Careers
The University of Nottingham has one of the best records for successful graduate employment in the country and is consistently targeted by some of the top employers in the world.
Where do our graduates go?
Natural Sciences graduates tend to do in one of three directions when they finish their degree.
Further Study
Around a third of our graduates choose to do further study either to enhance their undergraduate degree and specialise further through taught masters or research degrees or to change their focus and move into a different career area when they can combine their studies with another vocation such as law/teaching/communication/medicine/veterinary medicine. Some of our recent graduate have gone on to the following programmes:
- PhD: Energy - Warwick Manufacturing Group and The Faraday Institution
- PhD Physical Chemistry – University of Nottingham
- MRes Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation
- MSc Genes, Environment and Development in Psychology and Psychiatry
- Graduate Entry Medicine – University of Nottingham
- PGCE Teacher Training Programme
Science Graduate Careers
Around a third of our graduates apply directly to graduate roles and schemes within scientific/technological industries. Students can apply to a wide range of roles across healthcare and clinical research, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, physical sciences, energy and engineering, computing, security and technology. Conservation, environmental and sustainability. Some of our recent graduates have gone on to the following roles:
- Graduate Consultant – BAE Systems Applied Intelligence
- Research Scientist – National Physical Laboratory
- Propellant Scientist – Roxel (UK Rocket Motors) Ltd
- Water Environmental Consultant – WSP
- Conservation Scientist – Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Broader Graduate Careers
The final third are students who want to use the skills acquired during their time at university to work in areas not related to science and this opens up a wide range of doors to students working in business, finance, marketing, communications, law, education and creative industries. We have students who have gone on to work in the following roles:
- Health Economist – FIECON
- Quantitative Research Lead – Linney
- Operations Manager – Network Rail
- Sustainable Investing Associate – JP Morgan Asset management
- Graduate Trainee Corporate Finance – KPMG
- Marketing Executive – Butternut Box
Enhancing your employability during your degree
There are a lot of ways to develop yourself and make yourself more employable once you finish your degree.
Nottingham Advantage Award
The Nottingham Advantage Award is an employability award designed to recognise extracurricular activities students at Nottingham do alongside their degree and their value to enhancing a student’s career skills. Modules support a wide range of opportunities students can be involved with including:
- Peer Mentoring
- School-led Employment Skills Modules
- Community, Volunteering and Paid Employment
- Cultural Awareness (including study abroad) and Language Classes
- Employer-led leadership, enterprise and professional skills
- Internships, placements and work experience
- Students Union – society, hall committees, representation and leadership
Work Experience
Work experience is a great way to enhance your employability and there are lots of ways to do this alongside your degree.
Paid Employment – Unitemps can help students to find part-time roles which they can do alongside their degree to earn money and get experience for their CV.
Volunteering – The Student Volunteer Centre in the SU can help students to find opportunities to volunteer in the local community and further afield.
Working with young people – If you are particularly interested in working in education or youth engagement then there are opportunities to get involved through the Students into Classrooms scheme.
Placements – You can take summer placements in research or industry or you can even add a full placement year as part of a named degree.
Careers and Employability Service
The Careers and Employability Service provides a vital service for students of the University both during their degree and once they have graduated. It helps you to explore career ideas, find opportunities for work and further study, make effective applications and develop the skills you need for the career you want.
They offer workshops through the year in useful skills to help you to find graduate employment or further study. In addition advisors are available for short and long consultations to discuss any issues or concerns and the centre itself contains a wealth of resources to assist you in finding the career or course for you.
They also organize recruitment and information events on campus which give students the opportunity to meet some of the top employers on campus, build there network and find out more about some of the different sectors for careers.
The Careers and Employability Service does not stop working with you once you have finished your degree at Nottingham. The advisors are very happy to hear from former students and provide them with advice and guidance. They also work in partnership with the Alumni Office to organise events for graduates helping them to keep in touch with the University.
Visit their webpage to find out more about their support for Natural Sciences students