Religious Studies/Theology

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these 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.

Prospects

Religious studies/theology graduates develop specialist knowledge and a wide range of transferable skills. These are useful for careers in teaching, law, management, administration, publishing, broadcasting and government jobs (local and national), as well as social, youth, community and advice work.

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, 45% of religious studies graduates were in full or part-time employment. Of these, around 17% were in associate professional and technical occupations, 12% were pursuing work in education, around 9% were commercial, industrial and public sector managers and 6% were social and welfare professionals. The remainder entered a wide variety of other professions and occupations.

Other graduates opted instead for postgraduate study or to pursue voluntary work.

Where are the jobs?

Religious studies/theology graduates work in a variety of different roles in every employment sector. Many are employed by schools, colleges and universities for teaching positions. A variety of public and private sector organisations employ graduates in administration, financial and general management positions including: the National Health Service; universities; financial and legal organisations; and local and national government agencies.

Additionally, a wide range of organisations recruit for roles in advertising, human resources (HR), marketing and sales. Libraries and universities recruit for information work; charities advertise for roles in fundraising. Television companies need people for positions in research, production and broadcasting. Publishing houses and newspaper/magazine groups employ graduates as researchers, writers and editors.

Consider potential employment in the following areas:

• Education;
• Legal services;
• Government and public administration.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Higher education lecturer (in theology/religious studies)
• Further education lecturer (in theology/religious studies)
• Primary school teacher or Secondary school teacher
• Social researcher.

Becoming a Minister of religion is another possible job option.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Youth worker
• Advice worker
• Archivist
• Broadcast journalist
• Commissioning editor
• Information scientist
• Office manager

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.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk