Over the years, the field of education has transformed significantly. With the evolution of education and its blending with technology, students now have endless choices of courses. However, one aspect of education that has mostly stayed the same is that your investment in your degree influences your future. What courses and degrees do you choose to serve as an investment for your future job prospects? Hence, selecting your career path is still critical as it influences a very important life aspect.

However, choosing the right university and degree programme can be an overwhelming task for many students, especially those planning to enrol in Bachelor’s programme, as their choice can have implications on their future specialisations. And that’s what this post is all about. In what follows, we share an insight into some of the popular UK degrees with bright job prospects in 2024. But before we start with specific U.K. degrees, we look at a few considerations when choosing a degree programme that can help you brighten up your job prospects.

Key considerations when choosing UK degrees with bright job prospects

While choosing a degree that aligns with your vision for yourself, your values, and your aspiration is important, it’s equally important to beware of the opportunities that exist within your chosen industry. You need to consider how your degree will fit in the local and global economy and what job prospects you will have in the future. Moreover, you should also be considerate of the expected salary bracket you will be associated with following the completion of your desired degree programme.

We emphasise reflecting on all possible aspects that can affect your future job prospects because studies suggest that a majority of British employees (around 60%) are in jobs that aren’t relevant to their degree. Hence, their career progression isn’t as swift as it could have been with the right programme choice. If you are planning to start your Bachelors or Master’s degree programme in the U.K. in 2024, we bring you a list of study areas and U.K. degrees offered by the universities in the U.K. that have bright job prospects in 2024 and a few years down the road.

UK degrees with bright job prospects in 2024

Some of the subjects which are offering UK degrees with bright job prospects in 2024:

1. Finance, Accounting, and Business

One of the most popular groups of degree programmes offered by U.K. universities is the Finance, Accounting, and Business group. The area of study ranks on top as most jobs are offered in this field. And while the number of jobs offered in Business, Accounting, and Finance is higher, the field also provides the most flexibility to the employees in terms of opportunities for remote working. Certain jobs related to Accounting, Business, and Finance will need a presence in a physical space like a workstation. However, there are endless opportunities for employees to work remotely.

The study area doesn’t only feature most jobs available and flexibility in terms of working but also has a higher return on investment as individuals specialising in the field of Accounting, Finance, and Business are also offered the second highest pay in the U.K. The average annual salary of individuals working in the Business, Accounting, and Finance group is around £43,000, which takes second place for best-paid jobs in the U.K.

One more reason we claim that Finance, Accounting, and Business degrees have a bright job prospect in 2024 is that it is the third-most sought-after qualification in the U.K. and worldwide. The statistics reveal that there is a lot of potential and opportunities in this sector in the U.K. and around the world, especially in Middle Eastern and Asian countries with thriving economies.

2. Medical and Computer Sciences

The next broad category of study area and degrees that offer bright job prospects in 2024 is Medical and Computers Sciences which includes degrees in I.T. nursing, dentistry, biomedical, and nursing.

When it comes to Bachelor’s degree programmes, and certificate courses, I.T. and medical programmes take second place in the best overall job prospects category. When it comes to the field of medicine (including nursing, physiotherapy, and biomedical), the area of study offers the highest number of undergraduate courses. The programme allows the students to secure highly regarded job positions in the U.K. and worldwide. Moreover, the field also provides a workforce with the flexibility to work remotely inside and outside the U.K. The study area also takes second place in terms of job choice and the most sought-after jobs, as job searches in this category account for 4.4 million searches between the years 2021 and 2022.

3. Engineering, Robotics, Actuarial Sciences, Astronautics and Aeronautics

The U.K. is home to some of the world’s best Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in Engineering, Robotics, and Actuarial Sciences. Numerous universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in this field, which also comes with a bright job prospect in 2024.

The job market for students completing their degree in engineering, Actuarial Sciences, Astronautics, and Aeronautics has expanded by 7.4% between the years 2019 and 2021, which means the pie is growing, and there’s a lot of potential for students following the completion of their degree programmes. Engineering, Robotics, Astronautics, and Aeronautics rank at number three in terms of job choice and the most sought-after jobs.

Most popular UK degrees

Here are some most popular degrees for study in the UK:

1. Sciences

Degree programmes related to the Sciences, including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, remain the most popular in the U.K. Jobs in the relevant field surpassed the 5 million mark over the last year. Science degrees remain popular in the U.K.’s biggest job hubs, including Birmingham, London, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. While Sciences remains a popular choice, Accounting, Business, and Finance remain degree programmes of choice with bright job prospects in 2024.

2. Mathematics, Statistics, and Economics

The other most popular area of study that attracts students within the U.K. and international students are degree programmes offered in Mathematics, Statistics, and Economics. They often make a popular choice among students because this area of study offers the best annual industry average salary. A study indicates that these degrees come with the highest potential salary, with an average annual salary of £46,000, considered the highest across all degrees of study.

3. Textile, Fashion, and Consumer Marketing

Local and international students in the U.K. also pursue degree programmes related to textiles, Fashion, and Consumer Marketing. While they make a popular choice in terms of individuals who pursue these programmes, there are limited jobs available in this sector and hence limited growth prospectives.

Conclusion

When investing your time and money into acquiring an education, it’s best to choose a field that aligns with your interest but also ends up paying you off. The smarter your choice, the more returns on investment you can expect. Therefore, you should always consider your chosen field of study and the prospective career path you wish to choose. Always consider your passion and align your passion with the existing opportunities in the U.K. and the global economy and make the best possible choice.

At AHZ Associates, we help you make the right choices for your future by guiding you at each step. Find out more about AHZ Associates here.

FAQ’s

What should I consider while choosing a degree programme in the UK for better job prospects in 2024?

While choosing a degree programme in the UK, you should reflect on all possible aspects that can affect your future job prospects. You need to consider how your degree will fit in the local and global economy and what job prospects you will have in the future. Moreover, you should also be considerate of the expected salary bracket you will be associated with following the completion of your desired degree programme.

Which are the popular UK degrees that have bright job prospects in 2024?

Some of the popular UK degrees that have bright job prospects in 2024 are Finance, Accounting, Business, Medical and Computer Sciences, Engineering, Robotics, Actuarial Sciences, Astronautics, and Aeronautics. These degrees offer numerous job opportunities and have the potential to provide a high return on investment.

Which study area provides the most flexibility to employees in terms of opportunities for remote working?

The Finance, Accounting, and Business study area provides the most flexibility to employees in terms of opportunities for remote working. Although certain jobs related to Accounting, Business, and Finance require a physical presence, there are endless opportunities for employees to work remotely.

What is the average annual salary of individuals working in the Business, Accounting, and Finance group in the UK?

The average annual salary of individuals working in the Business, Accounting, and Finance group in the UK is around £43,000, which takes second place for the best-paid jobs in the UK.

Which degrees come under the Medical and Computer Sciences category that have bright job prospects in 2024?

Under the Medical and Computer Sciences category, degrees in I.T., nursing, dentistry, biomedical, and nursing have bright job prospects in 2024. The area of study offers the highest number of undergraduate courses, allowing students to secure highly regarded job positions in the UK and worldwide.