the respect it deserves.

 

The Funding Crisis

A lack of tuition fee increases for home students has placed significant financial strain on UK universities. The Russell Group—a group of 24 universities typically regarded for their research output—includes Cardiff, Queen’s University Belfast, Sheffield, and York, all of which are under pressure. York, for instance, must cut £34 million from its budget and has lowered entry requirements for international students. This has, in some cases, moved to accept the equivalent of a 2.2-degree classification or lower grades at undergraduate to Bs and Cs.[4] Whilst this move is hoped to boost financial stability, it may also impact opportunities for domestic students – such as reducing home places.

The funding gap between humanities and STEM degrees is striking. As a history student at Oxford, I have around 1.5 hours of contact time in weekly tutorials and two 50-minute lectures. In contrast, my STEM peers receive multiple tutorials and daily lectures despite paying the same £9,250 tuition. As one graduate historian bluntly put it, our fees are for one “very expensive library card.” The gap is evident even at an institution like Oxford, where history is well established. If this trend continues, history may risk becoming an elitist subject, removing accessibility to those at less ‘prestigious’ universities.

 

The Bigger Picture

In conclusion, we risk becoming an oversaturated society of doers rather than thinkers. History offers us a chance to look not only backwards but also forward—it helps us analyse, contextualise, and predict. We must adopt this mentality to secure the future of history for all students, not just some. In addition, funding must increase through increased charges on home and international students or direct government funding. Most importantly, we must change our perceptions of History as a subject. It must be viewed with much more respect and not pushed aside as a ‘teaching’ only option, as so many in society view it. History is relevant to everyone; it is not a niche interest but a necessity for understanding the world. It is relevant, powerful, and essential.

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[1] https://royalhistsoc.org/policy/history-in-uk-higher-education-a-statement-from-the-royal-historical-society/

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/may/01/studying-history-should-not-be-only-for-the-elite-say-academics

[3] https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/subject-guide/history#:~:text=to%20study%20History-,What%20do%20History%20graduates%20earn%3F,and%20level%20of%20managerial%20responsibility. And, https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/subject-guide/physics-and-astronomy#:~:text=Starting%20salaries%20for%20Physics%20%26%20Astronomy,are%20%C2%A330%2C000%E2%80%93%C2%A340%2C000.

[4] https://thetab.com/2024/10/25/all-the-russell-group-unis-in-their-financial-crisis-eras-in-2024#:~:text=Several%20Russell%20Group%20unis%20are,%C2%A32%2C500%20per%20UK%20student.