Overview

Agriculture is all about the growth and production of foods. People often use the term to refer specifically to the growth of crops, but it can also be used in a wider context to refer to the production of meat and a whole manner of other produce. Horticulture, which revolves around plant cultivation, often overlaps with agriculture when it comes to areas like crop production.

With people having more access to technology and information, the supply chain of our food has never come under such close watch. Problems like chemical pesticides, technological progression, genetic modification, climate change and most recently the infamous horsemeat scandal mean the agricultural sector is currently undergoing some pretty big changes.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

If you’re starting to think about doing agriculture or horticulture at university, you’ll be pleased to know there are plenty of different study options available. You should note that it is also possible to find an entry level job within this field after you’ve finished your A Levels and acquire your knowledge as you work, but this can take years and may leave you with very little flexibility in terms of the job market.

Studying agriculture at university, however, will give you a decent head start in terms of your knowledge and your future employability. There are a number of different programmes available to study, but most of them will offer a general overview of the agricultural sector during your first year. From the second year, you will be encouraged to choose specific modules in subjects such as crop management, agricultural engineering or animal management depending on what appeals to your interests.

Given the practical nature of the subject, work experience will play a key role in your course. Many universities offer a sandwich year (which will allow you to spend a year on placement in between your second and final years), and the Royal Agricultural College include a six-month placement as part of their course.

Why study this course?

So if the option to simply learn on the job is there, is it really worth studying agriculture or horticulture at university? Well, one thing worth remembering is that a course within this field will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the agricultural industry as a whole, allowing you to consider a number of different specialist subjects and meaning your learning will be tailored to your personal interests.

Agriculture is a fascinating subject – particularly for those with a passion for the outdoors and an interest in business and science. It is also a really important industry, which means that if you work hard and do well in your degree, there will be a whole host of job opportunities waiting for you when you finish.

After your degree

There are a number of different things that you can do after finishing your undergraduate degree. If you enjoyed your time at university, you can study your chosen specialism in much more depth by taking on an MSc or even a PhD qualification and finding work within the research sector.

Alternatively, many new graduates find work in production, food education, and communication, as well as having the option to pursue careers in the health and safety sector. It is also possible to use an agriculture qualification to find jobs within government agencies or charities, and occasionally within the product testing and marketing sectors.

Overview

Archaeology is the study of humankind - our biology, culture and diversity, both past and present. It’s mainly to do with digging up old bones. Archaeology is the study of human activity and lifestyle from the recovery of material data. The discipline not only includes the discovery of key historical information, but also refers to the preservation of historical sources and how to translate the information they provide in order to give us an overview of our own history.

With the advancement of technology, it is becoming increasingly easy to discover new information about our past, which makes archaeology an ever-changing (and fast-moving) industry to be a part of.

Archaeology examines the development of human culture from its earliest beginnings to the present.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have biology and chemistry (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Why study archaeology?

If you’ve a naturally inquisitive nature, a passion for history and you enjoy working outdoors, then archaeology may be the ideal course for you.

A degree in archaeology should provide you with an in-depth knowledge of archaeological practice as well as an insight in to past societies and cultures – in short, your degree will be a combination of detective work, discovery and analysis. Depending upon where you study, you will also be able to specialise in specific areas that appeal to your personal interests – from Ancient Egypt to the history of Mesopotamia.

What are your study options?

There are many different study options available for those looking to develop their understanding of archaeology. While it is possible to study a history or Earth science-related qualification at university and still find work later within the archaeology sector after graduation, many students choose to learn more about the subject by studying either a BA or BSc in archaeology. These tend to be the standard three years in length (although some universities will offer four-year courses that include a sandwich year).

All archaeology courses should teach you the key skills required to analyse and preserve data, as well as providing you with a general knowledge of history. However, as well as attending lectures, you will also be expected to visit museums, heritage sites and excavation sites on a regular basis. In this instance courses will vary between universities, as the nature of the field trips you go on will depend on the location of the university and its proximity to key sites of historical important. This is something you should bear in mind when making your choice.

After your archaeology degree

There are a number of career options available to students with a degree in archaeology. Many students go on and pursue careers that use the core knowledge taught on the course working on archaeological excavations, at cultural heritage sites or within museums and archives as curators.

However, there are a number of different sectors where archaeology graduates can find employment. Using the writing and analytical skills acquired throughout the course, many students find work within the arts sector as journalists and writers or within the business sector, working within PR and marketing departments.

Of course, just because you have a degree doesn’t mean that you should give up on studying. Postgraduate studies can have a fantastic impact on your career, so furthering your knowledge of archaeology by studying for a Master’s degree – or even, eventually, a PhD – may be worthwhile. Similarly, you can use postgraduate study as a means of diversifying your career by taking more vocational courses such as the GDL (law) or a PGCE (teaching), should these areas be of interest to you.

