Some reflections from a Philosophy and Theology Student

High school students who are interested in philosophy, and those considering it as a serious option for undergraduate study, often ask: is it worth it? Having just finished my undergrad in philosophy and theology at the University of Oxford, I want to share five key considerations to help you decide if studying philosophy is right for you.

For the complete breakdown, check out my YouTube video:

1. What Are Your Long-Term Plans?

• Are you aiming for an academic career in philosophy? Or is philosophy simply a passion or curiosity?
• At 18, you might not know exactly what you want long-term—and that’s okay—but questioning whether philosophy fits your future goals (career, finances, life path) is essential.
• If you want financial stability and job prospects right after graduation, philosophy alone might not be the most practical.

2. Skill Development vs. Direct Preparation

• A philosophy degree isn’t directly vocational—unlike STEM, law, or economics. But it builds versatile, transferable skills such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, writing, and communication.
• Graduates often transition into teaching, advertising, HR, marketing, consulting, journalism, finance, or law—but these roles require additional training or experience, so don’t expect to get into them immediately, especially in the case of law.
• The benefits of philosophy are not limited to academia—they come from honing mental clarity, argumentation, and adaptability. However, in the same way that they are not limited to academia, they can also be developed outside of academia, so if you are just interested in philosophy, there are a lot of materials which you can engage with.

3. Continental vs. Analytic Philosophy

• Ask yourself: which branch of philosophy resonates with me?
  • Continental philosophy (e.g. Nietzsche, Derrida, Foucault) is influential in public discourse—but in UK/US academia, analytic philosophy is far more dominant
  • If you’re aiming to pursue philosophy further in academia, being grounded in analytic philosophy is almost mandatory.
  • Of course, continental studies may be more relevant in European universities—but for most UK/US graduate programs, analytic fluency matters.
• If you are interested in continental philosophy, which for the most part, I am, be prepared for it to be a more difficult journey for you.

An In-Depth Dive into Academic Philosophy in 2025

4. The Realities of Academic Philosophy

• Academia is deeply competitive:
  • Growing numbers of PhD holders but shrinking tenure-track positions.
  • Precarious early-career roles like adjunct positions offer little job security or decent pay.
  • In the UK, academic salaries are modest. Even in the US, tenured professors earn around £100k, but law and corporate roles often pay more.
  • Publishing is intense—Covid created a backlog, and securing papers in prestigious journals is daunting and often difficult
  • University hiring and promotion are unpredictable—many don’t find long-term academic jobs even with strong credentials
• If your passion lies in teaching, writing, or research despite the struggles, academia might still be worth pursuing.

5. How Rigorous Is the Program?

• Real philosophy isn’t passive—it demands reading, writing, debating, revising your views under pressure.
• At top universities like Oxford and Cambridge, weekly essays and tutorials push you relentlessly. That’s how you develop true philosophy skills
• At many other universities, you might only attend lectures and write a handful of essays. That’s not enough to develop philosophical depth
• Without intense intellectual engagement, you miss what philosophy fundamentally offers. Consider private tutorials or self-study instead if you can’t access rigorous philosophical dialogue. You might actually get a better foundation from those perspectives.