Why employers opt for future-ready graduates with a humanities degree

The most profitable companies. The most respected country leaders. The most talented artists and creatives.

A great many of the above owe their success to their degree in the humanities.

From Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky to billionaire e-commerce entrepreneur Jack Ma, these success stories show how a humanities degree has the potential for one to go down in the history books.

The humanities encompass disciplines such as literature, modern languages, law, philosophy, history, human geography, art, politics, religion, and art — as history shows, these are subjects that give its students a competitive edge in whichever industry they pursue their ambitions in.

In the future, humanities graduates will become even more crucial and in-demand by employers.

“As technology becomes more pervasive and human-centric, professionals with expertise in social sciences are needed to understand how it is best used by individuals and societies.

“Human-computer interaction work relies on designers and anthropologists to do deep dives into technology from a user perspective, and how these insights can be incorporated into technology,” says Microsoft Research Principal Researcher Kalika Bali.

See what humanities degrees are on offer at these four universities across Europe:

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, UNIVERSITY OF EXETER – UNITED KINGDOM

The world is ever changing and tomorrow’s graduates need to be able to rise to the challenges of the future.

If you want to enter your career with confidence, consider enhancing your potential with a Humanities degree from an internationally renowned University, ranked within the top 100 in the world for Arts and Humanities.

Source: University of Exeter

“Exeter is one of the UK’s key hubs for humanities research and education, as shown by our strong position in  national and international league tables,” said Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean Professor Jo Gill.

“Significant investment has helped us build on already excellent research performance and student satisfaction at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.”

The University’s College of Humanities is not just well-known for its world-class research or Russell Group membership.

What sets this UK University apart is also its expert faculty and future-facing portfolio of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD degree programmes, which work hard to prepare students for the world of work.

Thanks to the College’s prestigious partners including the London Film School, and a broad range of industry connections you’ll be able to build real world skills and an excellent professional network, as well as having access to unique on-campus facilities such as the Digital Humanities Lab, the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum and the Northcott Theatre.

Plus, the surrounding city of Exeter was recently awarded the UNESCO City of Literature status, which means you’ll be studying in one of the UK’s top cultural and creative hubs.

The combination of all of the above makes for an exciting future and one fantastic study abroad adventure. Find out what this looks like for you by contacting the College today.

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES, UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM – THE NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is brimming with culture.

Therefore, it’s the ideal place to pursue a humanities degree as you’ll have time to explore cultural and historical surroundings while analysing them through your studies.

And if you’re eager to explore the city further, then make sure to connect with the Faculty’s Illustere School as it is known to organise various activities for people who have an interest in the humanities.

The Illustere School arranges networking opportunities for students in their English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.

Plus, this Faculty is also an important partner of SPUI25, one of Amsterdam’s most respected academic and cultural institutions.

So while you’re studying there, you can take part in free SPUI25 events and network your skills around Amsterdam.

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES, UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN – DENMARK

Every year, the Danish university’s Faculty of Humanities welcomes more than 100 international students to their English taught Master’s programmes.

For example, their Master of Arts (MA) in Cognition and Communication will teach you about the different cognitive science, communication and philosophical theories about sensory perception, thinking and emotions.

For the Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Cultural Analysis, students will get to learn how to conduct cultural analysis, solving concrete problems in corporations, public institutions and NGOs.

With these two Master’s programmes and more available at the University of Copenhagen, you’re bound to find a humanities degree that directs you towards a new career and a new perspective on the world.

Source: Shutterstock

SCHOOL OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE, UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA – ITALY

The University of Bologna was founded in 1088, which makes it the oldest university in the world.

But despite being the oldest, its School of Arts, Humanities and Cultural Heritage ties its humanities programmes to modern, cutting-edge insights.

For instance, it offers a Digital Humanities and Digital Knowledge (DHDK) Master’s degree.This features a cross-disciplinary curriculum and grants you the skills to pursue a variety of roles such as web project manager, social media expert, digital content specialist and more.

There’s also the flagship Bachelor’s Humanities programme, but do note that this humanities degree is only taught in Italian.

Students here will have the opportunity to gain a foot in the industry through internships abroad and the Erasmus+ Programme which allows you to spend between three and twelve months at a European or non-European university.

So if you want to expand your real-world awareness in Italy, unite your talents with the University of Bologna.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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