Undergraduate Courses » Careers
Graduates of the School of World Religions and Theology pursue as wide a variety of careers as other arts graduates. Many of our students enter the world of work immediately after attaining their degree. A recent survey conducted by the Careers Advisory Service (CAS) demonstrates that Trinity College arts graduates are much sought after by employers in every area of the professions, business, and industry. Some of our best students go on to do postgraduate study and can be found teaching in prestigious universities all over the world. For everyone the attainment of an arts degree opens many doors that were previously closed.
Career Options taken by graduates of our School:
The following list represents the wide variety of careers that recent graduates from the School of World Religions and Theology have entered, and it shows how positively employers regard the education that their arts degree courses have given them.
Careers in IT
- Software Engineer, The Foundry
- Software Engineer, SD
- Pyrotechnicist
Entry often requires a one- or two-year post-graduate course.
Careers in Law
- Solicitor
- Barrister-at-Law
Entry for solicitor requires the Law Society's entrance exams (FE1, for which a postgraduate course is not required but may be advisable), an Irish exam and to have secured a Training Contract. To qualify as a solicitor two more years of training is required.
Entry for barrister requires a two-year part-time course for a diploma in Legal Studies and a one-year course for the degree, followed by one year devilling, all at King's Inns.
Careers in publishing, journalism and media
- Administrative assistant, In Europe Publishing
- Editorial/publicity Assistant, Callaway Editions
- Literary Assistant, Vines Agency
- Assistant Editor/ Publications Coordinator, Veritas Publishing
- Desk Editor, Carroll Heinemann
- Freelance Editor
- Production, BBC TV
- Production, Videotext Productions
- Photographer
- Theatre Manager, London
Careers in business
- Bank employee
- Accountants
- Company director, USA. (This graduate of our School so impressed his American company that they paid for him to take an MBA).
Graduates often enter jobs directly with no further study, since some employers prefer to provide their own training. Some graduates use their degree to pursue a postgraduate course in business or accountancy.
Careers in education
- Religion Teachers (Second Level).
Entry requires a one-year postgraduate course to attain an H.Dip.Education.
- Education Resource Specialist (USA)
- Tutor, The Shanty Educational Project
- Administrator, The Shanty Educational Project
Careers in higher education, librarianship, museums, etc.
For graduates who proceed to acquire a master's degree or a Ph.D.:
- Museum Curator, Sharjah, UAE.
- Self-employed Archaeologist and Conservation Consultant
- Underwater Archaeology Unit, Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Islands
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Islands
- Site Assistant, Field Archaeology
- Lecturer in Islamic Art
- Lecturer in Theology, USA
- Faculty Librarian, TCD
- Assistant Librarian, Trinity College
- Assistant Librarian, Institute of Technology, Tallaght
- Assistant Librarian, Oireachtas Eireann
Jobs that do not require a postgraduate qualification include:
- Tour Guide, Chester Beatty Library
- Tour Guide, Kilmainham Gaol
For further information contact Trinity's Careers Advisory Service.
Spotlight on some recent graduates:
Jenny Bourke is currently studying Public Relations and is hoping to work in the charity sector or in public affairs. After completing her undergraduate degree, she went on to study an M.Phil. in International Peace Studies. This confirmed her desire to work in an area that allows her to continue to engage with these important issues.
Pamela Crehan studied at the King's Inns, and is now a succesful practiscing barrister.
Helena Keleher is a civil servant in the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.
Alison Kelly works as Project Supervisor in the Sharjah Museum in the UAE. She previously worked as Curator in World Religions for Glasgow Museums, based at the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.
Paddy Mc Donald is a film producer. After working in the film business for nearly five years, he produced his first feature film, The Mighty Celt, written and directed by Pearse Elliott and starring Robert Carlyle and Gillian Anderson. The film had its world premiere in Dublin in 2005 was very well received. He has followed this success with his most recent offering, the shock-horror flick, Shrooms which was released in the winter of 2007.
John Stanley is currently working as a legal researcher in the Irish Refugee Documentation Centre. From autumn he will be working as a barrister.
Richard Tighe works as a teacher of Religious Education & English in Scoil Íosa Community School in Malahide, where he was actively involved in the introduction of the Junior & Leaving Certificate courses in religious studies to the school.
Máire Uí Bhroin is just completing a year in NUI Galway in Higher Diploma in Education (in Gaelic).
Bryan Whelan is currently studying for a master's degree in European Studies at University College, Dublin.
For more information on how to keep in contact with other graduates from our school see this website which is maintained by alumni (external link).
Contact: jwelch@tcd.ie | Last updated: Nov 16 2012 | Back to top