Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities

Career Paths

Graduates from our Department leave our programmes able to solve problems, analyse complex situations, and bring different perspectives.

Studying our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees builds flexibility, allowing our graduates to adapt to a variety of industries and careers. Meet some of our graduates and get to know their career journeys below.

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Got questions about studying in our Department? Get in touch with us today.

interhums@kcl.ac.uk

Megha Harish, BA Liberal Arts

'I majored in politics and took a minor in History. I also took modules in comparative literature, language, and theology alongside the Liberal Arts core modules. The best mark I received throughout my degree was for my first (and only) theology module in my final year. Liberal Arts gave me the opportunity to take risks and try new things – both academically, and through the internship module, Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and collaborations with other liberal arts departments across Europe. 

I found that I kept finding ways to write about South Asian politics, history, and culture in my essays, across disciplines. So, after the BA I did an interdisciplinary MPhil in South Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge, where I worked on a collective biography of Indian women scientists of the 20th century. Two degrees later, I’m still really proud not to belong firmly to one academic school or discipline.

After finishing my MPhil, I taught European History at a Cambridge summer school and then moved back to India and began working full time with a global non-profit called Common Purpose.

I run a free online leadership development course for young people. The learning curve has been incredibly steep. I’ve had to figure out how to crowd-source information, collate data, put together a curriculum, manage stakeholders, secure sponsorship, plan and run events, manage people, be managed, and a whole load of stuff about Search Engine Optimization and Google algorithms. I get asked a lot how my degree is contributing to my work, and blessedly, I don’t even have to hedge the question. The BA in Liberal Arts taught me how to learn new and varied things both quickly and deeply. Three years of jumping into modules with single-honours students, doing liberal arts core modules, and making independent decisions within the degree has made me better at grasping new things, communicating them to different groups of people, and being comfortable with my unconventional role.'

Kitti Horvath, BA Liberal Arts

'I am currently a Researcher at Lightyear, a fintech start-up creating a user-friendly platform that makes investing accessible to everyone. In my role, I plan, conduct, and report on market and user research to inform our product strategy and roadmap.

My career journey began with a BA in Liberal Arts at King’s College London, where I initially considered majoring in History with a potential path towards Law. However, the versatility of the Liberal Arts programme allowed me to explore various disciplines, leading me to discover Digital Culture, which became my major.

During this time I had the opportunity to study under Dr Elisa Oreglia, who introduced me to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). HCI seamlessly combined my interests in psychology and computer science, prompting me to pursue an MSc in HCI at UCL. Since then, I have remained in the HCI field. I began my professional career at IBM as a User Researcher and later transitioned to the thrilling world of start-ups via Lightyear.

In terms of skills gained from my degree, the rigorous training in essay writing helped me develop a structured approach to research and argumentation, which has been invaluable. I also acquired a foundational quantitative skillset through studying Game Theory, which introduced me to strategic modelling and decision-making processes. I learnt the basics of Python and data analysis, which were essential in my pivot towards pursuing an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction.

What I loved most about studying Liberal Arts at King’s was the incredible freedom it gave me to explore a variety of fields and interests. Many young people feel pressured to decide on their careers too early, while my course allowed me to experiment and find my path at my own pace. The flexibility was invaluable, and it ultimately led me to a career that I love and excel in.

Some of my lecturers offered great career guidance. Dr George Legg helped me navigate the course and it's challenges, while Dr Oreglia introduced me to HCI and allowed me to audit her MSc-level module, which was pivotal for my career. Their guidance and mentorship during my MSc application were crucial, and I am deeply grateful for their support.

A piece of advice I have for current students is that the Liberal Arts degree provides a solid foundation and a broad perspective, but it may not fully prepare you for a specific career. In your first year, focus on choosing modules that genuinely interest you, even if their direct career benefits aren’t immediately clear. View it as a stepping stone that will guide you toward a more specialized field. Embrace the opportunity to explore different subjects and discover what truly drives you. This exploration will help you find your passion and ultimately lead you to a career you love.'