Career opportunities

Archaeology can develop skills in communication and analysis, as well as an awareness of culture, ethnicity and society. Anthropology can lead to careers in: aid and development agencies; teaching; consultancy in archaeological, health, social or environmental research; tourism; museums; local or central government.

Overview

Biology degrees are extremely diverse – ‘biology’ or ‘biological sciences’ covers a wide array of specialist subjects. From anatomy to ecology and microbiology to zoology, the course options available for those interested in pursuing studies in biology are extremely wide-ranging.

Biology is a science which is concerned with the study of life. Its scope is extensive, covering the structure and function of all living organisms, their relationships and evolutionary origins, as well as their interactions with each other and with the physical and chemical worlds about them.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What to expect from biology degrees

Typically, as a first-year biology student, you should expect to attend a considerable number of lectures, with accompanying practical work and write-ups. For subjects like cellular biology, genetics and epidemiology, practical work is likely to be lab-based, while ecology or environmental biology students will be expected to do field work.

In subsequent years, as you get more specialized, you may end up spending less time on lab work or choose to concentrate almost entirely on working in the lab. Towards the end of your degree you’ll typically be required to undertake a final research project. At some universities this will be a group effort, while at others you can pick individual projects from a pre-approved list.

As your degree progresses, therefore, you should expect to spend most of your time either working in the lab and/or undertaking personal research – good practice to start off your biology career.

Generally, undergraduate biology degrees run for three or four years (depending on the country), with some universities offering a year abroad or work experience opportunities. Some undergraduate courses may last an extra year, allowing students to graduate with an MSc instead of BSc.

What are your study options?

One of the great things about doing a degree in biology is that there are a wide range of modules available to study on. The style of teaching will very much depend upon the modules you choose and, while some theoretical subjects will be taught in a classroom environment, the majority of modules will require you to learn within the lab in a more practical setting (or even out on field trips).

Most degrees will be the standard three years in length, although some universities do offer sandwich courses (which involve you completing a year in industry prior to your final year).

Biology degree modules

Specializations

There are innumerable specializations and degree combinations available for those interested in studying biology. In order to achieve the level of expertise required to commence a career in biological sciences, you will at some point in your academic career – be it before you start your degree, during your first degree or at graduate level – need to pick an area on which to focus. Some of the main biology topics include:

Animal biology
Also known as zoology, animal biology is the branch of biology which focuses on the biological principles and problems relating to animals. You may choose to specialize in one area of animal biology for the entirety of your degree, or opt to split your studies between two subject areas. One specialization within this field would be marine and freshwater biology, which involves learning about the biology of aquatic organisms, including the management of aquatic environments and aquaculture.

Molecular biology
A study into the molecular basis of living systems, molecular biology aims to understand, at the most basic level possible, the nature and interactions of the units that make up living organisms. A popular branch of molecular biology involves the study of DNA, with the goal of sequencing or mutating it in order to study the effects and possibilities of these processes.

Human biology
There are a range of options that fall under the term ‘human biology’, including physiology, biochemistry and cell biology. In anatomy, you will study the composition of the human body and how it operates as a living organism. In neurobiology you will concentrate solely on the nervous system, often focusing on the brain, with the goal of developing treatments for both psychiatric and neurological ailments, and contributing to the advancement of knowledge of the most complex and least understood part of the human body.

Evolutionary biology
A study of how life came to be the way it is today, evolutionary biology involves anything from exploring organisms at the cellular level to the study of entire ecosystems. Although the main principles of this field have long been in place, there is still plenty of scope for new discoveries and theories.

Computational biology
The National Institutes of Health (an agency of the US Department of Health) defines computational biology as “The development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavioral, and social systems.”

Why study biology?

Biology is a particularly fascinating subject area which will provide students with an overall understanding of the science behind all living things. It is often a subject that appeals to individuals with strong mathematical capabilities, a passion for understanding the functions and processes behind life and a natural aptitude for understanding science.

Biology skills

Biology graduates should expect to graduate with a deep and nuanced understanding and expertise in their chosen field. Many graduates choose to study for a postgraduate qualification in a more specialized area, to increase their expertise. Others pursue postgraduate opportunities in other areas, to add an extra set of skills and knowledge to their existing ones.
General laboratory skills, including how to use laboratory equipment

Ability to confidently analyze and draw conclusions from complex data sets, and general analytical skills
Teamwork and strong communication skills, through group projects and seminars
Organizational and time management skills
An understanding of scientific literature and how to use it
Initiative and independence
An awareness and insider’s understanding of ethical issues and commercial contexts relevant to scientific research
Numeracy and technology literacy
Presenting findings in written and spoken form, to an acceptable academic standard; report writing and presentations
Framework for lifelong learning

Career Options

Your options as a graduate with a biology degree will largely depend on the level of qualification you attain. While the basic skills developed during an undergraduate biology degree are transferrable to many industries, many of the most sought-after biology careers do require higher levels of academic study.

