Biology : Career areas

Scientists are highly valued by employers. Your curious, investigative minds are useful to all sorts of employment areas, not just in the science sector.

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, nearly half of biology graduates had entered employment. Approximately 7% combined work and further study and 27% went on to do further study only.

Of those who entered work, about 12% went into professional and technical jobs, such as research assistant or lab technician. Approximately 12% went into scientific research, analysis and development. About 7% went into management jobs, 4% went into business and finance, 5% pursued options in education, around 5% went into healthcare and approximately 3% went into sales and marketing. About 30% were doing clerical work, retail or catering, perhaps to build up work experience or take some time out.

Where are the jobs?

A wide range of employers recruit graduates for biology-related jobs including:

• universities and clinical research organisations;
• pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies;
• private hospitals and NHS trusts;
• national and global health and environmental charities;
• scientific and technical consultancies;
• schools and colleges;
• outreach organisations such as museums, science centres and broadcast companies, etc.

Biology graduates who choose a non-biology-related career can cast their net more widely, so it is a good idea to look at the information on specific careers.

For an insight into employment areas see:

• science
• environment and agriculture
• health

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, with the data being collected within just six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?