Innovation in the Humanities: A graduate degree sets you apart from the crowd

14 May 2018

“Throughout history, the arts and humanities have helped men and women around the globe grapple with the most challenging questions and come to know the most basic truths.” – Barack Obama

With rising tuition costs shackling students across the globe, the value of postgraduate education often comes under fire. Will a Master’s really instil more professional, specialist knowledge? Will my Master’s be respected and recognised worldwide? Are my prospects really going to get better after graduation? Rest assured the answer to every question is a big, resounding ‘yes’.

A growing number of students feel Bachelor-level education is no longer enough. With horror tales of zero-hour contracts, oversubscribed positions and being told they’re ‘overqualified’, it’s hardly a shock that undergraduates are slowly losing heart. Well batten down the hatches because we’ve got news for you: employers LOVE undergraduates, and you can get that job. But the best way to elevate your prospects is to pursue an additional postgraduate degree.

“We value postgraduates because they bring a high level of academic ability, strategic thinking, leadership and a global perspective,” says Chris MacRae, head of talent management at pharmaceuticals juggernaut, GlaxoSmithKline.

“We employ a large number of postgraduates each year, many through our Espirit Programme, which is specifically tailored to nurturing postgraduate talent,” she adds. “They enter senior leadership positions in all areas of our business, including consumer healthcare, pharmaceuticals, sales, marketing, finance and R&D.”

According to a previous CareerBuilder survey, 32 percent of employers are bumping up education prerequisites when it comes to new hires. On top of this, 27 percent are enlisting candidates who are readily-equipped with a Master’s degree, even if they formerly listed Bachelor qualifications.

The response from more than 2,300 hiring and human resources managers across a range of private sector industries revealed requirements have been boosted across all company levels. In fact, 61 percent of graduate employers seek ‘more educated’ candidates at the mid-skill level, 46 percent prefer better-educated candidates for entry-level positions, while 43 percent think the same for more powerful company roles.

If you’re looking to expand your prospects through postgraduate education, these premier universities provide degrees that set you apart from the crowd.

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES (SoH), NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (NTU) – SINGAPORE

One of the most dynamic universities in the world, NTU offers numerous opportunities for bold and innovative approaches to humanities research. The top ranked university in Asia and 11^th in the world, NTU provides students with a solid grounding in both theory and practice, adheres to exacting academic standards, and has attracted top talent from around the world.

The School of Humanities at NTU is a dynamic hub of research excellence in the core disciplines of Literature, Linguistics, History, Philosophy, and China Studies. Boasting comprehensive expertise in the humanities and offering a range of postgraduate study options, the School of Humanities at NTU seeks to empower students to reach their maximum potential. You will be challenged to conduct rigorous independent research, supported by one-to-one tutorials with professors who are world leaders in their field and a vibrant community of like-minded scholars.

The School of Humanities at NTU promotes transformative interdisciplinary research and education programmes. Research clusters include: Green Humanities; Medical Humanities; Digital Humanities; Interlingual and Intercultural Studies; Southeast Asian Studies; Gender Studies. NTU’s new Institute of Science and Technology for Humanity harnesses research in the humanities to critically examine the impact of technology on society and the human condition.

Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, the university is a global innovation hub of culture, knowledge, and learning. “Singapore is a true melting pot of both Eastern and Western cultures,” says Matthew Samson, SoH international student from Australia. “Whilst here, you have the opportunity to explore traditional cultures in a safe environment. At NTU you will be part of a vibrant, diverse and inclusive research community.”

The School of Humanities at NTU is the institution of choice for bright and imaginative scholars who challenge tradition and offer exciting new visions of the future.

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF BATH – UK

Located in one of southwest England’s most picturesque cities, the University of Bath is home to 15,000 students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Granted official university status in 1966, Bath has undoubtedly established a reputation for excellence in the higher education realm.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences explores current beliefs, values, environments, and experiences of the modern world. Through the subjects of Economics, Education, Health, International Development, Politics, Languages and International Relations, Psychology, Social and Policy Sciences, Bath’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is helping students unravel their role in a fast-evolving world.

Ingrained within the faculty’s reputed knowledge culture, postgraduate study options at Bath’s Graduate School adhere to world-leading standards. “When you join our Graduate School you will be welcomed into a diverse academic community,” the faculty explains. “We will ensure that your time with us exposes you to, and gives you the opportunity to contribute to, the breadth and richness of our socially significant work.”

Research at the school explores a range of themes, including conflict and security; environment and sustainability; poverty and social justice; childhood and youth; health and wellbeing; and technology and the knowledge economy. Such diversity highlights the depth of meaningful, relevant research activity coming from the faculty.

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES, CURTIN UNIVERSITY – AUSTRALIA

Hailed as Western Australia’s largest and most culturally diverse institution, Curtin University boasts a student population of more than 58,000. With campuses in Malaysia and Singapore plus face-to-face teaching in a number of other countries, Curtin has a strong commitment to international engagement and collaboration.

Curtin’s Faculty of Humanities has both a local and global feel, offering degrees that are applied, creative and relevant to the contemporary world. Committed to producing graduates who are career ready, many of Curtin’s humanities programmes are supported by professional accreditation. Some of these programmes are offered in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Vietnam.

Ranked within the top one percent of universities worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017, Curtin’s reputation for excellence is reflected in its rapid growth. On top of this, the institution placed fifth in Australia and 22^ndglobally by the QSWUR Top 50 under 50, highlighting its success in providing an innovative learning environment with a resounding global outlook.

Here, students approach research and projects with an inherently digital approach, providing the tools and support needed to address complex contemporary questions. The university offers a flexible learning approach, striving to acknowledge and meet students’ personal needs. From education to architecture, from graphic design to professional writing, learners here go on to make a marked impact on the world.

HUMANITIES DIVISION, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ (UC SANTA CRUZ) – USA

UC Santa Cruz is like no other public school on the Californian scene, blending the intimacy of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research institution.

What does it mean to be human; to analyse and construct the human experience? These are the fundamental questions that unite the learning, teaching and scholarship conducted within UC Santa Cruz’s Humanities Division. The exploration and discussion of this query has resulted in some of the most widely valued beliefs and teachings about our species and the world we live in.

The division plays host to some of the university’s most respected departments and programmes. From linguistics to feminist studies; history to literature; consciousness to writing; languages to philosophy and beyond, the division serves as a platform for those with a desire to decode the world.

“Our world-class faculty and facilities and our creative scholarly community put us at the forefront of new developments in graduate research and teaching,” says Tyrus Miller, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies at UC Santa Cruz. “In each of the existing and emerging disciplines that our programs represent, our students flourish in leading-edge research environments, enjoying close, productive contact with faculty mentors and a supportive community of graduate peers.”

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International