Progress to Postgrad: Kudzwai

Posted on: 19 August 2025 by Richard Finch in Class of 2024

Class of 2024 History and Politics graduate, Kudzwai Kunaka, is now studying at King’s College London for a Master’s in British Contemporary History.

How did you hear about your course?

Doing History and Politics was a very last-minute decision for me. Up until I applied for my undergraduate degree, I was dead set on doing architecture! I would not change my undergraduate experience and truly do believe that the University of Liverpool was the university for me.

During my time there I was able to really develop my interests especially in relation to history and through the support of professors such as Dr Amal Abu-Bakare, I decided to take on a Master’s in British Contemporary History to continue and develop my interests further.

How did you get to where you are now?

During my Bachelor’s, I was involved in multiple societies including the Liverpool Debating Union, Decolonise UoL and the 93% Club. These societies all involved critically engaging with society/societal norms and I took the skills I learned from these societies into how I engage with/research history. I made this very clear within my personal statement and through my super curricular reading and activities this showed that I had a genuine passion for learning and history.

Your favourite thing about your current course?       

My favourite experience during my master’s is the opportunities that have come from living in London. I am currently volunteering at the British Museum as a tour guide and archive assistant, as well as volunteering at the Black Cultural Archive. This has helped me in terms of developing my own research skills and is amazing experience to have for future career prospects. I also had the pleasure of presenting one of my master’s research essays at the Lancaster Postgraduate Historical Conference. All these experiences would have not come without doing my master’s.        

The most challenging part of your graduate journey?

The most challenging part of my graduate journey has been adjusting to London life. I had to take on multiple jobs while also balancing my volunteering and my master’s as the cost of living is so high! However, despite this I am beginning to see that hard work and dedication truly does pay off, through how my historical research is becoming recognised and how I am averaging a distinction for my master’s.

Could you share one tip you wish you knew before you started

My advice would be to get as much work experience as you can. Experience, especially within this job market, is seen as very valuable and shows you genuinely have an interest in what you are applying for. It also makes you stand out from other graduates. A CV that has a 2:1 bachelor’s with experience is much more valuable that a CV with a First degree and no experience.

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