Philosophy graduate destinations

On graduating, Bristol Philosophy students are able to demonstrate numerous skills that many employers recognise and need for their organisations. These include the ability to conduct in-depth analysis, the communication of complex material, flexibility of thought, and the presentation of arguments in a coherent and compelling manner.

Data obtained from

  • Single and joint honours Philosophy courses (BA, BSc and MSci)
  • Graduates from the UK 

Responses were received from 27 UK graduates from 2019/20; this is a response rate of 36%

Destinations

Most important activityPercentage of graduates
Paid work for an employer 44.4%
Self-employment/freelancing 3.7%
Running my own business 0%
Developing a creative, artistic or professional portfolio 7%
Voluntary/unpaid work for an employer 0%
Engaged in a course of study, training or research 37%
Taking time out to travel 3%
Caring for someone 0%
Retired 0%
Unemployed and looking for work 14.8%
Doing something else 0%

Sector information

The transferable skills gained during their studies mean that many Philosophy graduates choose to enter careers that do not require a specific degree; around 70% of jobs are open to graduates of any discipline.

Employment sectorNumber of graduates
Real estate agencies 2
Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet 1
Activities of religious organizations 1
Information technology consultancy activities 1
Other sectors (7 sectors) 8

Employers and occupations

Examples of employers

  • Hargreaves Lansdown
  • Kubrick Group

Examples of occupations

  • Data Consultant
  • Investment Helpdesk Consultant
  • Ministry Assistant
  • Production Assistant

Further study

The following subject areas for futher study are consistently favoured by our Philosophy graduates: Law, e.g. Law (MA); International Relations, e.g. International Studies and Diplomacy (MA); Management, e.g. Management (MSc); Philosophy, e.g. Philosophy (MA); and Journalism, e.g. News Journalism (MA).

Qualification typePercentage of graduates

Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil, MRes)

0%

Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc, MBA)

50%

Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE)

14.3%

Professional qualification

21.4%

Undergraduate degree (including integrated master’s degrees) (e.g. BA, BSc, MBChB, MEng)

7.1%
Other undergraduate diploma or certificate not specified above 0%
Other qualification 0%
Not aiming for a formal qualification 0%

Connect with alumni

Use LinkedIn to find out what others from your course are doing now and how they can help you.

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