Emmanuelle Dot, BA Liberal Arts

'Currently I am a Climate and Sustainability Manager at UK Export Finance, the UK Government's Export Credit Agency. Right after graduation, I joined an environmental alliance lobbying the UK on its net zero policies, and eventually joined the civil service to continue my work on climate change.

As a Liberal Arts student, I worked with a wide variety of students and lecturers, all with different interests, experiences and expertise. This helped me navigate different stakeholders and policy areas once I started my career in the climate space, especially with a Major in Politics.

I really enjoyed dipping my toe into different disciplines and getting to minor in Film Studies, where I could delve into film history and film forms with incredibly knowledgeable and passionate lecturers on a weekly basis.

King’s offered many career support sessions, including CV preparation and interview support. Some of my lecturers and tutors also were able to give me targeted advice and provide strong references for my future employers.

Studying Liberal Arts gave me a unique insight into various academic disciplines and the value of bringing in different perspectives to the fore. In my civil service roles, I have constantly been asked to juggle different policy areas and competing priorities – something that I’ve found easier to handle thanks to my interdisciplinary background.

I would recommend having an open mind in the first year, trying different modules and engaging with different students and experts, and specialising in the following years. Make the most of the passion that those around you will have for different disciplines and soak it all up!'

Rebecca Gwyther, BA Liberal Arts

'I run a theatre production company called RJG Productions, which produces new writing in the UK and internationally. I incorporated the company before starting King’s and took an interval from producing immediately after graduating in 2019, when I trained to be a Chartered Accountant at a City firm; I qualified in 2022 and stayed part-time before returning to my own company full-time in early 2023.

The main skills I learnt during my time at King’s were cross-disciplinary thinking and how to create structured, persuasive and well-researched essays and presentations. In particular, the cross-disciplinary skills helped broaden the projects that I looked at, with more crossover into film and spoken word. Being able to make connections between different areas of study and engage with my peers in friendly debate has opened my thinking, encouraging deeper listening and engagement in more subjects, which is essential for understanding what artists require in a production and what they would like to achieve. Meanwhile, having to research and present work in a variety of formats (essays, presentations, class debates) has given me the skill of succinctly and eloquently discussing my opinions and findings. This has been endlessly beneficial, helping me talk to clients, investors and members of the public.

What I loved most about Liberal Arts was the smorgasbord of modules you can choose from. Having studied a wide variety of A-Levels, I knew that I didn’t want to focus on one subject just yet. Through Philosophy & Physics (one of my favourite modules) I satisfied my Maths and Physics brain, while still taking Music, Political Literature and Performance modules that had a more direct link to my work. The Liberal Arts core modules do a fantastic job at bringing together everything you have learnt.

Having tutors who have a cross-disciplinary focus and majors in different fields was essential in feeling supported while studying and in helping to refine my CV to help employers understand the benefits of Liberal Arts. We had multiple alumni talks and career days, which broadened career ideas – sometimes you don’t know the job that you want even exists! The support and encouragement the course offered also allowed me to continue producing professionally throughout my degree, which would not have been possible without the incredible tutors.

When starting the Liberal Arts course in 2016, I didn’t expect it to shape the work that I produced so significantly. Few careers require you to have a specialised degree, but we are asking young people to decide what they want to do earlier and earlier. By having the opportunity to try different subjects, my studies helped me understand what I look for in a career – variety, autonomy and challenges. This has shaped my career choices more than any specific subject and made me unafraid to take the leap into a new field or take on new projects.

My advice to anyone considering a Liberal Arts degree is to take a leap with a subject that is unknown or scares you a little. I felt out of my depth in some modules where I sat next to people who had been focusing on that field for years, but you never know what will pique your interest and what will be your best mark. I would also take full advantage of being in London – it’s amazing how quickly time for exploring gets eaten up!'

Liberal Arts graduate directs award-winning film

Reuben Hamlyn studied Liberal Arts at King's and is now a film director. His movie Another Body, which explores how deep-fake technology is used against women, premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival and won the Special Jury Award for a Documentary.

'At school, studying wasn’t much fun,' said Reuben. 'King’s changed that. It was the first time I felt excited to be learning and researching. I retain that excitement today.’