Art & Design

• Studying: 8%
• Employed in graduate job: 38%
• Employed in non-graduate job: 34%
• Unemployed: 14%

• Average graduate salary: £17,300
• Average non-graduate salary: £13,881

Many graduate employers seek to recruit people who are lateral thinkers and creative problem-solvers. These qualities are natural to artists and designers and therefore make them an attractive asset, particularly to the UK creative industries sector. This sector relies on people who can think differently, formulate questions and solve problems.

Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. 

View the best universities for art and design degrees.

Prospects

In 2010, six months after graduation, 69% of art and design graduates had gone into employment, including self-employment, with 32% of those working in art, design, sport and culture-related roles. Jobs undertaken by these graduates included commercial artist, fine artist, graphic artist and designer, clothing designer and industrial designer.

Where are the jobs?

There are opportunities in the creative industries and also in creative roles in the following sectors:

• media
• advertising, marketing and PR
• arts administration
• education
• health

Self-employment is a common option, particularly for those with experience and for those who have built up contacts through a range of activities, including networking and taking part in shows, exhibitions and competitions.

Jobs directly related to your degree

An art and design degree will prepare you for work as a:

• Fine artist
• Fashion designer
• Graphic designer
• Illustrator
• Printmaker
• Textile designer
• Advertising account executive
• Secondary school teacher

Jobs where your degree would be useful

You may also fined your degree in art and design useful in the following positions:

• Art therapist
• Community arts worker
• Arts administrator
• Museum/gallery curator
• Multimedia specialist
• Retail buyer

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Included with the permission of AGCAS and Graduate Prospects. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk. We would welcome your comments on this section of The Complete University Guide. Please email us at admin@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk.