10 Which Subject? LEAST VOCATIONALHIGHLY VOCATIONAL Think of the subjects available in higher education as a vocational/ non- vocational spectrum like this:- Here are some examples: LEAST VOCATIONALHIGHLY VOCATIONAL In practice any subject can be placed somewhere along the spectrum. A subject like philosophy is at or near the non- vocational end, as most philosophy graduates do not become professional philosophers. Strongly career orientated courses such as dentistry and medicine are highly vocational because graduates in these fields would almost always become dentists or doctors. Most subjects will fall somewhere between the two. You can work out an approximate position on the spectrum for any subject you are considering, by reading up on the course content, checking out the destination of graduates and exploring the new student employability profiles ( SEPS) - see page 25. Philosophy Psychology Economics Law Engineering Dentistry Choosing a subject to study in higher education is not easy! A quick glance at the UCAS online course search or any higher education directory will reveal a vast array of opportunities available. Sifting through them will require a lot of time and thought, but it will be well worth the effort. Around 20% of students drop out of higher education each year. One of the most common reasons is that they did not think through their choice of subject. The subject of the course should be decided first - before you think about where or how you are going to study. . Choosing a higher education subject you are already familiarwith can be a safe option, as you will have some idea of your level of ability and interest. ( See page 11). . Choosing a new non- vocationalsubject will give you the opportunity to develop new areas of academic skill and knowledge, and sustain your interest over three or four years. ( See page 11). . Choosing a vocationalcourse is right if you have a well developed career plan which is best achieved through such a course. ( See page 11). . Remember there are also joint, combined, modular and interdisciplinary degrees which enable you to mix your subjects of study in an almost infinite pattern. . Ask your school or college, how to access Higher Ideas, an excellent tool for expanding your subject ideas.

New non- vocational " You don't have to do one of your A level subjects to degree level - the choice is so huge that you can do something completely different" - 1st year student, University of the West of England. Vocational Examples of Subjects Found in HE Familiar 11 Archaeology Behavioural Science Comparative Literature Demography Egyptology Film Studies Gender Studies History of Art Islamic Studies Jewish Studies Korean Studies Linguistics Movement Studies Natural Sciences Oceanography Popular Culture Quantitative Economics Race Relations Social Anthropology Third World Studies United States Studies Visual Arts War Studies Youth Studies Zoology Architecture Brewing and Distilling Civil Engineering Digital Design E- Business Fire Engineering Games Design Human Resource Management Internet Technology Journalism Knowledge Engineering Logistics Medicine Nursing Optometry Pharmacy Quantity Surveying Rehabilitation Engineering Sound Recording Teaching Urban Planning Vehicle Design Water Management X- ray Techniques Youth Justice ArtZoological Conservation Biology Chemistry Design English French Geography History Law Mathematics Physics Religious Studies Sociology Theatre Studies