The five degrees with the best job prospects
Selecting which degree to study can have a huge bearing on the rest of your life. Choose wisely, and it could open the door to your dream job when you graduate; make a bad decision, and you risk severely damaging your job prospects.
Picking the right subject is even more important given the cost of a university education. Right now, undergraduates face a perfect storm of eye-watering living costs and high-interest loans – and many of today's students will never pay off what they owe.
To help you on your way, Telegraph Money has compiled a list of the five 'most employable UK degrees' – those subjects renowned for securing a job after graduation, unlocking brilliant career prospects, and offering impressive earnings potential.
Most employable degrees in the UK
Other highly-rated 'very employable' degrees
Will a degree improve my chances of getting a job?
Can I change from one degree to another?
Most employable degrees in the UK
We've set out the five degrees with the best employment prospects after graduation, based on demand for graduates in specific roles and the number of roles available.
1. Medicine
With options that could lead you to a career as a medical consultant, surgeon, cardiologist, neurologist, GP or similar, medicine continues to be one of the most employable degrees in the UK. This is not just because of the NHS's ongoing demand for qualified staff but because the pathway is so structured, according to Simon Fabb, chief executive of jobs board Chief Jobs.
Getting on a medicine course typically requires strong A-level results in sciences, especially chemistry and biology, as well as university clinical aptitude test (Ucat) admissions tests. You also need high grades in your GCSEs.
Degrees are longer than standard undergraduate courses, and can take around five years to complete. Once you've got this, students typically enter two years of foundation training. There's likely to be further training after this too, depending on the specialism you choose – for example, you can expect a further three years of training if you want to become a GP.
Mr Fabb said: 'The career path is long and intense, but the job security and range of specialisms available after graduation make it a consistent choice for employability.'
David Morgan, chief executive of the Career Development Institute (CDI), the UK's membership body for careers professionals, said: 'Graduates in medicine and dentistry consistently achieve employment rates of 97pc to 98pc within 15 months of graduation, driven by persistent NHS workforce shortages.'
2. Computer science
Computer science has surged in popularity thanks to the sheer volume of roles it can lead to across tech, finance, healthcare and beyond. The UK tech sector is incredibly buoyant and artificial intelligence (AI), automation and data are fuelling this.
Applicants for a computer science degree will usually need A-levels in maths or computing. The courses tend to be practical and project-based and may involve developing your own software. Some courses will also allow you to tailor modules to suit the career you want to target, whether that's data science, cyber security or even games development – and some also include a work placement year to give you first-hand experience of the job.
Mr Morgan said of computer science graduates: 'These individuals are powering the UK's digital backbone. Demand for specialists in AI, machine learning and cybersecurity continues to outstrip supply across every industry, cementing its place as a cornerstone of the modern economy.'
This is a view shared by Ian Nicholas, of recruitment site Reed. He said: 'With the exponential growth in technology, both in business and our everyday lives, it's unsurprising that technology roles are in high demand.'
Many universities are reacting in kind – Teeside University has, for example, invested in a £42m digital life building. A spokesman said: 'Given the sectors that are demanding graduate talent, we want to enable future generations of students to succeed and thrive in the industries of tomorrow, including digital media, AI, robotics and games design.'
3. Economics
A degree in economics can open doors to all sorts of jobs, including banking, consultancy, policy and even tech.
Entry to these courses often requires maths and sometimes economics at A-level and there may be specifications to have at least a grade 4 (C) in GCSE English.
Courses tend to mix theory with stats-heavy analysis, and you'll be taught how this applies to real-world political and social examples. Some courses will come with an option to have a year's work placement or the option to study abroad, and the skills you learn can be valuable in the workplace.
Mr Fabb said: 'Graduates with solid numeracy and a good understanding of markets are usually in demand across a range of sectors.'
According to graduate career resource Prospects, there are 13 career options directly linked to an economics degree – including becoming a statistician, an actuary or a stockbroker – and a further 11 jobs where having a degree in economics is useful, such as a data scientist, policy officer and getting on the civil service fast stream. Alternatively, you could opt to work in financial or business management, or many other related fields.
4. Engineering
Engineering remains a reliable degree for employment and particularly civil, mechanical and electrical specialisms. Students typically need strong maths and physics A-levels, with further maths if that's an option at your school.
Engineering covers a wide spectrum of topics and most courses will allow you to tailor your modules to focus on the areas you're most interested in. This can include mechanical engineering, bioengineering and aerospace and aero-thermal engineering, to name just a few.
Mr Fab said: 'The shortage of engineers in the UK makes this a strong bet for long-term job prospects.'
An engineering degree often involves a placement year, which makes the subject especially popular with employers because it shows candidates have workplace experience.
Engineering skills are in high demand across various industries – from automotive to nuclear engineering roles. As a result, there's big earnings potential if you're willing to put the work in.
5. Law
A law degree can be a strong choice for students who want a structured pathway into a respected profession. It's a career that can come with a lot of prestige – but a lot of responsibility, too.
Entry usually requires high grades, but not necessarily specific A-level subjects (though English is often helpful). Courses generally cover the basic foundations and then branch off into more specific modules, such as commercial law, human rights and intellectual property law.
