Philosophy
Department Handbook
Section H. Employability
[Getting Information] [Reflecting on Your Programme] [Postgraduate Study] [Advice from Staff]
Issues about future employment are not always uppermost in the minds of students. We urge you to give them some thought. You may have no idea what you would like to do and have no wish in any case to come to a settled view on the matter right now. Even so there is much to be said for finding out about the kinds of skills and experience which employers might expect graduates to have and for reflecting on how your programme of study will be relevant to your prospects for future employment. Gathering information commits you to nothing. It provides you with a basis for making sensible decisions further down the line. Remember it is not just your academic performance that matters for employment. Your personal qualities, general abilities, and the breadth of your experience count as well.
A few of you may consider studying philosophy at a higher level once you have graduated. There is some information below about how to proceed.
Getting Information
The University’s Career Development Centre is a valuable source of information about employment both during the course of your study and after it. A note on the Centre may be found towards the end of this Handbook. A Newsletter for philosophy students is also available. We shall post this on our Divisional web site.
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Reflecting on Your Programme
Look at the specifications of learning outcomes in section B of this Handbook. Various abilities fostered by the study of philosophy are mentioned. Think about how the experience you are gaining, and the activities associated with your studies, relate to the acquisition of these abilities. For instance, all of you have done essay assignments that required you to review and assess complex ideas and arguments in a clear and well-organized way. You have been expected to think for yourself about what you write and not just summarise what others have said. All of you have gained experience participating in group discussion. Being able to do that is a valuable social skill as well as contributing to the advancement of your knowledge and understanding of the subject. Most of you will gain experience in giving presentations to seminar groups. Being able to do that on your subject should help to give you confidence when addressing groups on any subject that you have researched.
Employers will no doubt expect you to have done the sorts of things that arts students do, but they will also expect you to have reflected on the relevance of your experience and education to future employment. So think about how you can best raise your chances of obtaining the kind of work that you would like and about how you would explain to a potential employer what skills you have gained in studying philosophy.
In giving you this advice we are not suggesting that the main reason for studying philosophy is that it helps you to acquire general skills. The best reason for studying the subject is that you find its problems important, and grappling with them rewarding. But it is important to realise that in studying philosophy you are acquiring more general skills that will improve your employment prospects and stand you in good stead in a wide range of careers.[Return to top of page] or [Return to Handbook Index]
Postgraduate Study
There are opportunities in the UK and abroad to undertake courses of postgraduate study in philosophy. There are Masters programmes, which are usually one-year long, some of which cover a wide range of subject areas, others of which are more specific. Many of the Masters programmes are designed to prepare students for doctoral study (PhD or DPhil.). But such programmes also serve to meet the needs of students who simply wish to extend their study of philosophy a little further. We run a highly regarded joint MLitt in Philosophy with the University of St Andrews. Further details of all of this course can be found through Philosophy ’s web page, and members of staff will be very happy to discuss it with you.
Admission to postgraduate programmes in philosophy normally requires at least an upper-second class degree in which philosophy is studied to Honours level (single or combined) or the equivalent of such a degree.
Funding for Masters and doctoral study is available but is highly competitive. The major source of funding for UK students is the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). This also provides some funding for EU students. Information is available at http://www.ahrc.ac.uk.
If you wish to explore the possibility of undertaking postgraduate study here or elsewhere then you should seek advice and information no later than early in your fourth year. The best way of doing this initially is to check the web sites of institutions at which you might wish to study. Note the deadlines for applications to programmes and for funding applications. Typically, you should be prepared to apply for funding for postgraduate work as you start your final undergraduate academic year.
Some of you may consider postgraduate study in an area other than philosophy. This university, for instance, has a one-year MSc in Information Technology for people who have an honours degree in some area other than information technology.
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Advice from Staff
You should feel free to consult members of staff in the Department about what you might do after you have graduated here. The Department’s Careers Liaison Officer, Ben Saunders, will be happy to offer advice.
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