Science - an overview

• An overview
• Destinations
• Types of work
• Salaries
• References
• Contacts and resources
• Case Studies
• Quotes

View destinations of specific subjects:

» An overview

2007 university application figures showed an increase in interest in many science subjects. By the end of June 2007, application figures for biology were up by 5.7% from the previous year, chemistry by 11.3% and physics by 12.5% (UCAS, 2007).

According to the review of skills by Lord Leitch, ‘ The need to invest in high level research skills and knowledge is central to UK efforts to maintain and develop the knowledge base for our economy, generating and propagating a world class research community and provide the foundation for technological innovations required for a sustainable future’. This means that, more than ever before, science degrees are being regarded as essential to national prosperity.

However, there is still concern over the numbers of students studying some science subjects. Declines in the number of graduates in chemistry and physics in particular over the years have been worrying education and business leaders, and this year, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggested that students in science subjects should receive bursaries to stimulate interest in these strategically important areas.

In 2006, biology, chemistry and environmental sciences all experienced a year-on-year fall in the number of graduates. On the other hand, sports science showed a strong rise, whilst a modest increase in the number of graduates in physics was recorded.

» Destinations

In addition to a massive increase in numbers, sports science graduates also enjoy the highest employment rate amongst scientists, at 62.3%, and the lowest unemployment, at 4.9% (see Table 1).

Six months after graduation, science graduates, especially those from physics and chemistry, were more likely to have entered further study/training than those from other disciplines. In 2006, 32.9% of physics graduates and 34.4% of chemistry graduates went on to further study (as a sole activity) compared with 13.8% of all first-degree graduates. Biologists and environmental science graduates were also much more likely than graduates as a whole to enter further study. These reflect the fact that to pursue a research and development career within science, a postgraduate qualification is often useful, and in many cases, even a prerequisite.

Although unemployment rates in some subjects are, perhaps surprisingly, a little higher than the average for all graduates, most fell in 2006. Environmental science graduates showed the greatest improvement in employment prospects, with unemployment falling from 7.0% in 2005 to 6.1% in 2006.

A high profile campaign to recruit teachers in science disciplines appears to be bearing some fruit, with a rise in the number of chemistry graduates going on to teaching courses. The campaign, however, has not been entirely successful, with a falling proportion of physics graduates opting to go into teaching.

» Types of work

As mentioned, many graduates aspiring to enter science research and development take postgraduate degrees in order to improve their job prospects. This means that although scientific jobs remain important for many subjects, chemistry is the only course here where science is the most important job outcome six months after graduation. In 2006, 24% of chemistry graduates were working as scientific researchers six months following completion of their degree.

One in five (19.6%) sports science graduates were employed as sports professionals, with coaching and instructing jobs the most important in this area. One in nine, 11.1%, also went into education, mainly as teachers, and another one in twelve, 8.5%, went into management - demonstrating the transferable nature of the degree.

Management was also very important for environmental science, with 12.3% of graduates starting a management role. Environmental science graduates, however, were more likely to enter professional roles in surveying and planning, than roles in science or management.

The types of work that physics graduates entered were perhaps more like their counterparts in mathematics than chemistry and biology. Physics graduates were much more likely to enter a role in the finance industry than science. Nearly one in five, 19.4%, physics graduates went into a business or finance jobs, in a range of roles such as accountants, auditors, analysts and actuaries. This displays the adaptability of many science degrees and shows that there are more jobs than the traditional science occupations, that scientists can enter.

» Salaries

The changing nature of employment for physics graduates is reflected by their relatively high starting salaries. In 2006, physics graduates who were employed full-time were earning £20,035 six months after graduating, with chemistry graduates earning £19,174 on average. This compares well with an overall average full-time graduate salary of £18,501, six months after graduating. However, biology (£16,402), environmental science (£16,720) and sports science (£15,963) all earned, on average, below the mean rate for all full-time graduates. This partly reflects a relatively high degree of voluntary work amongst graduates from these degrees - especially for environmental sciences – but graduates from many of these disciplines will see salaries grow quickly as they get more experience in their careers.

A report entitled The Economic Benefits of Higher Education Qualifications published by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and commissioned jointly by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the Institute of Physics (IOP) claims that graduates in chemistry and physics earn up to 30% more than those with A-levels only. The research also demonstrated that the Exchequer can benefit from greater numbers of chemistry and physics graduates with graduates in these subjects paying £135,000 more in tax than those with two or more A-levels (or equivalent) alone and £40,000 more than the average graduate over their working life.

