Working life in focus

You've earned your degree and you’re ready to start your career. But where do you end up?

Most Humanities alumni with a master’s degree find their first job in government or semi-government (21%), education (16%) or research (8%), or in the arts and culture (6%), communication and marketing (5%) or media and journalism (5%) sectors. The sector alumni enter most often varies by programme. For example, education is the main sector for alumni of European Languages and Literature (43%) and Classics and Ancient Studies (46%). Alumni of Philosophy (22%), History and Urban Studies (25%), International Relations (44%), Area Studies (21%) and Linguistics (24%) most often end up in (semi) government roles. Graduates with a degree in Arts and Culture Studies (40%) most frequently find work in the arts and culture sector, while those with a degree in Media Studies (43%) most often work in media and journalism.

Graduates who entered the job market directly after their bachelor’s degree found their first job more often in (semi) government (13%) and education (12%), but also in wholesale and retail (8%), financial services (8%) and IT services (6%).

Daily tasks

In their first job, master's alumni mainly work in policy development, education, research and development, administration and accountancy, or communication.

The main task in the first job varies by educational background. Teaching is most often cited as the primary task by alumni of European Languages and Literature (31%), Arts and Culture Studies (13%), Classics and Ancient Studies (35%) and Linguistics (15%). For alumni of Philosophy (16%), History (12%) and International Studies (29%) policy advising is more often their main task. Media Studies graduates (35%) are more often involved in writing and editing. Alumni of Area Studies (12%) more frequently perform administrative and accounting tasks in their first job.

Looking at the level of the first job, we also see significant differences in tasks. In jobs at academic level, policy advising (23%) is relatively often the main task, followed by research and development (19%). In jobs at higher professional (Dutch hbo)/academic level, writing and editing (13%) is the most frequently mentioned main task. Alumni in jobs at higher professional level are more often involved in administration and accounting (19%) and communication (11%). In jobs requiring a lower level of education, administration and accounting (20%) and sales (20%) are more common tasks.

Career development

After more than two years of work experience *, 87% of master’s alumni hold a job at higher professional or academic level. For bachelor’s alumni, this is 76%. Of the master’s alumni with a paid job, 84% are employed by an organisation – of these, 59% have a permanent contract and 29% have prospects of a permanent position. 9% work as temporary staff, 3% are self-employed and 3% are seconded.

Even after gaining some work experience, (semi) government (23%), education (15%) and research (10%) remain the sectors where most Humanities alumni are employed. Compared to their first job, slightly more alumni work in government and research after more than two years of experience*.

In their current role, alumni cite advising (32%), writing and editing (28%), research (26%) and informing, educating and communicating (25%) as their main tasks.

Salary of a Humanities graduate

On average, alumni earn €3,091 gross per month in their first job based on full-time employment. After more than two years of work experience, this salary increases to an average of €3,616. The higher the required education level for the job and the more years of experience, the higher the salary.
 Salaries are generally higher in the non-profit sector – often (semi) government –than in the for-profit sector.