15.Qualifications and Training Required

You can only become an archivist if you have an undergraduate degree followed by an ARA accredited postgraduate diploma. Your undergraduate degree can be in any discipline, although history, English, law, classics or information management subjects may be advantageous.

Postgraduate courses are competitive, so it’s advised to gain some relevant work experience before you apply. This could be paid or unpaid experience and should be undertaken in an archives department rather than a library. Postgraduate qualifications may be studied on a full-time, part-time or distance-learning basis, although the latter must be studied with a consenting archive service.

An interest and awareness of history and the value of archives as evidence may prove advantageous. While knowledge of Latin may still be useful in some positions, it is no longer essential.