If you’re drawn to philosophy, you’re likely a curious thinker—someone with a strong desire to explore the world and examine the ideas that shape it. As a philosopher and critical thinker, your skills are in high demand in fields ranging from education to business, medicine, and technology. So what better way could there be to add to the richness of your chosen field than to put theory into practice while living and working in cultures other than your own? If you want to expand your horizons while putting your degree to work, finding jobs abroad in philosophy is a great way to do just that!
Popular Locations for Philosophy Jobs Abroad
Three places that you might want to consider as you begin your search for international jobs in philosophy are:
Portugal. Known for its delicious food and pleasant climate, Portugal is a popular expat destination. This means increased opportunities for putting your philosophical talents to use—not only with local residents, but also with the expat community (many whom are British, which definitely makes it easier for English speakers!). The visa and residency process is not particularly complicated—and if you can prove that you have the means to support yourself, you’ll find the entry process to be welcoming and supportive, with things like health care available to you as a resident.
India. It’s common knowledge that India is a busy and densely populated country, with a mixture of bustling cities and rural countrysides providing home to over 1.3 billion people. There are actually over twenty states within the country, and each state has its own local culture as part of the national Indian identity. When it comes to religion and ethnicity, India is one of the most diverse countries in the world, and many world religions—like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism—call India their birthplace. A philosophical education is respected in Indian culture, and opportunities for work in philosophy here are as varied as the people and culture itself.
Singapore. Home to satellite university campuses and partnerships with elite schools like Yale, MIT, and Cornell, Singapore is a growing international center for business, education, and innovation. In a country that already boasts an underground highway system, recognizing the need for continued urban expansion, the country’s infrastructure leaders intend to build not only up, but also underground in order to accommodate the population growth expected over the next twelve years. An incredibly diverse, safe, and busy city, the residents of Singapore speak English (even the street signs are in English!) which adds to the appeal for expats looking to find a new location to call home.
The Benefits of Philosophy Jobs Abroad
As you consider the kinds of work that might best suit your skills, interests, and new location, you’ll find a host of interesting jobs available! In fact, some of the greatest contemporary game-changers in fields like business, technology, medicine, engineering, and social justice have backgrounds in philosophy because they, like you, saw the advantage in pursuing work that encourages not only the process of looking for answers, but also redefining the questions that shape our lives.
The jobs you find will present you with opportunities to help others, think deeply, and solve problems in ways that will support the desires you had to study philosophy in the first place. And doing this while living abroad will only enrich those opportunities. You will strengthen your communication skills and sharpen your professional development.
Some positions offer you the opportunity to help individuals in their studies, while others also offer the added benefit of contributing to group projects or solving social problems. Some might even offer you the opportunity to help on a broader scale by contributing to global initiatives in business, law, or the economy. Work in philosophy can give you the kind of unique experience and qualifications to distinguish yourself from other applicants—and can open doors to you that those who choose to stay at home won’t have.
GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop for Expats Working Abroad in the Philosophy Field Abroad
Going abroad for philosophy jobs can be one of the most rewarding decisions you make for your professional development—but it’s not without its challenges. You’ll need to make sure you investigate the requirements for residency (make sure to check the Embassy List for help on what to look for and where to go for help!) and you’ll want to make sure that you’re aware of any specialized requirements that your intended location have in place regarding the positions you might pursue. But if you do your homework and prepare yourself well for your travel, you’ll find that the experience of working abroad in the field of philosophy will benefit you intellectually, personally, and professionally—no matter where your career path takes you!
And, as a young professional working in a field that has become increasingly more specialized and more competitive, while also growing to meet new demands, obtaining a philosophy job abroad will give you a competitive edge over your peers who don’t take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to and learn from a culture other than their own. Your work abroad in philosophy could introduce you to other expats who might be able to lead you to new professional opportunities you haven’t even thought of yet.
Whatever your greatest area of interest might be, and wherever your long-term goals might lead you, pursuing philosophy jobs abroad can lead you to some of the best options for following those interests and achieving those goals!
