Are humanities degrees in the UK still worthwhile? | AHZ Associates
When people are deciding what academic path to take at university, they are frequently put off by someone well-meaning. They contend that technical or vocational subjects are more likely to land you a well-paying job. As a result, people who are passionate about a humanities subject often choose a subject that is less important to them. For example, perhaps you want to study art and design in the UK but are being persuaded to study law instead.
The Study of Humanities in the UK
The study of human behaviour and interaction in its various social, cultural, environmental, economic, and political contexts is the focus of humanities research in the United Kingdom. The Humanities degree in the United Kingdom considers past, present, and future challenges in both individual and global settings. Perhaps when only a few people went to university, the subject didn't matter. A university degree is almost required for a rewarding career, and subjects that do not have immediate practical application are often less appealing.
What qualities and abilities do you need to succeed in a Humanities course?
To succeed as a professional in the Humanities degree in the UK, you'll need a diverse set of skills. These abilities, among many others, will be useful for a job in the humanities.
Communication skills:
The ability to express oneself in writing is essential for any lawyer. Strong communication skills, whether verbal or written, are required to present information in an understandable, clear, and rational manner. You won't get very far as a lawyer or attorney unless you have excellent verbal and written communication skills, both in court and when drafting letters and other legal documents.
Questioning:
Your professional performance as a lawyer is directly related to your ability to ask pertinent questions. You'll need to know how to effectively ask questions in a variety of contexts, from casual conversations with coworkers and clients to cross-examination of witnesses on the stand.
Evaluating skills:
When working in the humanities, extensive amounts of material and data must be read on a daily basis. To avoid missing critical details, it is critical to sort through the mountain of data and determine what truly matters. Conducting case research, writing legal papers, and advising clients on complex situations all require research and assessment skills.
Thinking Critically
Humanities students would benefit greatly from honing their critical thinking abilities. The ability to think critically is a valuable asset in any profession because it allows people to assess situations and make well-considered decisions. Humanities professionals are expected to empathise with their clients, critically analyse their situations, and devise innovative solutions to their problems.
Transferable skills
Humanities degrees teach you how to think critically, examine evidence, and marshal it. They teach you how to construct arguments and broaden your worldview. They may not lead to a specific career, but they will provide you with analytical and creative skills that are highly valued in the workplace. It's not for nothing that 60% of US CEOs have a humanities background. Humanities graduates can be found in senior positions in government, business, finance, and the voluntary sector. They are the people who are running innovative start-up businesses and enriching our lives through great art and culture.
Employers looking for soft skills
A survey by LinkedIn of some of the skills that employers were most looking for in potential employees discovered that 57% of senior leaders prioritised so-called 'soft skills'. Creativity, adaptability, persuasion, adaptability, and time management were among them. These are the types of abilities that a traditional humanities degree can help you develop. A large proportion of the world's leaders have a humanities background, such as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who studied classics.
Best universities for humanities in the UK
Here are the top humanities universities in the United Kingdom:
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow, founded in 1451, is the world's fourth-oldest English-language academic institution. The University of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is home to one of the world's top 100 universities. Its 26,000 students come from over 120 different countries.
Course: BA (Hons) in International Relations
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield, in the city of the same name in northern England, is one of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions. The University of Sheffield, founded in 1905 by the merger of three schools, has over 28,000 students from over 120 countries and is consistently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world by QS World University Rankings.
According to a Times poll, students at the University of Sheffield are the most satisfied in the country.
Course-
BA (Hons) in Applied Social Sciences
BA (Hons) in Quantitative Social Sciences
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds offers one of the most comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programmes in the United Kingdom. These programmes include everything from English language classes and an International Foundation Year to hundreds of different majors and PhD programmes. Graduates from the University of Leeds hold influential positions all over the world, and their degrees are highly valued by employers and other academic institutions.
Course: BA (Hons) in Social Sciences
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is ranked among the best in the UK in terms of both education and research by external government rankings. Due to its excellent modern facilities and dynamic approach to teaching, as well as its distinguished history of recent triumphs, the Welsh university currently enrols nearly 30,000 students, including nearly 10,000 international students.
Course–
BSc (Hons) Human and Social Sciences
BA (Hons) Social Sciences
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University has one of the largest law schools in the United Kingdom, but the university is better known for its art and design, fashion, and creative arts departments. The University's sports teams consistently place high in the British University and College Sport leagues. It has received one of the largest grants awarded to a university founded after 1992, allowing it to continue its pioneering research into cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Course–
BA (Hons) Psychology
Politics and International Relations (Forensic Psychology)
Professional Policing BA (Hons) BA (Hons)
Career opportunities for Humanities in the UK
The job market for this field of study is robust and stable, as was previously noted-
As a graduate, you might want to think about the following job opportunities:
Business analyst
Journalist
Consultant
News producer
Copywriter
Educator
Research scientist
Foreign Service officer
HR Executive
Market researcher