Dr David Giachardi, the RSC Chief Executive, commented “The tax man should be very concerned about universities not cherishing chemistry and physics, while undergraduates in these areas will be looking forward to being ahead of the field financially for the rest of their lives after graduating” (RSC press release, 2005).

» References

Table 8 in the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) press release ‘University and college applicant numbers continue to show consistent increase’, 19 July 2007.

Skills in the UK: The Long Term Challenge - The Final Report of the Leitch Review, 2006, HM Treasury, Leitch Review of Skills

Confederation for British Industry press release, 13 August 2007.

The Economic Benefits of Higher Education Qualifications, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, January 2005. The report can be downloaded from Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Royal Society of Chemistry press release, 2 February 2005.

» Contacts and resources

Websites

Resources on this site

• Your degree in biology
• Your degree in chemistry
• Your degree in envirnomental science
• Your degree in physics
• Explore types of jobs - occupations especially relevant to science graduates can be found under scientific services, natural resources and the environment, education, teaching and lecturing, and engineering.

General links

• British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
• Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Society of Biology
• Institute of Physics (IOP)
• Nature
• New Scientist
• Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

» Case Studies

Sarah - BSc Biology. Education officer, Society for Experimental Biology.

I took a four-year sandwich degree in applied biology, which meant that I spent a year working in industry during my third year. Following my degree, I worked in a research laboratory at York University where I carried out experiments in the lab to find out how minerals are taken up by plants. I got the job because of the practical experience I gained during my final-year project and my year in industry, so it’s important to do some independent lab work during your degree whenever possible if you want to work in research.

After three years, I decided my heart wasn’t really in research, so I moved across into scientific publishing where I could be more creative. Publishing is a form of science communication - it’s very important that discoveries are made known so that other scientists can use the information to develop new technologies. I worked as a managing editor but there are lots of other types of jobs within the sector, such as desk editor, editorial assistant, commissioning editor, production manager and marketing manager.

I am currently working as an education officer. Science communication is a very broad career and can involve explaining science to the public and schools (e.g. in a science museum, science centre or at science festivals), writing about science (e.g. as a science journalist), working as a science press officer (who bridges the gap between scientists and the media) or, like my current role, working as an education officer. I run workshops and activities at our science conferences to help scientists learn how to communicate their science effectively to the public and to the media. I also run outreach events at science festivals and in science museums, in partnership with other science communicators.

If you want variety and creativity combined with science, this is a great job. The career path is rather ‘crazy’ as many jobs are short term, and you may have to move on to another organisation if you want to get on. There is quite a lot of travelling involved within the UK and occasionally abroad, and you get to meet lots of interesting people.

Piers - BSc Physics. Mesoscale research scientist.

Piers works as a mesoscale research scientist at the Met Office in Exeter and is employed in the field of weather modelling. There are two main divisions of weather modelling: one is international, the other more local, based around Great Britain and Europe. His role involves analysing and testing recommended developments in weather modelling and helping to implement changes to current systems.

Piers has held a keen interest in physics for many years, taking physics A-level and, after finishing his first degree, progressed on to an MSc in physics at the University of Bristol. He completed a final year project in neutron diffraction and after graduation went on to complete a PhD in physics, also at Bristol. This was followed by postdoctoral work at the Rutherford Laboratories in Oxfordshire, after which Piers joined the Met Office, following its move to Exeter.

His current role involves testing any recommended changes to existing climate modelling techniques and he works on areas such as analysing cloud formation, rain and snowfall patterns, and atomic dispersion related to air quality. The work is largely office-based, involving extensive use of computer software. It requires a systematic and rational, yet imaginative, approach to solving problems and the ability to be able to analyse a wide range of complex information. There is also a need to produce information in report form for use by others.

» Quotes

Medical physics

Get some experience of working in a hospital department, be it as an optional part of your degree or even some voluntary work; subscribe to a suitable medical journal, and join a relevant society.

Anatomy and human biology

While the subject of my degree is not relevant at all to banking, the skills gained by studying and through extracurricular responsibilities most certainly are relevant. During the recruitment process, I was able to demonstrate self-motivation, discipline and balancing aspects of student life.