is anthropology worth it?

Is having an anthropology degree worth it???
Even if the course is interesting and it is something I am interested in, would it be worth getting the degree?
What are the prospects with that degree like after uni, has it ever become needed or useful having that degree, what realistic jobs could I get with this degree??
im not sure, any insight or advice would be great thanks :smile:

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Same jobs as anyone else applying to generalist grad schemes, which is most of them. Most grad schemes don't care what your degree is in. You could apply to roles in the civil service, the media, accounting, investment banking or management consulting (if you went to a target uni), various business and management related positions, roles in NGOs and charities, etc, etc.

Real world work isn't like school. What you study really has little bearing on anything once you leave uni. It won't even make a difference in terms of income, as research has shown that STEM and non-STEM graduates have equivalent careers and income within 10 years of graduating: https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/report/The_employment_trajectories_of_Science_Technology_Engineering_and_Mathematics_graduates/10234421

You can do a degree in anthropology, marine biology, philosophy, Egyptology, molecular physics, and statistically you're going to be doing the same kind of job on the same kind of salary. It literally doesn't matter. So pick somethign you find interesting and intellectually stimulating and aim for the best course for it. That way when 10 years down the line you are spending 8 hours a day staring at excel spreadsheets and sitting in teams meetings telling your subordinates "we really need to drill down on this issue", at least you had one period of doing something that mattered to you during your degree.