Jobs directly related to your degree

• Higher education lecturer in theology/religious studies - teaches academic or vocational subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students from age 18 upwards. May also undertake research activities.
• Further education lecturer in theology/religious studies - organises and teaches one or more subjects in a general or specialist college of FE, a tertiary college or a sixth form college.
• Primary school teacher or secondary school teacher in religious education - develops work and lesson plans and teaches in line with curriculum objectives.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Youth worker - promotes the personal, educational and social development of young people aged between 13 and 19, although in some cases this may be extended to those aged 11 to 13 and 19 to 25.
• Advice worker - provides free, impartial and confidential advice to clients on a wide range of issues. Some advice workers offer general guidance in several areas, such as debt, housing, employment, welfare and education, while others specialise in a particular area.
• Social worker - works with people who have been socially excluded or who are experiencing crisis. Provides support to enable service users to help themselves and maintains professional relationships with service users, acting as guide, advocate or critical friend.
• Charity officer - involves working for a charitable organisation. The role may involve project management, business development, finance, marketing, PR or a combination of tasks.
• Newspaper journalist - researches and writes stories for publication in local, regional and national press.
• Civil Service administrator - contributes to the delivery of services of the different departments that make up the Civil Service, through duties such as research, compiling reports, working on policy documents.
• Archivist - acquires, manages and maintains documents and other materials that have historical importance for individuals, organisations and nations.
• Broadcast journalist - responsible for investigating, gathering and reporting on news and current affairs. Presents this information in a fair, balanced and accurate way through news bulletins, documentaries and other factual programmes for radio, television and online broadcast.
• Editorial assistant - provides assistance in all stages of the publication of books, journals, magazines and a broad range of publicity materials. Supports senior editorial staff with the administration of the commissioning, planning and production.

Other options

Although some graduates go on to work in religious ministry, there is a wide range of other career options available to theology and religious studies graduates. Research the career area you are interested in thoroughly. Some careers, for example, teaching or journalism, will require further vocational or professional training. For careers in areas such as marketing or human resources, it may be useful to take a postgraduate course to develop specific skills and knowledge.

It is important to get relevant work experience to boost your employability prospects. Talk to professionals in the field you are interested in and consider work placements, paid evening/weekend work, voluntary work or work shadowing. This experience shows employers that you are committed and also helps you decide on whether a particular career is right for you.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.