I was wondering, as a undergraduate history student who is passionate about his subject, what would a historian say is the best way to continue with the subject past university? How would one continue to work in history/ become a historian? What is the best way to make this your profession in a field that is so diverse and competitive? Would love to hear some historians opinions!
I don't think there's any way that's objectively "best" - different options are better for different people. If you want to be fully in academia, for instance, getting a PhD and going for a tenure-track position would be best. For me, getting a Master's degree that included both a field of history and museum skills so I could work in public history was a better choice. Both academia and public history are extremely competitive - either way, you have to work very hard for little money, seriously believe that this is what you want to do with your life, and network somehow to get an extra nudge when applying for jobs.
Here are a few older threads on jobs in history:
What Sort of Careers can One Pursue in History and How Bad is the Job Market?
Studying History at University at a later age (working in a different field). Good idea?