A phrase I first heard

during my freshers

week has stayed with

me throughout my

career, “Everyone else

is trained but Arts

students are educated.”

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

Philosophy

Sociology

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BA (Hons)

Philosophy &

Sociology

MA in

Sociology

Law Society Professional

Practice Course (PPC 1&2)

Cian MoriartyBA HONS, MA, SOLICITOR

My path to Arts was typical. I left school at 17 unsure what

I would do with my life. I knew however that I was curious

about everything and I wanted to think for myself. The

choice of topics within the Arts programme was astounding.

I selected topics based solely on my own interests. In second

year these topics split into multiple modules and again I

allowed my passions to guide my choice. The nature of the

Arts programme means that no two graduates are the same.

Their accumulated knowledge is unique and personalised

while still buttressed by the essential foundations of critical

thinking, logic and argument. I qualified as a solicitor after

graduating and I can say with certainty that I am the only

solicitor in Ireland with my specific academic background.

I feel this gives me an edge in every facet of my job from

problem-solving and questioning to comprehending

complex scenarios quickly. A phrase I first heard during my

freshers week has stayed with me throughout my career,

“Everyone else is trained but Arts students are educated”.

If you learn to think you can succeed anywhere.

“ In 2013 I became the

youngest art gallery

Director in Queensland,

Australia and there

is no doubt that I

would not have gained

a position of such

responsibility so young

without my education.”

Nicola HollyGALLERY DIRECTOR, STANTHORPE REGIONAL

ART GALLERY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

It has been said to me on several occasions by prospective

employers that my education was what impressed them

most on my CV. I completed a BA in English and History of

Art in 2008 in UCC and enjoyed the experience so much

that I remained with the arts faculty to gain a Masters in

Modern and Contemporary Art. I found my lecturers to be

incredibly encouraging and accessible throughout my time

at UCC. I felt they believed in me and constantly inspired

me to push myself with my research. In 2013 I became the

youngest art gallery Director in Queensland, Australia and

there is no doubt that I would not have gained a position

of such responsibility so young without my education.

Working in the arts is dynamic, interesting and thoroughly

entertaining. Although it’s a cliché, no two days are

the same, especially when dealing with artists! I would

encourage anyone interested in the arts to follow their

dreams and take up a humanities degree at UCC.

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

English

History of Art

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BA (Hons)

English &

History of Art

Masters in

Modern and

Contemporary

Art

Gallery Director,

Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery,

Queensland, Australia

Kevin BamburyCO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF PORTABLE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY LTD.

A key requirement of my role as Co-Founder and

Director of Portable Medical Technology Ltd. is to

communicate our company’s accomplishments and

vision with potential customers, investors and partners.

We are at the intersection of mobile technology,

healthcare and medical device regulation. We are in a

complex ever-changing industry where comprehension

and communication skills are key requirements.

My BA in English and Geography has given me the

ability to understand complex topics and to easily

communicate to various stakeholders. Whether it is via

an oral presentation, written documents or emails, I

always feel like I am well equipped to communicate our

business to existing or potential stakeholders. The ability

to understand and articulate changes in our industry is

key to the ongoing success of our business.

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

English Geography

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BA in

English and

Geography

Co-Founder and Director

of Portable Medical

Technology Ltd.

“ The ability to

understand and

articulate changes

in our industry is

key to the ongoing

success of our

business.”

“ The rigorous intellectual

training I got in UCC in

terms of research, analysing

evidence, challenging

orthodoxies and learning

from the past, has been

of the greatest benefit to

me as a Planner and as

an activist in developing

successful strategies for

social change.”

Kieran RoseSENIOR PLANNER

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL

I studied History and Geography in UCC.

I particularly liked courses on the history of

economic thought and the theory of science.

I enjoyed my time in UCC hugely. I became

Auditor of the Historical Society and was a

founder member of Eco-Action. I later went on

to UCD to do a post-graduate qualification in

planning and have worked as a Planner ever

since. The rigorous intellectual training I got in

UCC in terms of research, analysing evidence,

challenging orthodoxies and learning from the

past, has been of the greatest benefit to me

as a Planner and as an activist in developing

successful strategies for social change.

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

Geography History

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BA

Geography

& History

Postgraduate

Diploma in

Town Planning

Senior Planner,

Dublin City Council

Commissioner of the

Irish Human Rights and

Equality Commission

“ Studying Archaeology

at UCC allowed me to

experience so many

aspects and elements

of the subject that I was

unaware of, and it was

here that I discovered

my passion for the built

heritage”

Mona HallinanCONSERVATION OFFICER CORK COUNTY COUNCIL

I am very fortunate that from a young age I knew

that I wanted to be an Archaeologist. On completing

my Leaving Cert, I studied Archaeology and History

as part of my Arts Degree. In 2003/04 I went on

to do my Masters in ‘The Archaeology of Medieval

and Post-Medieval Buildings’, at UCC. In my current

position as Conservation Officer with Cork County

Council, I am responsible for buildings included

in the Record of Protected Structures and those

located in Architectural Conservation Areas. My

work is very varied and includes Planning Policy

and Development Management relating to the

architectural heritage of the county.

