Top 15 Weirdest University Degrees in the World

Mixi August 28, 2021 | 08:03

Deciding on your course is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when preparing for university. There are lots of unusual university degrees that you might be interested in.

University Degrees. Photo: Mixi's

Most people are happy with conventional, tried-and-true careers such as Banker, Teacher, Nurse. But there are other people who can’t do it. They have to get a little… weird. We mean the kind of weird that sees the state of the job market, sees what skills aren’t being met, and gets out there to fill a need.

The list of the 10 weirdest University degrees in the world

1. Bagpipe performance, Carnegie Mellon University, US

2. Manga studies, Kyoto Seika University, Japan

3. The Beatles: music industry and heritage, University of Liverpool, UK

4. Animal Behaviour and Psychology

5. Brewing and Distilling

6. Ethnobotany

7. Astrobiology, Florida Institute of Technology, US

8. Viticulture and oenology, Cornell University, US

9. Comedy writing and performance, Humber College, Canada

10. Ethical hacking, Abertay University, UK

11. Fermentation Sciences (BS)

12. Dairy Herd Management

13. MA/MFA in Puppetry

14. Strategic Storytelling Seminar - Columbia University

15. Fire Engineering

Which are the weirdest university degrees in the world?

1. Bagpipe performance, Carnegie Mellon University, US

Thanks in part to the Scottish heritage of its founders, Andrew Carnegie and Andrew Mellon, Carnegie Mellon University has been offering bagpipe performance majors for more than 75 years. The university has proclaimed itself “the perfect home for aspiring and seasoned pipers alike”.

Inspired by their bagpiping tradition, the university’s School of Computer Science jumped on the bandwagon, creating a robotic bagpipe player that made it across the pond to serenade the Scottish Parliament in 2013.

2. Manga studies, Kyoto Seika University, Japan

If you’re a manga fan, Kyoto Seika University might be your dream university. The institution established the very first faculty for teaching manga in Japan in 2006 and has since been a global centre for research in the art.

Scholars in the faculty also analyse manga’s cultural significance and offer a range of doctorate programmes in the field.

3. The Beatles: music industry and heritage, University of Liverpool, UK

Photo: Houstonia Magazine

Imagine studying a master’s degree dedicated to one of the most influential bands in music, it’s easy if you try. Even easier if you’re at the University of Liverpool, which recently launched a postgraduate programme all about the band.

4. Animal Behaviour and Psychology

Ever dreamed of becoming an animal whisperer? Now's your chance.

The Animal Behaviour and Psychology degree at the University of Chester teaches you about the way animals think and feel (cockroaches have personalities according to the subject spec!).

The course has a focus on wild animals that are free-living, and there's scope for international fieldwork.

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5. Brewing and Distilling

Students and alcohol go together like gin and tonic. Why not embrace this by enrolling on the MSc Brewing and Distilling degree at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh?

This is actually a pretty popular degree and career path (alcohol is big business in the UK), so you'll need to fight off some stiff competition by having a keen interest in science and the brewing process, as opposed to just drinking the produce (although that would still be an undeniable perk).

Top employers in the beverage industry often hunt down students with this degree, so contrary to what many might think, graduate employment rates are high.

And just imagine your homework being to brew some homemade beer while your housemate slaves away over a 20-page Modern History thesis...

6. Ethnobotany

Photo: USDA Forest Service

Obsessed with filling your uni home with greenery? Humans have historically had a super interesting relationship with plants, which you can learn all about on the MSc Ethnobotany course at the University of Kent.

It's the first programme of its kind, exploring how humans understand and respond to plants, how we use them, how we modify them and more.

The year-long master's course is ideal for anyone looking to go into doctoral research or pursue a career in the botanical and environmental fields. Plantastic.

7. Astrobiology, Florida Institute of Technology, US

If you’ve ever wondered about life on Mars, you might want to apply for a degree in astrobiology at Florida Institute of Technology. Astrobiology combines mathematics, physics, biology and planetary science to seriously explore the possibility of alien life. With former astronauts on the faculty, you know that you’ll be learning from the experts.

