What Graduate Degrees Are The Most Employable?

Medicine, dentistry, education studies, engineering, business management and computer science are the most employable degrees in the UK.

Degrees can be a gateway to your dream job. But thinking about your future is never an easy task. When it comes to getting a degree, you want to study something that interests you, but you also need to consider what your chosen degree means for your future job prospects.

We break it down.

What Are The Degrees With The Most Job Opportunities?

With the student job market constantly changing, it can be hard to know what to study and what sector to devote yourself to.

According to SI-UK, the UK degrees with the best job prospects are:

Medicine & Dentistry

• Employment Rate: 99.4%
• Average Salary: £50,373 (Medicine); £30,000 (Dentistry)
• Careers: Anaesthetist, GP, Dentist, Radiologist

Veterinary Science

• Employment Rate: 95.9%
• Average Salary: £30,500
• Careers: Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Nutritionist

Allied Medicine Subjects

• Employment Rate: 95.3%
• Average Salary: £34,137
• Careers: Physiotherapist, Radiographer, Nutritionist

Education Studies

• Employment Rate: 94.4%
• Average Salary: £19,000
• Careers: Teacher, Educational Consultant, Ofsted Inspector

Business and Management

• Employment Rate: 90%
• Average Salary: £25,000–£35,000
• Careers: Business Analyst, Consultant, Marketing Manager

Computer Science

• Employment Rate: 76.3%
• Average Salary: £35,000–£45,000
• Careers: Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Cybersecurity Expert

Engineering

• Employment Rate: 72.1%
• Average Salary: £28,000–£40,000
• Careers: Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Aerospace Engineer

Let's explore some of them...

Computer Science Degrees

Perhaps unsurprisingly, computer science and similar degrees are some of the most employable. With technology becoming more ingrained in every area of our lives, those with a computer science degree make themselves indispensable across multiple sectors.

The good news is that for the foreseeable future, jobs in computer science will exist and grow in value.

From startup jobs to the technology department of a multi-corporate, studying computer science will open many different doors for your career path.

Medicine And Dentistry

There is a constant demand for doctors and medical professionals. Although medicine is notoriously competitive to get into, those who get a medical degree tend to find employment within only six months of graduating.

It is worth noting that with 6-years of studying and a further few years of rotations and working as a junior doctor, it can be a long time before you get to where you want to be.

Finance Degrees

Regardless of the sector or company, every business needs to manage its finances efficiently. So if you’re a wizard with numbers and enjoy crunching them, look for a career in finance.

There are so many types of finance jobs to choose from, making this an exciting career path to consider.

The demand to fill finance-related roles, such as financial analysts or financial managers, is high and ever-increasing.

Engineering Degrees

An engineering degree is extremely broad. This means that it paves the way for multiple career routes.

These include electrical, civil, software, mechanical and many more fields in both the private and public sectors. This is another career that won’t be dying out any time soon, as there’s so much to do in the field of engineering.

Architecture Degrees

A degree in architecture incorporates math, science and art, making graduates suitable for a number of different careers. As a result, architecture is one of the most employable degrees. We need buildings to live and work in, so at least you know the demand is there.

Those who want to excel in architecture will need to understand the design, mechanism and construction of things.

Statistics show that within six months of graduating, 90% of architecture graduates have secured a job or set up their own business.

Veterinary Sciences

Similarly to medicine, veterinary science is a very competitive degree. With only eight veterinary schools across the UK, it can be difficult to secure a place. If you do manage to get into veterinary sciences, don’t waste the opportunity! Why? Because 95.9% of graduates are employed within six months of graduating.

Law Degrees

Law is not only one of the most employable but one of the most popular degree subjects in the UK. If you love to argue, why not make it a career?

Many choose to pursue their law education further after their undergraduate, choosing to study specialised areas at the graduate level or beyond.

Does It Help Employability To Study A Postgraduate Degree?

Depending on the career you want to do, an undergraduate degree may be more than enough to enable you to work in your field of choice.

However, many choose to study a postgraduate course to boost their career prospects, especially if they want to work in a field that requires additional qualifications.

In addition to postgraduates in veterinary science, medical-related degrees and computer sciences, education is one of the most employable postgraduate degrees.

Education postgraduate degrees are vocational, preparing you to work in schools. The employability rate for this degree is around 90%. Lord knows we can never have enough educators.

What Are The Most Employable Masters Degrees?

According to FutureLearn, the 10 most employable masters degrees in the UK are:

Nursing and Midwifery

• Employment Rate: 92.3%
• Average Salary: £33,400
• Careers: Nurse Practitioner, Midwife, Nurse Educator

Health and Social Care

• Employment Rate: 92.0%
• Average Salary: £30,200
• Careers: Social Worker, Public Health Officer

Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy

• Employment Rate: 91.1%
• Average Salary: £38,400
• Careers: Pharmacist, Clinical Researcher

Sport and Exercise Sciences

• Employment Rate: 90.6%
• Average Salary: £26,600
• Careers: Sports Coach, Exercise Physiologist

Allied Health

• Employment Rate: 90.8%
• Average Salary: £31,200
• Careers: Occupational Therapist, Radiologist

Medical Sciences

• Employment Rate: 89.8%
• Average Salary: £34,600
• Careers: Hospital Manager, Medical Researcher

Education and Teaching

• Employment Rate: 88.6%
• Average Salary: £34,600
• Careers: Headteacher, Policy Researcher

Psychology

• Employment Rate: 88.7%
• Average Salary: £27,400
• Careers: Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist

Veterinary Sciences

• Employment Rate: 88.4%
• Average Salary: £28,700
• Careers: Veterinary Surgeon, Wildlife Specialist

Medicine and Dentistry

• Employment Rate: 88.4%
• Average Salary: £42,500

Careers: Surgeon, Dentist, Specialist Doctor

Degrees and Employability: Everything You Need To Know

When it comes to choosing a degree that offers the most job opportunities, several fields stand out.

Your choice of degree should align with your interests, long-term goals, and the job market's demands. By considering both personal passion and employment prospects, you can make an informed decision about your degree and future career.

The great news is that there’s such a wide variety of highly employable graduate degrees that most should be satisfied with their choice.

Want to earn some extra money whilst at uni?