Jobs, careers and graduate opportunities
"Our purpose is to sustain an open and inclusive learning environment in which all are encouraged to realise their potential, to explore knowledge within disciplines and at their boundaries, to be free to think creatively and critically about human societies, environments and cultures, and to apply these skills and knowledges for the benefit of society."
Arts Statement of Purpose
Why do an Arts degree?
An arts degree unlocks the door to a huge range of career opportunities.
Unlike courses that train you for a specific career, arts provides a set of general, portable and lasting skills that are vital to any career and never go out-of-date. They set a firm foundation enabling graduates to take on the jobs of today and adapt and grow into the jobs of the future.
Arts skills
- research
- written and oral communication
- analysing and using information
- independent thought
- flexibility and adaptability
- collaboration, discussion and debate
- self-expression and self-reliance
- continued learning
- reflection and critical judgement
- presentation skills
- the ability to deal with people
- cultural sensitivity
A small business manager, a graphic designer or an accountant all need the type of general skills that arts provides; skills such as the ability to research issues, to write reports, to manage and train staff, to sell ideas to a client, to solve problems and devise ways of increasing efficiency.
There are many ways to reach a career goal. The choices you make in your arts degree will guide you. If, for example, you were interested in a career in screenwriting, you might choose to study drama and theatre studies and complement this with other related subjects such as visual culture, history or English.
Your arts degree could lead you to work in such fields as:
- journalism, publishing, editing, writing, electronic media
- public relations, corporate communications, marketing, advertising
- business research and analysis, management consulting, international trade
- human resources, training and development
- management and administration in either the public or private sector
- diplomacy, foreign affairs, politics
- urban and environmental research and planning
- social and community services, counseling, social welfare, social research, policy and planning
- teaching (with additional qualification), education administration
- tourism, hospitality, entertainment and leisure industries
- performing arts (music or drama), production, direction, management and administration, film, television and video
- library services, museum and gallery administration, arts management, event coordination
- translating and interpreting
- interfacing linguistics with information technology
More information
- Job and career information - links and information on useful websites for finding work and developing career opportunities in the Arts.
- Careers and graduate profiles - view some of our recent graduates and their career paths