Employability

Classics and Ancient History students from universities such as Durham are highly valued by employers, who realise that, in studying for your degree, you have acquired skills which are readily transferable in the job market. You have learned, for example, to think logically, to compile and critically evaluate evidence and to express yourself clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing. Recent Durham graduates have developed careers in diverse sectors such as the civil service, gold dealing, management consultancy, insurance, journalism, law, accountancy, public relations and the creative industries. In the 2022 Guardian University Rankings, Durham graduates topped the table with 90% employed 15 months after graduation.

Students at Durham enjoy support from a dedicated team of careers advisors in the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre. Staff will assist students to develop their skills, gain work experience, explore career opportunities, make effective applications and prepare for interviews. It doesn’t matter if you have no idea about the direction you’d like your career to take, university staff will support you with information, advice and guidance. They facilitate student access to job and work experience opportunities, careers and employability events, employer workshops and presentations, skills programmes and tailored individual careers guidance. The University’s Student Employability Fund enables students from low income households to participate in employability and recruitment activities, by covering expenses such as travel, clothing and subsistence.

It is also possible for Durham Classics and Ancient History students to complete a Placement Year. Completing a Placement Year (either in the UK, or worldwide) as part of your degree can provide you with an opportunity to apply your knowledge in a real world environment whilst also gaining the necessary skills and expertise to secure a job you love when you graduate. Statistically, placement years are good for degree success: 52% of Placement Year students who graduated in 2019 achieved a first class honours degree compared with 13% for students who did not complete a Placement Year. Thousands of placement opportunities are advertised on the student services portal, but students have the flexibility to arrange their own placements with employers.

A significant number of our students progress onto higher level study following their degree in Classics and Ancient History. Some remain within their academic field of interest and pursue a Masters, notably at Durham but also other prestigious institutions. Others take a different route and pursue professional postgraduate programmes in (for example) law, finance and teaching. The Latin with Classics PGCE course, led by the Durham School of Education, provides placements in schools across the North East and leads to Qualified Teacher Status.

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