Key Summary
FAQs
What are the most useless university degrees in the UK?
No university degree is objectively useless. In the 2022/23 Graduate Outcomes data used by this article, subject groups with weaker early full-time employment patterns include media, journalism and communications, design and creative arts, combined studies, some social-science geography subjects and historical, philosophical and religious studies. The data measures outcomes around 15 months after study, not lifetime value.
Is this ranking based on the latest graduate outcomes data?
No. The article uses HESA Graduate Outcomes data for 2022/23 graduates. HESA published newer 2023/24 Graduate Outcomes statistics on 4 June 2026, so the article's subject figures should now be described as a 2022/23 snapshot rather than the latest available evidence.
Why does the article rank media and journalism among the least useful degrees?
The article places media, journalism and communications first because its 2022/23 dataset shows a substantial number of graduates in part-time work, unemployment or unpaid activity alongside those in full-time employment. That does not prove the degrees lack value. Creative and media careers can involve freelancing, portfolio building and slower entry into permanent roles.
Are creative arts degrees useless?
No. Creative degrees can lead to careers across design, production, performance, advertising, media and other sectors, but early employment can be less linear than in regulated professions. The article's 2022/23 data shows substantial part-time employment among creative graduates. Portfolios, professional networks, freelance experience and specialist technical skills can therefore be particularly important.
Are history and philosophy degrees bad for employment?
Not necessarily. Historical, philosophical and religious studies appear in the article because the subject group had mixed early outcomes in the 2022/23 data, including part-time work, unemployment and further study. These degrees can still support careers in law, policy, teaching, publishing and other sectors, although graduates may need additional training or clearer career specialisation.
Does a lower full-time employment rate mean a degree is worthless?
No. Full-time employment is only one outcome. Graduates may be in further study, part-time work, self-employment, portfolio careers or roles that take longer to enter. Subject groups also contain very different courses and students. A 15-month survey cannot show lifetime earnings, career satisfaction or whether a degree was essential for later progression.
Does HESA officially call any degree useless?
No. HESA publishes graduate activity and outcomes data rather than labelling degrees useful or useless. The term is an editorial interpretation used by this article. HESA Graduate Outcomes data should be read as evidence about graduate activity, not an official judgement on whether a subject is worth studying.
How should I judge whether a degree is worth it?
Check the exact course, not only the broad subject label. Compare graduate destinations, accreditation, placements, total cost, teaching quality and whether the degree is required for your intended career. For flexible subjects, ask how you will build experience and specialist skills alongside study. A course is poor value when it does not fit your goals, not simply because it appears on a provocative ranking.
Should I avoid a degree because it has weaker graduate outcomes?
Not automatically. Weaker early outcomes are a reason to investigate the course more carefully, especially its placements, portfolio opportunities and graduate destinations. If you understand the risks and genuinely want the subject, the degree may still be right. The strongest decision combines employment evidence with your abilities, interests and a realistic plan for gaining experience.
Calling a degree “useless” is always a bit harsh — but when we look at official graduate outcomes data, it’s clear that some subjects lead to weaker employment outcomes 15 months after graduation than others.
Using the latest HESA Graduate Outcomes survey for the 2022/23 academic year, we’ve looked at full-time employment, unemployment, further study and unpaid work by subject area. The degrees below tend to have lower full-time employment rates, higher unemployment, or more graduates stuck in unpaid or temporary work shortly after leaving university. Important: this data reflects outcomes 15 months after graduation, not long-term career potential.
1. Media, journalism & communications
Media and journalism degrees are often criticised for poor job prospects — and the data shows why they struggle early on.
Out of 6,140 graduates with known outcomes, only 3,520 were in full-time employment 15 months after graduating. A further 1,085 graduates were working part-time, suggesting many were still trying to break into competitive industries. At the same time, 430 graduates were unemployed, while 120 were in voluntary or unpaid roles. Another 220 graduates had gone into full-time further study.
This reflects the reality of the media industry: entry-level roles are scarce, unpaid internships remain common, and many graduates freelance before securing stable work. While long-term success is possible, early career stability is far from guaranteed.
2. Design, creative & performing arts
Creative degrees are among the most passion-driven — but also some of the least secure straight after university.
According to HESA, 27,545 graduates in design and creative subjects had known outcomes. Of these, 11,950 were in full-time employment, while a striking 7,765 were working part-time. This suggests a large proportion were piecing together income through freelance or short-term work rather than holding stable graduate roles.
In addition, 1,940 graduates were unemployed, and 455 were in unpaid or voluntary positions, often to build portfolios or gain experience. A further 940 graduates had entered full-time further study. These figures highlight how creative careers often take time to develop — something not all students fully appreciate before choosing the degree.
3. Combined & general studies
Combined and general studies degrees offer flexibility, but that lack of specialisation can hurt early employability.
Out of 2,520 graduates with known outcomes, only 1,125 were in full-time employment. Another 360 were working part-time, while 140 graduates were unemployed. A notable 165 graduates had moved into full-time further study, suggesting that many felt their undergraduate degree alone wasn’t enough to enter the job market confidently.
Employers often look for clear subject focus at entry level, which can put combined studies graduates at a disadvantage compared to those with more specialised degrees.
4. Geography, earth & environmental studies (social sciences)
While environmental and geographical knowledge is increasingly important, social-science-focused geography degrees show weaker early outcomes.
Among 1,930 graduates with known outcomes, 1,195 were in full-time employment 15 months after graduation. However, 135 graduates were only in part-time work, and 130 were unemployed — a relatively high proportion given the size of the cohort. Another 135 graduates had gone on to full-time further study.
This suggests many graduates need additional qualifications or experience before securing stable graduate-level roles.
5. Historical, philosophical & religious studies
Humanities degrees are often labelled “useless” — not because they lack value, but because they don’t lead directly into specific jobs.
HESA data shows that out of 11,520 graduates with known outcomes, 5,255 were in full-time employment. Meanwhile, 1,475 were working part-time and 715 graduates were unemployed. A further 295 were in unpaid or voluntary roles, and 1,190 graduates had entered full-time further study.
These degrees build strong analytical and communication skills, but graduates often need time — or further training — to convert those skills into stable careers.
6. Language & area studies
Language degrees are highly versatile, but early employment outcomes are mixed.
Out of 11,015 graduates with known outcomes, 5,170 secured full-time employment. However, 1,720 graduates were working part-time, while 765 were unemployed. A significant 965 graduates went into full-time further study, often to pursue teaching qualifications, translation training or international careers.
This shows that language degrees frequently require additional specialisation before they pay off.
7. Education & teaching (before teacher training)
Education degrees are essential — but outcomes can look weaker before formal teacher training begins.
Among 26,025 graduates with known outcomes, 17,585 were in full-time employment. However, 945 graduates were unemployed, and 510 had entered full-time further study, typically PGCEs or other teacher-training routes.
Many education graduates do go on to stable careers — but often not until after additional qualifications, which explains the dip in early outcomes.
What this data actually tells us
These degrees aren’t “useless” — but they require more planning, patience and often postgraduate study. Compared to subjects like medicine, engineering or computing, they tend to offer:
- Slower transitions into full-time employment
- Higher reliance on part-time or unpaid work
- Greater need for further qualifications
- Less direct pipelines into graduate jobs
This list uses statistics on graduate employment outcomes categorised by degree subject. However, don’t let the most useless degrees list put you off. Most graduate are able to obtain employment, and it’s a great step to your dream career.