There are over65,000 courses to choose from at UK universities, and some more than others offer excellent graduate employment prospects once your degree is over. Using data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, we have taken a look at the top seven subjects in the UK which offer the highest employment rates for graduates.
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Most Employable Degrees in the UK
1. Medicine & Dentistry
Medicine and dentistry courses encompass in-depth studies of human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical practice. Students gain essential medical skills through hands-on experience in hospitals. The curriculum includes disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, preparing future doctors and dentists to serve in healthcare settings worldwide.
Medicine and dentistry are the most employable in the UK, with a 99.4% employment rate within six months of graduating. There are limited spaces on medical programmes in the UK, and competition for places is notoriously fierce.
- Subject guide:Medicine |Dentistry
- Career opportunities: Anaesthetist, Cardiologist, Clinical radiologist, General practice doctor, Hospital doctor, and Neurologist (Medicine) and Dental hygienist, Dental technician, Dental therapist and Dentist (Dentistry).
- Expected salary(six months after graduation): Medicine: £50,373; Dentistry: £30,000 per year.
- Employment rate: 99.4%
2. Veterinary Science
Veterinary Science focuses on animal health and welfare. The curriculum covers animal anatomy, physiology, and pathology, and students learn to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses in animals, both domestic and wild. Practical training includes surgery, medicine, and advanced imaging technologies.
Veterinary medicine courses study the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses for animals and, similar to medicine, there are very limited places available at the eight veterinary schools in the UK. 95.9% of graduates in this subject find employment within six months of graduation.
- Subject guide:Veterinary Science
- Career opportunities: Animal nutritionist and Veterinary surgeon are the two most common career choices after a degree in veterinary science.
- Expected salary: £30,500.
- Employment rate: 95.9%
3. Allied Medicine Subjects
Allied Medicine programmes involve subjects such as physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Students learn to assist healthcare professionals in diagnostics and patient care. The curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills for specialised medical support roles.
Medicine is a broad subject and doesn't just encompass the doctors who treat you but also the theatre technicians, pharmacists and medical researchers who work together to help save lives. Across subjects such as these, 95.3% were employed six months after graduation.
- Subject guide: Physiotherapy | Health Studies |Pharmacy
- Career opportunities: Dietician, Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist.
- Expected salary: £34,137.
- Employment rate: 95.3%
4. Education Studies
Education Studies delves into theories of learning, pedagogy, and educational psychology. The curriculum prepares future educators with classroom management techniques, curriculum design, and assessment strategies. Graduates often pursue teaching careers or roles in educational administration.
Do you have the ability to inspire, motivate, manage and deal with challenging behaviour? 94.4% of graduates in education are employed or go on to further study upon graduation, and a career in teaching can be highly rewarding.
- Subject guide:Education Studies
- Career opportunities: Early years teacher, Ofsted inspector, primary school teacher, and teaching assistant.
- Expected salary: £19,000.
- Employment rate: 94.4%
5. Architecture
Architecture courses combine artistic creativity with technical skills. Students study design principles, structural engineering, urban planning, and sustainable architecture. The curriculum involves hands-on projects, fostering innovation in building design and construction for functional and aesthetic spaces.If you think you can take on the design, mechanics and construction of buildings and objects, a career in architecture is extremely rewarding. 90.1% of architecture students had found jobs or further study within six months of graduation.
- Subject guide:Architecture
- Career opportunities: Architect, CAD technician, and Urban designer are the most common job profiles after an architecture degree.
- Expected salary: £27,000.
- Employment rate: 90.1%
6. Law
Law programmes cover legal systems, principles, and procedures. Students learn about various areas of law, including criminal, civil, and constitutional law. The curriculum includes case analysis, legal research, and courtroom practice, training future lawyers and legal professionals.89.9% of law students found employment or moved on to further studies within six months of graduating, with many focussing on specialised areas at the postgraduate level. Law remains one of the most popular subjects to study in the UK.
- Subject guide: LLB | LLM
- Career opportunities: Solicitor, Arbitrator, and Barrister are the most common job profiles after a law degree in the UK.
- Expected salary: £25,000.
- Employment rate: 89.9%
7. Biological Sciences
Biological science courses encompass a broad range of disciplines, such as genetics, ecology, and microbiology. The curriculum explores life at the cellular and molecular levels, as well as ecosystems and biodiversity. Graduates often pursue careers in research, healthcare, or environmental conservation.Biological science is the study of all living things, and in recent years, the subject has boomed in popularity. 89.2% of graduates found employment as marine biologists, microbiologists and nanotechnologists.
- Subject guide:Biotechnology
- Career opportunities: Common job profiles for biotechnology graduates include Biotechnologist, Pharmacologist, and Teaching laboratory technician.
- Expected salary: £19,000.
- Employment rate: 89.2%
8. Economics
Economics courses delve into the study of resource allocation, market dynamics, and economic policies. The curriculum covers microeconomics and macroeconomics theories, quantitative analysis, and research methods, and graduates find career opportunities in finance, consulting, government, or academia.
If understanding how economies function and analysing market trends excite you, a degree in economics might be the path to a promising career. With an employment rate of 89%, Economics graduates have diverse opportunities in various sectors.
- Subject guide:Economics
- Career opportunities: Economist, Financial Analyst, Market Research Analyst, Policy Analyst.
- Expected salary: £30,000 - £40,000.
- Employment rate: 89%
9. Business and Management
Business and management programmes prepare students for leadership roles in various industries. The curriculum covers organisational behaviour, marketing, finance, and strategic management. Students develop skills in decision-making, problem-solving, and effective communication. The business sector offers numerous avenues for those with business and management knowledge, and graduates in this field enjoy a 90% employment rate and can pursue roles as entrepreneurs, managers, consultants, and more.
- Subject guide: Business and Management
- Career opportunities: Business Analyst, Management Consultant, Marketing Manager, Operations Manager.
- Expected salary: £25,000 - £35,000.
- Employment rate: 90%
10. Computer Science
Computer science degrees focus on software development, algorithms, data structures, and programming languages. The curriculum emphasises problem-solving, coding, and software engineering principles and graduates often work in software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology consulting.
In the digital age, computer science professionals are in high demand. With a 76.3% employment rate, computer science graduates can excel as software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts, and technology consultants.
- Subject guide: Computer Science
- Career opportunities: Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Web Developer, Cybersecurity Analyst.
- Expected salary: £35,000 - £45,000.
- Employment rate: 76.3%
11. Engineering
Engineering courses offer specialisation in mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering fields. The curriculum includes mathematics, physics, and hands-on engineering projects. Students learn to design, analyse, and optimise systems and structures to meet societal needs.
Engineers shape the future by designing and building innovative solutions. With a 72.1% employment rate, engineering graduates can forge paths as mechanical, civil, electrical, and beyond, contributing to various industries.
- Subject guide: Engineering
- Career opportunities: Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Aerospace Engineer.
- Expected salary: £28,000 - £40,000.
- Employment rate: 72.1%
Graduate Job Prospects FAQ
Medicine is one of the most employable degrees in the UK, closely followed by education, veterinary science and law.
Amongst all UK jobs, medicine and dentistry have the highest employment rate at 99.4%.
Medicine is one of the hardest degrees to succeed in in the UK, closely followed by architecture and law.
Medicine and dentistry are among the best courses to get a job immediately after graduation.
