What can I do with a science degree?

At first glance, a science degree appears to lead to direct career paths. While some science grads do go on to work as scientists in their field, there are lots of other options available if that doesn’t appeal. With a science degree, you’ve got a range of doors open to you including consulting and law. Who knew? Well, you do now!

In this guide, we’ll run through some of the different careers you can do with a science degree and explain what desirable skills you’ll have picked up during your studies.

We’ll cover:

• The skills you’ll learn during a science degree
• How to use science skills in your everyday life
• Career options for science grads:
  • Technology
  • Charity
  • Law
  • Banking and finance
  • Consulting
  • Teaching

To understand what jobs your science degree will prepare you for, you need to recognise the skills that relate to your studies.

You’ll develop highly employable skills while studying for a science degree, including:

• Analytical skills and logical thinking
• Numeracy
• Problem-solving
• Diligence
• Inquisitiveness
• Teamwork
• The ability to propose ideas and theories

Employers across a diverse range of sectors value these skills. Be sure to sell yourself in any job applications and interviews by giving evidence of these attributes. You’ve got the skills, so show them off.

As a science grad, you’ll know how diverse your area of study is. It isn’t all Bunsen burners and dissections (although that’s part of it).

Your science degree will have taught you transferable skills that you’ll use in work and your everyday life.

For example, if you’ve had to analyse statistical patterns, you’ll be well-placed to spot trends. A skill like that will help you advise a business on their sales or marketing or inform how you make financial decisions with stocks and share prices.

You’ll also have learnt problem-solving skills. You’ll use this way of thinking to come up with creative solutions to workplace issues or address sticky situations in your friendship group.

Remember that your science degree will have taught you more than your subject matter. So, even if you decide not to go into a STEM career, you’ll use your science degree.

There are so many science degree careers out there. You don’t have to limit yourself to the conventional routes – or the sectors in our list.

As your skills are so diverse, there are lots of career paths open to you. Let’s dive in with some sectors we think will interest you. But don’t worry, it isn’t an exhaustive list. There are lots more sectors you can work in regardless of your degree subject.

Remember, it’s OK to have no idea what to do. However, we hope this guide will give you some inspiration and get those cogs whirring.

We’ll focus on the following sectors:

• Technology
• Charity
• Law
• Banking and finance
• Consulting
• Teaching

Technology is one of the most natural career paths for science graduates. You’ll utilise your skills in a technology role, especially your ability to work in a team and come up with new ideas.

Within the technology sector, there's a wide variety of paths for ambitious grads, from technical development to consultancy. Having some knowledge of coding will help you get ahead but it’s OK if you haven’t studied it at degree level. There are plenty of free beginner courses online and your science background will make it easier to pick it up.

Looking for a rewarding role? Do something good with your science degree by working for a charity.

Charities want graduates like you, so there are plenty of opportunities. The charity sector requires innovative thinkers with a flair for research – sometimes in a science role, such as investigating potential cures for illnesses. In a role like this, you’d put your practical skills to good use and thrive by proposing ideas and theories.

There are more career routes in the industry than research too. Many charity sector roles will give you the opportunity to impact positive change outside of a lab. Here are our top tips for getting a grad job in the charity sector.

With a science background, it’s easy to overlook sectors like law because you won’t have had a great deal of exposure to them. However, many law firms value science graduates.

Lots of law firms deal with clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries. It’s advantageous to them if they’ve got staff with a deeper understanding of certain scientific areas. You’ll know what terms mean that seem like gobbledygook to the non-scientifically minded. So, take advantage of your specialist knowledge even if you use it in a non-STEM role.

Your best route into law is through a one-year conversion course, followed by the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or equivalent. Some firms will offer to sponsor you through this training. If you’re interested in law, it's best to start meeting firms at events and applying for insight days and vacation schemes.

You’ll put your science skills to good use in banking as the industry requires numeracy and a hunger for knowledge – commercial and otherwise.

Many banking and finance employers are searching for efficient researchers who know how to source relevant information. As a science grad, you’ll be well experienced in doing just that.

In both banking and finance, it's essential to build up experience in the sector. If you’re still in your first year, it’s a good idea to secure yourself on a spring week to get your foot in the door. Reading this later in your studies or after graduation? Don’t worry. It’s not too late. Employers will recognise your transferable skills and there are other opportunities to build experience, such as internships.

Keen to explore this area in more detail? Discover everything you need to know with our career path guides on financial services and investment banking and assessment management.

The skills you pick up from a science degree also lend themselves to a career in consulting.

There are two routes that will particularly suit most science grads.

Firstly, we’ve got the obvious choice: technology consultancy. Your degree (although not a requirement) will help when applying for this role. Technology consultants help their clients achieve their business goals with technology. Like the sound of a role like this? Check out our guide to the technology consulting skills you need to get into the sector.

The second area of consulting that’s particularly suited to science grads is strategy consultancy. As a science specialist, this area is a good fit for you because of your analytical mind and your research skills. You'd be helping businesses make decisions at the highest level of their organisations.

Want to see if you’ve got what it takes to cut it? Find out the key skills consulting firms are looking for.

Are you keen to inspire the next generation of scientists? Teaching is a great option.

You may be able to get sponsorship or a bursary while you gain your qualifications. Studying for a PGCE is the most common route into teaching.

Science teachers are in demand, but you don’t have to teach science if you don’t want to. You could teach younger children across all subjects or take up a different role in education.

For guidance, read why you should consider a career in teaching.

As a science grad, you’re in a great position to find work.

There are so many suitable careers for those with a science degree, including traditional STEM roles (like technology) and positions in other sectors such as charity, law, banking and finance, consulting and teaching. Our list isn’t exhaustive, either. Your transferable skills could take you in any direction.

As there are so many options, figuring out what to do with a science degree can be overwhelming. If you’re still confused after taking our career path test, visit our guide on how to choose a job you’ll love. Whatever science degree career you choose, it should be the one that’s right for you – not your course-mates or the grads before you. So, keep an open mind to different sectors and we’re sure you’ll find something that will suit you. Whether you end up working in science or something altogether different, you’ll still use your degree skills every day – even if it’s not obvious.