Law degrees can take three years to complete and you could then go on to take the solicitor's qualifying exam or bar practice course. A law qualification is a direct link to careers you'd expect, such as a barrister, solicitor and paralegal – but it can also be useful if you want to become a detective, mediator or trading standards officer, according to Prospects.
Mr Fabb said: 'Law degrees are rigorous and analytical and, even if graduates do not go on to become solicitors or barristers, the degree is still valued in corporate roles, compliance, and policy.'
Other highly-rated 'very employable' degrees
Education and teaching
Education and teaching degrees are often overlooked in the most employable degrees type lists, but they lead directly into employment and 'serve a real social need,' according to Mr Fabb.
An education degree will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills required to teach students in schools and can be valuable at a time when schools are struggling with teacher shortages.
Getting on to a teacher training course usually requires achieving at least a grade C in GCSE English and maths, with science often preferred too. It's also useful if you've had work experience in a school setting.
Mr Fabb added: 'With many schools struggling to recruit, especially in STEM subjects, newly qualified teachers are in demand across the country.'
Aside from teaching in a primary or secondary school, you could go on to work as a learning mentor, private tutor or choose to specialise in an area such as SEN (special educational needs). Starting salaries for qualified teachers stand at just more than £31,000.
Accountancy
If you've got a head for numbers, an accountancy degree will see you gain technical knowledge in auditing, financial reporting and management accounting, with an emphasis on communication and problem-solving.
Look for courses accredited by bodies such as ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA. No prior accounting background is needed, but you'll need strong grades in maths at GSCE and ideally A-level.
With the University of London BSc (Hons) Professional Accountancy programme, for example, students can work towards the ACCA Qualification and a BSc at the same time.
Alan Hatfield, ACCA's executive director, said: 'This means there's no need to choose between an academic and a professional qualification. Students also benefit from savings in terms of both time and money. And it boosts CVs and employability in the world of accountancy, finance and business.'
Entry-level accountants can expect to earn between £25,000 and £35,000, but there's potential to earn a lot more. Senior roles can net you more than £70,000.
If you graduate with both the BSc and the ACCA Qualification – or similar – this could lead to global opportunities in accountancy firms, audit firms and in the finance teams of businesses and other organisations. You could end up working for employers such as the ' big four ' and top global businesses.
Long term career prospects could include high-level roles such as chief financial officer, head of finance, audit partner and business leadership positions.
Will a degree improve my chances of getting a job?
This very much depends on the degree you study and the career you have in mind. But with tuition fees set to rise to £9,535 per year from this autumn, the question of whether university is worth it has never been more pertinent.
According to Indeed's Hiring Lab, the percentage of job postings in the UK that explicitly require a Bachelor's (or more advanced) degree has remained steady, at around 4.6pc, for several years – so there are plenty of jobs you don't need a degree for.
However, further analysis found that certain job categories do mention 'tertiary credentials' (anything between a foundation and doctoral degree), including scientific research and development (with 45.7pc of postings in this field requiring this level of education), civil engineering (30.1pc), mathematics (28.6pc) and social science (21.5pc).
Note that while job prospects from the degrees we've listed have historically been good – and may continue to be – an increasingly competitive job market and future uncertainty over the role of AI means that employers may be looking for much more than just a relevant degree from candidates.
Clare Walsh, of the Institute of Analytics and part-time lecturer in data and AI, said: 'Times are changing and what we're seeing is that companies are looking for a wide cross-section of qualifications and skills.'
This might include things such as digital skills competency, data analysis skills and project management.
Elsewhere, research carried out by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) revealed that nearly 80pc of employers believe that current graduates do not arrive fully equipped with the skills they need to be work-ready. Many reported that they had, for example, experienced a 'mismatch' between academic knowledge and practical job requirements. This illustrates just how important it is to leave university as rounded and equipped with as many skills as possible.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, we are also seeing degree apprenticeships grow more popular. With these degrees, students are able to combine academic study with practical work experience. As you get to 'earn while you learn' such courses can be appealing – and also help you to swerve hefty student debts.
Can I change from one degree to another?
Yes, it is possible to transfer courses – but how easy this is will depend on whether you also want to transfer to a different university and how competitive the course is that you want to switch to.
The process of changing will also vary from one university to the next, as well as from one course to the next.
According to University College Admissions Service (UCAS), transferring will typically involve some or all the following steps:
You will need to fill in some paperwork, including a declaration to say you want to transfer.
In some cases, you will need to complete a full application form for the course you want to join.
You may be required to go to an interview or to carry out some additional work before your request can be considered.
Depending on the kind of swap you want to make, you may be able to transfer any course credits you've already earned over to the new course. If not, you'll have to start it from the beginning.
This could have a knock-on effect on your tuition fee loan – depending on when in the academic year you make the switch, you may have to apply for an extra year's funding, and you'll also face a larger debt when you come to graduate.
To start the ball rolling, you need to speak to your course tutor or department office. They will go through your options with you, and help support you with the move.
Note that the whole process can take anything from a few days to several weeks to finalise.
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