Students taking History on the IB are exposed to a broad range of periods and themes of study. Thematic requirements expose students to broad topics, like "Rights & Protest" or "Conflict & Intervention" across multiple regions of the world to encourage comparative study and to encourage students to consider multiple perspectives to similar issues. Students also study two historical periods over any part across 750 to present day, like the 'causes and effects of medieval wars' or '20th century authoritarian states'.

By the end of the Diploma, students will have developed key historical skills which a widely applicable in an international world and in further study and work, as well as an understanding of themselves and of contemporary society by encouraging reflection on the past.

History offers students routes into many diverse careers. For students with a love of History, many continue into further academic study of the discipline with the intention of becoming teachers, professors, researchers and writers. Aside from academia, it’s also particularly well-suited for students looking to move into civil service roles, journalism, PR and marketing. Many students move directly into the legal profession following History degrees, which prizes the critical reasoning, independent research, and intellectual rigour historical study demands and around half of London’s ‘magic circle’ trainees each year don’t hold Law degrees. In addition, many students go on to study in the heritage sector as archivists, curators and conservators.