An Overview
In order to compete in today's competitive and multinational work environment, scientists are increasingly following diverse and joint degree structures. This may involve four or five years of study leading to a masters degree or a joint degree such as Chemistry with German. Graduates on this wide range of science courses that are now available have particular strengths with which they can market themselves. In addition to the underpinning scientific theory, scientists develop well-honed analytical and numerical skills which complement their computer competency. These skills are highly sought after for financial, commercial and management graduate trainee positions. Most science degrees also enable students to build on the team-working and communication skills valued by blue chip employers, small and medium sized enterprises, and, increasingly postgraduate course entry tutors. Demand for scientists is still strong in teaching, particularly in physical sciences such as physics. Environment and conservation remains a highly competitive area of employment and periods of work experience and voluntary work can prove an important stepping stone to employment in this field. Destinations
The table below shows the first destinations of science graduates in 1997 and 2000. One statistic which appears to reinforce a national trend is a slight drop in the number of science graduates during this period. This is true for all of the science subjects surveyed here: biology, chemistry, environmental science and physics. Overall, the percentages of science graduates entering employment or further study/training have remained static at around 55% for employment and 31% for further study/training. The unemployment rate has fallen slightly from 7.8% in 1997 to 6.3% in 2000. | | The first destinations of science graduates, 1997-2000 | | | Numbers graduating
(survey respondents) | Entering employment [%] | Entering further study/ training [%] | Unemployed at time of survey [%] | Other [%] | | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | | All First Degree Subjects | 170,751 | 171,279 | 68.4 | 67.8 | 19.2 | 19.4 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 5.9 | | Biology | 3,153 | 3,491 | 57.3 | 54.9 | 29.2 | 28.5 | 5.8 | 8.7 | 7.7 | 7.9 | | Chemistry | 2,449 | 2,633 | 47.8 | 49.4 | 39.2 | 40.4 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 6.9 | 4.9 | | Environmental Science | 1,900 | 2,240 | 63.7 | 64.8 | 19.9 | 18.0 | 8.1 | 10.5 | 8.2 | 6.7 | | Physics | 1,755 | 1,937 | 55.0 | 50.9 | 33.5 | 38.1 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 4.6 | | All Sciences | 9,257 | 10,301 | 55.7 | 54.9 | 30.8 | 31.1 | 6.3 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 6.3 |
Types of Work
Looking more closely at the type of work entered by these graduates six months after graduation in 2000, over 25% of chemistry graduates found posts in scientific research, analysis and development whilst 22% of physicists pursued a career in information technology. Over 18% of the jobs undertaken by environmental science graduates were in other professional, associate professional and technical occupations which included environmental officers, industrial safety officers and laboratory technicians. 12.3% of biologists were employed in scientific research, analysis and development. In addition, around one fifth of employed biology and environmental science graduates went into clerical and secretarial work, compared with about one in ten chemistry and physics graduates. Graduate Salaries
According to Prospects Today, the average salary offered to graduates from any science degree in the year to May 2001 was £19,044, an increase of 8.4% from the same period a year previously, and significantly higher than the average graduate starting salary of £17,786. However, jobs specifically requiring life sciences and physical sciences* graduates offered lower averages of £17,122 and £17,471, respectively. These figures are shown in the graph below. *Life sciences include medical & related subjects, biological sciences, and agriculture & related subjects. Physical sciences include subjects such as chemistry, materials science, physics, geology and environmental science.
Further Resources
Types of jobs in the following job categories: AGCAS publications are available in your local higher education careers service, or you can order publications from CSU. Useful Web Sites
On this site for a wealth of careers related information by exploring types of jobs and options with your subject. Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Institute of Physics Institute of Biology (IOB) New Scientist Nature Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Environment Agency (EA) Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
