Our graduates

Sam Baillie, BA Hons History

"Since graduating, I’ve been extraordinarily lucky to be able to combine several skills to enjoy a really positive start to my post-university career. Most recently, I’ve been working in communications within the non-profit sector, writing reports, creating videos and producing graphics to support the incredible work done in Scottish charities, as well as some early forays into freelance work! I was also hugely fortunate to complete a further year at the University of Glasgow. History still plays a massive role in my life to this day. If I can convince a Scot that Edward I “wasn’t so bad, really”, then asking them to donate some money to a great cause doesn’t seem quite so hard!"

Sam works for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH). 

Ahmed Shehata, BA Hons History and Archaeology

"After graduating from UHI I worked as the Vice-president of Higher Education at HISA for a year, before studying for an MPhil in Medieval History at the University of Cambridge. Following my time in Cambridge I spent a year travelling and doing research in medieval Islamic Intellectual History that took me to Iraq, Egypt and Spain. I am currently living in Spain while working as a diplomatic officer at the British Embassy in Madrid, and subsequently performing research on the relationship between the intellectual trends of medieval Islamic Spain and modern Spain.

Working in foreign policy requires a tremendous amount of analytical ability, attention to detail and a knack for predicting outcomes through previous models. All of these skills I learned during my time studying history at UHI. Most importantly, however, the Centre for History is made up of some of the best historians and individuals in the country, which catapults students’ learning abilities to extreme heights. The historians at the Centre for History are not only incredible academics, but amazing people as well that have the ability to inspire and support their students. 

Studying history might not lead onto a well-trodden career path, instead it will open up a window of possibilities for different career progressions. The skills on offer at the UHI Centre for History, such as, developing a keen eye for detail, analysing different information from different sources and building structured arguments that are supported by facts and logic are highly transferrable and desirable in many fields ranging from law to finance."

Ahmed is also currently working on his PhD proposal. 

Theresa Mackay, MLitt History of the Highlands and Islands

"I decided later in life to finally study what I was passionate about, so I started the MLitt course not really knowing where it might take me. I can now say it has completely transformed my life, resulting in professional opportunities both at home and abroad that I never thought possible. My work in museums, heritage, tourism, and consulting, has been enhanced tremendously and my perspective on what it means to be a global Scot has been forever changed. Studying with students from around the world in the supportive academic community fostered by the UHI Centre for History has given me a network I will now have for life. The MLitt is a brilliant course and an excellent experience that I will never forget."

Theresa lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and is currently working on her PhD.