8. Viticulture and oenology, Cornell University, US

Students on the viticulture and oenology course at Cornell University will learn all about the science and practice behind growing grapes and making wines. There’s also a chance to study abroad across the world’s top wine regions and vineyards to further hone your sommelier skills.

9. Comedy writing and performance, Humber College, Canada

If you fancy pursuing a career in stand-up comedy, you’ll be pleased to know about the diploma programme in comedy writing and performance at Humber College. Over four semesters, the course will take you through the fundamentals of writing and performing sketches and how to perform stand-up.

10. Ethical hacking, Abertay University, UK

Photo: IT Weapons

Computer whizzes might want to check out the ethical hacking programme on offer at the University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland. This course will show you how hackers break into the world’s most complex security systems, provided you use this knowledge for good.

With many graduates going on to work on developing these very security systems, graduates of this course are known for getting snapped up fast into high-paying jobs in the field.

11. Fermentation Sciences (BS)

Beer and wine might be the sign that God wants us to be happy, as Ben Franklin (sort of) once said, but there’s a lot more to fermentation. Fermentation is one of the most fascinating natural processes ever discovered and developed. While alcohol might be the biggest star, fermentation is involved in all sorts of products and processes – kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, pickles, and much more. And in recent years, we’ve become much more aware of how healthy fermented foods can be, as we come to understand how complex our digestion is, and how many little organisms work together to keep us well. With all that, fermentation science sounds like a pretty promising career path.

If you want to major in kombucha (or wine, or yogurt, or even miso), there are only a few options out there. One of the most prominent and respected is the BS in Fermentation Science at Appalachian State University.

12. Dairy Herd Management

Photo: The Scottish Farmer

The two-year Agriculture course with Dairy Herd Management, found at University Centre Reaseheath, will set you up nicely for life with a whole host of dairy farming-related skills.

Set in Cheshire, you'll get the economic, legal and managerial know-how on how to run a dairy business, as well as the chance to swot up on practical skills like foot trimming.

13. MA/MFA in Puppetry

Puppetry is one of the most intensively multidisciplinary arts in the world. We’ve all made a sock puppet in elementary school, but puppetry, as a fine art and entertainment medium, incorporates everything – art and design, material science and engineering, acting and movement, and even robotics and computing. Those who want to work as professional puppeteers, or to incorporate puppetry into their art or work, need a wide range of knowledge and ability. A little DIY, can-do initiative makes a big difference too. Puppeteers are thinkers, imagineers, and problem-solvers.

The University of Connecticut’s MA/MFA in Puppetry is one of the world’s best. UConn’s Puppet Arts program understands how complex and varied the world of puppetry is, attracting students from fields as different as literature and music to political science.

14. Strategic Storytelling Seminar - Columbia University

The digital age has revolutionized storytelling, mainly by giving so many creators access to tools that were not widely available just a decade or two ago. With digital video, editing software, podcasting, and all kinds of other media, we’re realizing the power of storytelling in a way never before possible. Storytelling has become a function of all kinds of professions – not just entertainers and novelists, but attorneys, fundraisers, managers, and many, many more. Any professional can benefit from being able to harness the power of narrative thinking.

The Strategic Storytelling Seminar at Columbia University gives students all they need to start using compelling storytelling in every aspect of their career. The Digital Storytelling Lab at the Columbia University School of the Arts offers the intensive 2-day seminar several times a year. The seminar steeps students in the 4-part Strategic Storytelling Model, which combines multiple approaches to storytelling and community-building for effective, impactful stories into one of the most innovative college programs today. Columbia University is one of the world’s foremost institutions, and few universities know more about storytelling.

15. Fire Engineering

Interested in fire? That's fire safety, for the record, not fire starting.

At UCLan, you can get a degree in Fire Engineering which is ideal if you're aiming for a senior role in fire safety. In the second year, there's the option to do an industrial placement which could really help to boost your CV when you start your graduate job search.

And, if nothing else, this degree's got to be worth it for the chance to refer to yourself as an Engineer of Fire (P.S. please don't actually tell fire safety recruiters you're an Engineer of Fire, this might not go down well).