Theology & Religious Studies

• Studying: 32%
• Employed in graduate job: 29%
• Employed in non-graduate job: 24%
• Unemployed: 7%

• Average graduate salary: £20,068
• Average non-graduate salary: £14,099

Studying for a degree in theology and religious studies allows you to explore the beliefs, practices, values and doctrines of people around the world. You gain an understanding of cultural and religious diversity through analysing culture, texts, arts and practices of a range of societies. If you took language modules, you may also be able to read texts in a different language.

View the best universities for theology & religious studies degrees.

Prospects

Theology and religious studies graduates develop a wide range of transferable skills. These are useful for careers in teaching, law, business and management, administration, publishing, media, journalism and government jobs (local and national), as well as social, youth, community and advice work.

A 2011 HESA survey of 2010 graduates indicates that six months after finishing their course 48% of theology and religious studies graduates were in UK or overseas employment, with a further 8% combining work and further study. Of these, around 17% were in associate professional and technical occupations, 11% were pursuing work in education, around 8% were working as commercial, industrial and public sector managers and 7% were social and welfare professionals. 

Where are the jobs?

Theology and religious studies graduates work in a variety of different roles in every employment sector. Typical employers include:

• schools, colleges and universities
• public and private sector organisations, such as the National Health Service, financial and legal firms and government agencies 

Additionally, theology and religious studies students may find opportunities in advertising, human resources (HR), marketing and sales. Libraries, charities, television companies and publishing houses also employ theology and religious studies graduates in a range of roles.

Jobs directly related to your degree

After studying theology and religious studies you will be well qualified to work as a:

• Higher education lecturer
• Further education lecturer
• Primary school teacher or secondary school teacher

Jobs where your degree would be useful

You could also apply the skills and knowledge from your theology and religious studies degree to a range of roles, including:

• Youth worker
• Advice worker
• Social worker
• Charity officer
• Newspaper journalist
• Civil Service administrator
• Archivist
• Broadcast journalist
• Editorial assistant

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.