You’re probably thinking about going to university but you don’t know what to study. There are so many different degrees and career paths that it’s become nearly impossible to make a decision. Luckily, in the UK, higher education is pretty much free, and since you don’t have to worry about student loans, nothing should hold you back from studying a subject you are passionate about. The fact remains that, some degrees are more employable than others, and if you’re considering different career paths, it might be beneficial to know which degrees are the most likely to get you a graduate job.
5. Applied Mathematics
Mathematics is one of the most respected subjects and this is because mathematical sciences are omnipresent, most phenomena may be modelled and explained by mathematics, and this is what makes it such an important subject. As well as teaching you rigour and developing your analytical mind, studying applied mathematics will expose you to diverse areas of the industry and prepare you for real world’s challenges. Here is what your course might look like.
First year
- Linear algebra
- Real analysis
- Group theory
- Probability and Statistics
- C Programming
- Latex dissertation
- Calculus
Second year
- Mathematical finance
- Data mining
- Linear programming
- Statistics
- Multivariable calculus
- Complex analysis
- Mathematical modelling
- Differential geometry
- Procedural MATLAB programming
Final year
- Statistical methods
- Integer programming
- Combinatorics
- Game theory
- Data structures
- C++ Programming
- Non-Euclidean geometry
- Computational fluid dynamics
Career paths
Studying mathematics allows you to specialise in various areas of the industry. You will be able to use your knowledge to overcome diverse challenges and find analytical solutions to various problems. Here are some jobs you could expect to do with a mathematical background.
- Data Scientist
- Data Analyst
- Accountant
- Actuary
- Actuarial Analyst
- Software Engineer
- Statistician
- Research Scientist
- Risk Analyst
4. Business and Management
Being some of the most popular degrees, business and management majors are very flexible and broad, they allow you to explore various areas of a business and give you the option to specialise and prepare for a successful management career. Good business and management courses allow you to build strong foundations in key business areas such as economics, finance, data handling, marketing and managing people. Here is what the structure of a business degree looks like.
First year
- Introduction to marketing
- Organisational behaviour
- Economics
- Social science
- Entrepreneurship
- Work in contemporary society
Second year
- Research methods
- Human resources and management
- Law and management
- Data visualisation
- Intermediate economics
- Finance
Final year
- Marketing strategy
- International marketing
- Leadership
- Contemporary issues in marketing
- Applied economics
- Employment law
- Further microeconomics
- Further macroeconomics
- Risk management
Career paths
A business and management degree gives you a good understanding of various areas of a business. You will have access to many entry-level roles upon graduation and will apply your transferrable skills in a business environment. Here are some career paths related to a business and management degree.
- Accountant
- Credit Risk Analyst
- Business Analyst
- Investment Analyst
- Marketing Manager
- Project Manager
- Financial Adviser
- Business Development Manager
- Business Development Executive
- Business Development Executive
- Marketing Executive
3. Engineering
Engineers are sought in almost every industry, they use their technical and mathematical knowledge to produce solutions, and they have the ability to communicate technical information to a non-scientific audience. All the technologies and most of the objects we interact with every day have been designed and tested by engineers, this makes them extremely important elements of the workforce. Studying engineering will give you a lot of flexibility and allow you to learn a wide range of topics before specialising in a specific field. Here are some of the modules you might come across during your degree.
First year
- Mechanics
- Mathematics
- Electrical engineering
- Fluid mechanics
- Energy systems
Second year
- Thermodynamics
- Advanced mechanics
- Information engineering
- Mechanical Design
- Design project
Final year
- Computational engineering
- Advanced design project
- Communication systems
- Electronic engineering
- Research project
Career paths
- Mechanical Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Technical Engineer
- Petroleum Engineer
- Material Engineer
2. Computer Science
Computer Science is one of the most important areas of the industry, almost everything we interact with requires some sort of programming. Whether it’s for your favourite mobile app, your personal data, or favourite video game, Computer Science will always be crucial. During your degree, you will be exposed to a variety of programming languages, such as Java, C++ and Python, and will have the opportunity to solve real-world problems. Your degree will help you become a rigorous Computer Scientist, and give you the required knowledge and skills you need to work in a variety of industries.
First year
- Data structures
- Algorithms
- Object oriented programming
- Mathematics for computer scientists
- Principles of programming
Second year
- Security
- Functional programming
- Software engineering
- Database theory
- Systems programming
Final year
- Robotics
- Machine learning
- Advanced networking
- Image processing
- Neural computing
- Quantum computation
Career paths
- Software Engineer
- Back-end Developer
- Front end Developer
- Full stack Developer
- Software Developer
- Web Developer
- Data Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Game Developer
- Sales Engineer
- DevOps Engineer
- IT Engineer
1. Medicine
As well as being the most employable, a medicine degree gives you invaluable knowledge and a lot of flexibility. Medicine has been practised for thousands of years and will always be needed as long as humans are around. A medicine degree can last over five years and is usually split into two stages, the pre-clinical and clinical stages. During the first stage, you will learn about major systems of the human body, key concepts in biomedical sciences, focus on clinical cases and potentially interact with patients. The second part of the course consists of a clinical attachment, where you will rotate through general medicine and a mix of hospital sub-specialities mostly taught by clinicians. Here are some of the modules you could study in a medicine degree.
First year
- Foundation of medical science
- Community based medicine
- Regional anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Endocrinology
- Neurones and Society
Second year
- Immunology
- Advanced regional anatomy
- Patient and doctor course
- Renal science
- Reproduction
Third year
- Pathology
- Microbiology
- Haematology
- Applied immunology
Fourth year
- Cardiology
- Physiology
- Psychiatry
- Applied physiology
Fifth year
- Gynaecology
- General practice
- Surgery
- Research project
- Cardiovascular science
Career paths
- Doctor
- Surgeon
- Psychiatrist
- Pathologist
- Gynaecologist
- Nurse
- Neurologist
- Radiologist
- Physiologist
Conclusion
Fundamentally, it’s really important to enjoy what you’re studying. You shouldn’t pick a degree simply because it’s employable but also because you are interested in the subject. It’s very common for people to enrol in a degree they don’t like and drop out a few months later. Ultimately, what matters is that you have a clear plan about what you want to do with your degree and use it to gain the transferrable skills you need for your career.
