A degree in anthropology covers the cultural and biological diversity of humans. The broad discipline you'll gain from studying both science and the humanities could lead to a variety of careers
Job options
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
Charity officer
Community development worker
International aid/development worker
Local government officer
Market researcher
Social researcher
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
Chaplain
Equality, diversity and inclusion officer
Higher education lecturer
Human resources officer
Museum/gallery curator
Policy officer
Political risk analyst
Public relations officer
Social worker
UX researcherWork experience
Gaining work experience is vital when starting out in most careers and shows commitment to a future employer. Take a proactive approach and find opportunities in which you can build up a desirable range of skills such as communication, planning, and project management.
Look for opportunities that are relevant to the area in which you wish to work. For example, if you want to get into charity or international aid roles, there are many opportunities for you to volunteer overseas in your summer break.
Involvement in a student society can help you develop relevant skills and experience in, for example, publicity, campaigning, and public speaking.
Try contacting local council offices or museums and galleries for information about project activities and ask if they need volunteers to help out with the organisation or running of events.
Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.
Typical employers
Only a tiny proportion of graduates become anthropologists, as academics or researchers. Some choose careers that build directly on anthropology, including social policy and teaching, development/overseas agencies and work for non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
A high proportion of anthropology graduates work in the public and not-for-profit sectors, all branches of the Civil Service, local government, charities, central government bodies, universities, international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN), museums and voluntary organisations.
Anthropology graduates also pursue roles in:
advertising
conservation
health and social work
heritage management
museums
sales and marketing.
Find information on employers in charity and voluntary work, marketing, advertising and PR, and other job sectors.
Skills for your CV
As well as knowledge of anthropology, your degree equips you with general skills, including:
written communication
analytical and critical skills
the ability to gather, assess and interpret data
oral communication and presentation skills
time management
discussion and group work skills
statistical and computing techniques
clear, logical and independent thinking
organising and planning
problem-solving
the ability to construct an argument.
You may also be able to offer subject-specific knowledge, including topics such as genetic and biological traits, globalisation and society, an understanding of how cultures function and their common traits, and the importance of language and power.
Further study
Courses chosen by recent graduates include:
criminology
development studies
environmental anthropology
industrial relations
journalism
law
marketing
public health
teaching
youth and community work.
Some students go on to Masters degrees and specialise in an anthropological area, such as visual or medical anthropology, while others pursue related disciplines, such as community health, sociology, social research methods, politics, human geography and economics.
Vocational courses, such as museum ethnography, counselling, health and social work, are also taken up by anthropology graduates.
To find a course that interests you, search postgraduate courses in anthropology.
What do anthropology graduates do?
Roles that anthropology graduates may go into include welfare and housing associate professionals and admin or marketing professionals. A fifth of graduates are carrying out further study, either full or part time.
