Physics graduate destinations
Physics graduates move into a variety of fields where their combination of analytical, research, team working, problem solving, numerical, IT knowledge and communication skills are highly valued.
Data obtained from
- Single and joint honours Physics courses (BSc and MSci), including those with industrial experience or study abroad
- Graduates from the UK
Responses were received from 96 UK graduates from 2019/20; this is a response rate of 65.8%
Destinations
| Most important activity | Percentage of graduates |
|---|---|
| Paid work for an employer | 54.2% |
| Self-employment/freelancing | 0% |
| Running my own business | 2.1% |
| Developing a creative, artistic or professional portfolio | 4% |
| Voluntary/unpaid work for an employer | 1% |
| Engaged in a course of study, training or research | 26% |
| Taking time out to travel | 2.1% |
| Caring for someone | 0% |
| Retired | 0% |
| Unemployed and looking for work | 6.3% |
| Doing something else | 8.3% |
Sector information
Examples of regular recruitment sectors include actuarial work, operational research, government statistical and security services, engineering, management consultancy, IT, investment banking, financial modelling, accountancy and teaching.
Around 70% of all graduate vacancies don't ask for specific degree subjects and Physics graduates will also therefore find openings in fields unrelated to their degree. Bristol Physics graduates have entered a whole spectrum of careers from filmmaking and journalism to marketing and the civil service.
| Employment sector | Number of graduates |
|---|---|
| Information technology consultancy activities | 7 |
| Engineering activities and related technical consultancy | 3 |
| Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy | 4 |
| Other sectors (23 sectors) | 30 |
Employers and occupations
Examples of employers
- Accenture plc
- BAE Systems Applied Intelligence
- Citigroup
- Octopus Energy
- Siemens
Examples of occupations
- Data Analyst
- Software Engineer
- Technical Consultant
- Business Consultant
- Marketing Analyst
Further study
| Qualification type | Percentage of graduates |
|---|---|
|
Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil, MRes) |
46.4% |
|
Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc, MBA) |
35.7% |
|
Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE) |
7.1% |
|
Professional qualification |
7.1% |
|
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 | 3.6% |
| Not aiming for a formal qualification | 0% |
While my current position isn't directly linked to my degree, I gained many transferable skills and would not have been able to get the job without it. The reputation of Bristol is also a plus as I think many employers do consider where you studied after you have met the mandatory grade they expect.
Connect with alumni
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