Graduate Destinations
How does a degree in History of Art & Archaeology help with my career?
The Department of the History of Art and Archaeology at SOAS enables students to follow either an arts related career or a more general graduate job. With a degree in the History of Art and Archaeology, graduates have the foundations to work in a range of arts-related jobs such as galleries, museums, archives, conservation, publishing, arts administration, and heritage management. SOAS is often targeted by auction houses and galleries looking for graduates with specialist knowledge of African and Asian art. Our programmes contain modules with a number of practical and vocational elements, including an introduction to the creative and cultural industries and experience of curating and heritage management.
A degree from the Department of the History of Art and Archaeology provides students with a number of transferable skills that can be applied to other types of professions. These include: research skills; written and oral communication skills; visual awareness; and specialist subject knowledge of Asian and African art. Former History of Art and Archaeology students have gone on to employment in a range of professional roles in business and public sectors, as well as continuing in the field of research either at SOAS or other institutions.
What do Graduates do?
- SOAS Graduate Careers Case Studies from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Options with your History of Art or Archaeology degree
- What London Graduates do
Destinations of 2017 Graduates: Undergraduates
All undergraduate students are contacted 6 months after graduation to find out what they are doing - working, studying or something else, such as travelling.
Example employers include:
- BPCM
- Christie’s
- Christine Park Gallery
- Di Moji
- Hydrogen
- Japanese Gallery
- KUONI Global Travel Services
- Nanjing Museum
- Protein
- Somerset House Trust
Example occupations include:
- Associate
- Auction Administrator
- Fashion Designer
- Freelance Journalist
- Freelance Media Analyst
- Gallery Assistant
- Junior Project Manager
- Museum Volunteer
- Project Co-Ordinator
- Public Relations (PR) Assistant
Destination of 2017 Graduates: Postgraduates
All postgraduate students are contacted 6 months after graduation to find out what they are doing - working, studying or something else, such as travelling.
Example employers include:
- Annely Juda Fine Art
- Beijing Huachen Auctions Co., Ltd
- Bonhams
- Contini Art UK
- Heritage Transport Museum
- Marmi Granigi Eraclit
- Qatar National Library (QNL)
- Rossi & Rossi
- Sotheby's
- Tradigital Stuttgart GmbH
Example occupations include:
- Academic Researcher
- Art Gallery Intern
- Assistant Manager
- Commercial Executive
- Data Manager
- Exhibition Assistant
- Head of Sale
- Programme Co-Ordinator
- Research Co-Ordinator for Islamic Manuscript Association
- Self-Employed Principal (Arts Consulting)
Destination of 2015 Graduates: Further Study
Examples of further study institutions:
- Christie's Education
- Courtauld Institute of Art
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- SOAS University of London
- Tokyo University of the Arts
- University of Adelaide
- University of Chicago
- University of Oxford
- Warburg Institute
- Wesleyan University
Examples of further study courses:
- DPhil Archaeology
- Japanese Art History
- MA Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- MA Fashion Journalism
- MA Global Arts
- MA History of Design
- PhD Islamic Architecture
- PhD Art History
Job Profiles and Careers Information
- SOAS Careers Moodle – Careers by Sector, including Archaeology, Art History, Arts Management, Museums and Galleries
- SOAS Careers Service – events, workshops, guidance, and more.
- Occupational profiles and information on Postgraduate Study at Prospects
- Sector and careers information at Careers Tagged