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

Archaeology History

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BAArchaeology

& History

MAArchaeology

Conservation Officer with Cork County Council

“ I constantly draw

upon knowledge and

skills attained during

my undergraduate

courses in Geography

and English.”

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

GeographyEnglish

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BA (Hons) Geography &

English

MA in Film Studies

PhD candidate in Film Studies

Nicholas O’RiordanPhD FILM STUDIES CANDIDATE/FILMMAKER

I’ve always been in love with the arts, with my teenage

years spent engaging in theatre, music and film. However,

I wanted to ground this practical experience in something

more. Choosing Arts in UCC naturally allowed me to

focus on areas that interested me, while also teaching

me about the cultures and societies that created them.

Choosing to focus much of my studies around film, my

academic interests naturally led me toward an MA in

Film Studies, and then on to my current studies as a

PhD candidate in Film Studies. With my PhD research

related directly to film, I constantly draw upon knowledge

and skills attained during my undergraduate courses in

Geography and English. I find that my years in UCC have

allowed me to explore this rich academic field, whilst

also continuing my practical endeavours, with my college

work constantly informing my filmmaking.

“ I have been involved in

many record breaking

auctions, the last one

being where a Van

Gogh painting was sold

for 60 million dollars.

All this has been

facilitated by my time

studying in UCC.”

Nicola DoodyCLIENT SERVICES EXECUTIVE, SOTHEBY’S AUCTION HOUSE, NEW YORK

As far back as I can remember I always wanted to study

history of art and dreamed of working with art on some

level. On completing my Leaving Cert, I chose to study

Archaeology and History of Art in UCC and then went on

to major in History of Art. I adored the course content and

the organised trips away weren’t too bad either! I then

went on to do a Masters in Management and Marketing

in UCC, which also included a marketing internship in

Ballymaloe. I currently live in New York City on a graduate

visa working for Sotheby’s Auction House. In my current

position I work in the client services department and deal

with clients on a daily basis buying and selling art. It is

an amazing place to work and it’s like working in a living,

breathing museum. I have been involved in many record

breaking auctions, the last one being where a Van Gogh

painting was sold for 60 million dollars. All this has been

facilitated by my time studying in UCC.

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

History of Art

Archaeology

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BA (Hons)

History of Art &

Archaeology

Masters in

Management

& Marketing

(UCC)

Client Services Executive,

Sotheby’s Auction House,

New York

“ My undergrad experience

was thoroughly worthwhile;

while I got to delve further

into particular areas of

interest as the degree

progressed, I also realise,

in retrospect, that I was

acquiring many skills which

have prepared me for the

position I’m in today.”

Sinead MurphyEDITORIAL ASSISTANT FOR ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD INTERNATIONAL, LONDON

I completed my joint BA in English and Philosophy at

UCC in 2009; where I then furthered my studies with the

MA in English Modernities. My undergrad experience was

thoroughly worthwhile; while I got to delve further into

particular areas of interest as the degree progressed,

I also realise, in retrospect, that I was acquiring many

skills which have prepared me for the position I’m in

today. I now work as an Editorial Assistant for Rowman &

Littlefield International - an academic publisher in London.

We publish monographs and edited collections in the

Social Sciences - including Philosophy! I’m fortunate that

I find myself in a role where my academic background

enhances my ability to do my job. The bonus for me is

that I get to keep up to date with current research in the

Social Sciences and haven’t had to completely sever ties

with these areas of interest.

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

English Philosophy

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

BA

English

& Philosophy

Masters

English

(Modernities)

Editorial Assistant for

Rowman & Littlefield

International, London

BA

Masters in Journalism

Samantha Barry Editor-in-Chief, Glamour magazine

It’s a brave new world and Samantha Barry, a native of Cork, is at the forefront of it. After she graduated with an Arts degree (English and Psychology) from UCC in 2002, she went on to do an MA in Journalism at Dublin City University and from that she got a job at RTÉ. Following a stint as lunchtime reporter at Newstalk radio, Samantha went to South America and while there she got what she describes as a “very offbeat opportunity” to go to Papua New Guinea with ABC to train young reporters. She spent some time working in Pakistan before going to London to work at BBC World News and BBC Media Action.

She was headhunted from BBC World News in London to run CNN’s growing social media division. She interviewed Donald Trump in a toilet in Miami, spoke to Hillary Clinton backstage and talked to Bernie Sanders and every other candidate in the recently-held US presidential election. Samantha has recently been appointed as Editor-in-Chief of Glamour magazine.

Samantha loved the classes in UCC: “I remember one of my favourite classes in English looked at how Shakespeare had influenced movies of the time. I adored going in there.”

“Studying Arts in UCC helped me hone my skills and gave me confidence in journalism and made me feel that I could do this. It really started me on the path to working at the BBC.”

“ UCC gave me an opportunity to put my hand up. I wrote for the University Examiner. I did three radio shows on the university radio. I just put my hand up and tried stuff.”

YOUR CAREER WITH

AN ARTS DEGREE

JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

Chosen Subjects

English Psychology

Editor-in-Chief, Glamour magazine