This section looks at destinations for UK-domiciled Masters graduates in engineering and building in 2005. This section has been separated out from physical sciences due to differences in destinations and is presented for the first time in this format. 3,595 Masters degrees were awarded in engineering and building disciplines in 2005, with 2,495 replying to the HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DHLE) survey – a 69.4% response rate. Unusually for higher education qualifications, the large majority of graduates in this area, 72.9%, were male. Most studied full time (53.6%), and nearly half, 48%, were over 40 when they graduated. Subjects studied550 graduates studied planning, making it the most popular subject in this category in 2005. Engineering subjects, such as electrical engineering and civil engineering, as well as more general engineering study were the next most popular. Other popular subjects included - Building
- Architecture
- Mechanical engineering
- Production and manufacturing engineering
First destinations2,495 engineering graduates replied to the survey, and the large majority were working, or combining work and study, on graduation. 4.3% were unemployed six months after completing their course. Electrical and electronic engineers, who suffer high unemployment at first degree level, also saw similar issues at Masters degree level, with an unemployment rate over 9%. Production and manufacturing engineering also saw elevated unemployment, whilst civil engineering, architecture and planning all enjoyed very low unemployment at Masters level. Table One: Survey responses of UK-domiciled masters degree graduates in engineering and building subjects from 2005| First destination | Percentage of engineering and building graduates |
|---|
| Entered work in the UK | 75.6% | | Working and studying | 7.7% | | Entered studying and training in the UK | 4.8% | | Working or studying overseas | 3.2% | | Not available for work and study | 1.8% | | Believed unemployed | 4.3% | | Other | 2.7% |
Types of work2075 engineering and building graduates were known to be working in the UK six months after graduation. Graduates in these subjects were strongly congregated into certain areas (see Table Two), related to their subject of study – management, engineering and building occupations. Very few went into non-graduate employment. Table Two: Commonest jobs undertaken by UK-domiciled masters degree students in engineering subjects, graduating in 2005 and working in the UK six months after graduation| Type of work | Percentage of engineering and building graduates | Number of engineering and building graduates |
|---|
| Marketing, sales and advertising professionals | 1.2% | 25 | | Commercial, industrial and public sector managers | 25.2% | 525 | | Scientific research, development and analysis professionals | 1.9% | 40 | | Engineering professionals | 21.9% | 455 | | Health professionals | 0.2% | 5 | | Education professionals | 2.5% | 50 | | Business professionals | 4.6% | 95 | | Information technology professionals | 4.7% | 100 | | Arts, design, culture, media and sports professionals | 1.2% | 25 | | Legal professionals | 0.1% | 0 | | Social and welfare professionals | 1.5% | 30 | | Other professionals and associate professionals | 28.4% | 590 | | Numerical clerks and cashiers | 0.6% | 10 | | Other clerical and secretarial occupations | 2.3% | 45 | | Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff | 1.0% | 20 | | Other occupations | 2.5% | 50 | | Unknown occupations | 0.1% | 0 | | Total | 100% | 2075 |
All the most common jobs for these subjects are in roles directly related to their subject of study - see Table Three. This provides more evidence that many of these degrees provide a significant advantage – if they are not an outright necessity – for many careers in engineering and building. Table Three: Commonest jobs undertaken by UK-domiciled masters degree students in engineering subjects, graduating in 2005 and working in the UK six months after graduation| Type of work | Percentage of engineering and building graduates | Number of engineering and building graduates |
|---|
| Town planners | 6.6% | 135 | | Architects | 4.0% | 85 | | Production, works and maintenance managers | 3.9% | 80 | | Mechanical engineers | 3.3% | 70 | | General practise surveyors | 3.0% | 60 | | Design and development engineers | 2.5% | 50 | | Army officers | 2.4% | 50 | | Civil engineers | 2.2% | 45 | | Managers in construction | 2.1% | 45 | | Conservation, heritage and environmental protection officers | 1.9% | 40 |
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