Many Economics, Finance and Management graduates go into career areas directly reflecting the skills they have gained through studying the subject. These graduates are a target group for many major graduate employers and are high on their recruitment schedule.

Data obtained from

• Single and joint honours Economics courses (BSc), including those with study abroad
• Graduates from the UK 

Responses were received from 158 UK graduates from 2019/20; this is a response rate of 62.9%

Destinations

Most important activity	Percentage of graduates
Paid work for an employer	69%
Self-employment/freelancing	1.9%
Running my own business	1.3%
Developing a creative, artistic or professional portfolio	0.6%
Voluntary/unpaid work for an employer	0%
Engaged in a course of study, training or research	15.2%
Taking time out to travel	0.6%
Caring for someone	0%
Retired	0%
Unemployed and looking for work	6.3%
Doing something else	5.1%

Sector information

The sectors to which Bristol students have traditionally applied include finance, accountancy, investment banking, management consultancy and other City and commercial careers.

Employment sector	Number of graduates
Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy	21
Trusts, funds and other financial vehicles	10
Regulation of and contribution to more efficient operation of business	6
Other sectors (25 sectors)	48

There are also a number of Economics, Finance and Management graduates who do not enter careers directly related to the content of their studies. Instead, these graduates may choose from the huge range of occupations that do not require a specific degree (approx. 70% of all advertised vacancies) and that are open to graduates of any discipline.

Employers and occupations

Examples of employers

• EY
• Barclays Bank plc
• Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
• Goldman Sachs Group
• Visa Europe

Examples of occupations

• Analyst
• Investment Banking Analyst
• Audit Associate
• Consultant
• Assistant Economist

Further study

Many graduates opted to complete professional qualifications (e.g. ACA, CIMA, Fellowship of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries) alongside their employment. Graduates who have studied Economics may gain exemptions from the first year professional exams of the various accountancy bodies who validate the professional training.

Qualification type	Percentage of graduates
Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil, MRes)	2.9%
Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc, MBA)	70.6%
Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE)	2.9%
Professional qualification	17.6%
Undergraduate degree (including integrated master’s degrees) (e.g. BA, BSc, MBChB, MEng)	0%
Other undergraduate diploma or certificate not specified above	0%
Other qualification	5.9%
Not aiming for a formal qualification	0%