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The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
Enhancing employability
We aim to enhance your student experience and accelerate your career prospects
You will gain much more than an academic qualification when you graduate from the School of Politics & International Relations. In today’s jobs market, employers are increasingly demanding more from new employees. From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace. Our degrees provide you not only with specific subject training but also with key transferable skills.
Employers respect our innovative and interactive research-led teaching methods, as well as the outstanding international learning experience we offer our students. This is reflected in recent statistics that have shown:
- 70 percent of Kent Politics students were employed in graduate level jobs within 6 months of graduating in 2010
- 81 percent of Kent Politics students found employment or went onto further study within 6 months of graduating in 2010
- 62 percent of Kent Politics students graduated with a 1st or 2:1 in 2010
- As a result we are currently ranked 11th in the UK for Politics graduating students' employment prospects – (Guardian 2012)
- Finally for the University as a whole: Kent is consistently in the top 20 of graduate starting salaries and, six months after graduation in 2010, only 5 percent of Kent graduates were without a job or a further study opportunity.
From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace.
There are also many opportunities across the University, to develop new skills and gain experience that will strengthen your CV and benefit you when you're looking for jobs. The University’s employability webpages provide links to sites, for advice and opportunities to gain transferable skills. The University has also recently launched a new student email newsletter featuring new employability initiatives, the newsletters can be viewed here.
Our Graduates in Demand
Our graduates have gone onto a diverse range of positions, including:
- Parliamentary Political Officer – League Against Cruel Sports
- Energy Consultant/Analyst
- Assistant to Member of European Parliament
- Project Support Officer – Civil Service
- BBC North America correspondent
- International Projects Director – Language School
- Stockbroker
- Director – Housing Service
- British Consul-General, Australia
- Cabernet Office (UK)
- Foreign Office (UK, Barbados, Ethiopia, Slovenia)
Supportive Learning Environment
Whatever your chosen career path, or even if you are still unsure, you will have the continued support of professional careers staff and support team who will ensure you are equipped with the academic excellence and the finest skill set to enjoy success.
Academic Peer Mentoring Scheme
The School also runs an Academic Peer Mentoring Scheme, where final year undergraduates have the chance to mentor Stage I students. This gives final year students a wonderful opportunity to develop a number of skills such as management, leadership, teaching & support. It also gives Stage I students the opportunity to ‘learn to learn’, outside of the confines of the traditional teaching environment.
Employability Points Scheme
The University runs an Employability Points scheme, which rewards students for active engagement in extracurricular activities during their time at the University of Kent, encouraging students to stand out to respective employers in the process.
With over 80 students applying for each graduate job in 2011, it is more important than ever for students to develop and showcase their wide range of skills to employers. On the Employability Points scheme, students are awarded points for engaging in extracurricular activities, depending on level of engagement and commitment. The points lead to prizes ranging from vouchers and corporate activities to work experience, training, and internships. All rewards are carefully selected based on their ability to incentivise students to reflect on their experience and develop themselves, so not only are students enhancing their skills through the activities, but the rewards themselves are increasing their long term employability opportunities.
Further information is available here.