How to Become A Historian

Steps to Become a Historian

Step 1: Complete a Bachelor of Arts with a History Major

Enrol in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a major in History at an Australian university. This takes three years full-time. You will study history methods, source analysis, and key periods in Australian and world history. A strong result is important if you plan to do further study after your degree.

Step 2: Complete an Honours Year in History

After your BA, complete an Honours year (one year full-time). An Honours degree is the minimum requirement for PHA membership under the National Standard for Professional Historians in Australia. Your Honours year involves an original research paper and advanced training in history methods. A strong result also helps you get into postgraduate study.

Step 3: Consider a Masters or Doctorate for Academic and Research Roles

Academic research and senior advisory roles usually need further study. A Masters by Research takes one to two years full-time. A PhD takes three to four years full-time. Most university teaching and research jobs require a PhD. Further study lets you build deep knowledge in a specific area of history.

Step 4: Join a Professional Historians Association (PHA)

Apply for membership of your state or territory PHA after graduating. Membership requires an Honours degree (or its equal) and, for senior levels, relevant work experience. PHA membership is the recognised standard for practice in Australia. It gives you access to job networks, training events, and the national register of consultants. Visit historians.org.au to find your state PHA.

Step 5: Gain Practical Experience

Apply for research assistant roles, archival internships, or volunteer positions at museums or government agencies while you study. Practical work handling primary sources and producing written reports strengthens your job prospects. It also helps you choose which sector suits you best: academic, government, heritage, or public history.

Each day, a historian works with evidence. They find it, check it, and turn it into a clear story. They search archives, read old documents, and examine artefacts. They assess each source to decide if it can be trusted. Then they write it all up: reports, articles, books, or exhibition content. Historians also teach, give talks, and advise on heritage projects or media productions. No two days look exactly the same, which makes the job very engaging.

Historians research and document the past using primary and secondary sources. They work in academia, government, museums, heritage firms, and the media. Every task comes back to one goal: making sure the historical record is accurate, well-argued, and useful.

• Assemble historical data: consult archives, court records, diaries, newspapers, and artefact collections to gather source material.
• Evaluate and authenticate sources: check the origin, date, and context of documents before drawing conclusions.
• Conduct historical research: analyse political, social, cultural, and linguistic evidence to build documented accounts of the past.
• Write and publish findings: produce articles, books, reports, heritage assessments, and exhibition text for various audiences.
• Teach and present: deliver lectures, seminars, and public talks to share historical knowledge with students and wider audiences.
• Advise on heritage and media projects: provide expert input to government agencies, museums, film productions, and cultural organisations.
• Work with archives and collections: work with archivists and curators to preserve, catalogue, and interpret historical records.

• Research and archival skills
• Analytical and critical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Strong written communication
• Ability to evaluate and check sources
• Public speaking and presentation
• Time management
• Ability to work independently
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Knowledge of historical methods
• Familiarity with archival systems and databases
• Understanding of cultural and social contexts
• Adaptability across different research topics
• Report and publication writing