Arts and humanities

What do arts and humanities researchers do?

Destinations at a glance

Of UK-domiciled A&H doctoral graduates who responded to the DLHE survey and were working in the UK over 2003–2007

• 67% were employed in the education sector (49% across all disciplines)
• 48% entered ‘education and teaching’ occupations (22% across all disciplines)
• 27% entered HE lecturing roles (14% across all disciplines)
• 20% was working in research roles (35% across all disciplines)
• 45% was working as research staff in higher education (23% across all disciplines)
• 14% worked in ‘Other sectors’, including the cultural and recreation sectors (5 across all disciplines) 

Of UK-domiciled A&H doctoral respondents to the DLHE survey

• 4% went abroad over 2003–2007  (7% across all disciplines)
• The unemployment rate (3.4% in 2007) was consistently lower than for A&H first-degree graduates (6.8%) and masters graduates (4.4%)

More career ideas

Investigate where former researchers in your department or institution are now working. 

The following career profiles are useful in terms of gaining ideas on destinations. 

• Áine – music – publications officer
• Alison – history – teacher
• Harriet – English – research fellow
• Sarah – French – university lecturer
• Emma – musicology – administrator
• Fiona – medieval studies – teacher