"They're not the sort of things that you would apply to your job straight away but they certainly help to develop your intellect along the way."
The findings, based on a survey and published in University Graduate Destinations 2001, show that 93 humanities doctorates were awarded in 2000, up on 47 for 1999.
Along with this increase there has been a decrease in the number of physical science (geology, astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences, electronics, physics) doctorates.
Eighty were awarded in 1999 compared to 39 in 2000 and these degrees often take people straight into jobs which earn good money.
But despite the decrease Mr Bryant says there is a good balance of these graduates and those in the humanities in the workforce.
A concern that the loan scheme may drive people away from the humanities in favour of degrees which would earn big money immediately to pay off loans had not come true, he said.
Both types of people were needed and although many people with humanities degrees went into teaching, they were also sought after in the business world.
"Some employers want someone with a good education who can basically use their learning to think laterally and more than anything, solve problems ...
"They can become, for instance, human resource managers, because these broad-based things teach you a fair bit about mankind, or personkind, because basically human resources is very much people management and to manage people effectively you've got to understand what makes people tick."
There were few other surprises in doctorate and other graduate statistics, Mr Bryant said.
One doctorate was awarded in architecture/building/planning/surveying; 70 in biological sciences; 17 in commerce/business; 14 in health; 23 in mathematics and information sciences; 67 in social and behavioural sciences and 23 in technology and engineering.
None were awarded in the visual and performing arts.
Most graduates were getting full-time jobs and those who did not were continuing with their studies.
Said Mr Bryant: "It's a good employment market for graduates. The worth of a university degree is recognised in what they're paid. They don't have any trouble getting a job here and they don't have any trouble getting a job overseas."
Of the 347 doctorates awarded in 2000, 37 went to international students.
Of a total of 23,915 graduates more than half were female and apart from Lincoln University there were more females than males at all the eight universities.
Most of the 2000 survey population were aged 18 to 24 but the number of mature graduates (40 and over) is increasing.
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