Biology research careers

Few subjects lend themselves quite so well to research careers, either within academia or for a private research group or company. As a biology student you will have developed formidable scientific nous which, coupled with close analytical skills, organizational skills and attention to detail make biology graduates well suited to careers as a research scientist, biologist or lab technician in industry, healthcare or education.

Science communication careers

Science communications careers may involve working for a government agency, non-profit or charity, to help raise awareness about current scientific discoveries through events, marketing campaigns and educational schemes. As a specialist science journalist or editor, you could combine your scientific background with a flair for writing, working for various types of scientific publication or journal.

Medical careers

Biology graduates can also transfer into medical careers, though this will usually require at least four years of postgraduate study. Possible career tracks include dentistry, veterinary science, healthcare science, nursing and allied healthcare fields such as physiotherapy, speech therapy and dietary advice. Biology graduates may also choose to train to become general practice doctors or specialized consultants.

Legal careers

There are also opportunities for biology graduates within the legal sector, where specialized scientific knowledge may be required. Examples of legal careers for biology graduates include roles in patenting, where understanding of specific scientific and technical features would help. Biology graduates may also enjoy working in the scientific support services in the capacity of a forensic scientist for the police or industry, or in policy development and consultancy, which involves providing advice to governments and other bodies.

Career opportunities

In general, graduates of biology degrees will find that their background and skills will provide them with a broad spectrum of opportunities in both scientific and non-scientific fields. Within the sciences, industries with demand for biology graduates include government departments, Research Institutes and the private sector, in areas such as: The biotechnology, food, brewing, dairy and pharmaceutical industries Conservation, plant protection and quarantine Biomedicine and biomedical research Marine biology, ecology, aquaculture and fisheries Parks, agriculture, biotechnology, ecology, genetics, neurobiology, horticulture, food science, marine biology, conservation and the environment and wildlife documentary production.

Of course, continuing your studies at postgraduate level isn’t essential. The transferable skills acquired throughout your degree can be adapted to suite a wide range of industries from conservation and charity work to science and genetics.

Overview

For those keen to study a subject that touches on many of the biggest challenges for the world today, environmental science degrees are a good starting point. Very much an ‘interdisciplinary’ subject, environmental science degrees challenge students to draw on skills and knowledge from a variety of different fields. This could mean exploring aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, geography, earth and marine sciences, and also social sciences. The idea is to combine multiple perspectives and data sources, to build up a fuller understanding of natural and human environments.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have biology and chemistry (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Specializations

Environmental science topics
The list of possible environmental science topics is a long one, and each department will have their own key focus areas. Areas of specialization range from a focus on understanding specific life forms and ecosystems in great detail.

Soil ecology
This is an example of a subject at the ‘up close’ end of the spectrum, which is still of relevance to everyone. Soil ecology involves an understanding of issues such as soil nutrition levels, the spread of pathogens (viruses, bacteria and so on), the impact of pesticides and other chemicals, and soil porosity (spaces between grains).

Aquatic biology
A specialization in aquatic biology, which includes study of marine biology, involves research on a multitude of subjects, including communities and ecosystems, conservation, and intertidal and coastal ecology. This specialization could equip students for a technician-level job, an academic job or work as a consultant, among other options.

Earth systems
At the ‘big picture’ end of the spectrum, studying Earth systems means looking at large-scale changes in the Earth and its atmosphere, and studying the environmental systems that affect the whole planet. Subjects you might cover include geomorphology (understanding land formations and predicting future changes), weather systems, climate change, ice ages and oceanic systems.

Environmental Science skills

As well specific environmental science skills and knowledge, environmental science degrees should also provide graduates with a broad set of useful transferrable skills, valued by many different employers. These include:

Numeracy and data analysis
General IT skills
General research skills, including use of scientific literature
Lab and fieldwork skills
Ability to present findings clearly and persuasively
Awareness of a range of environmental issues
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Team work
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines

Environmental Science degree modules

Career opportunities

Environmental science
There are many different career paths open to graduates of environmental careers, in sectors ranging from outdoor recreation to waste disposal, and public policy development to agriculture. Some of the main environmental science careers options include:

Environmental consultancy
Working in environmental consultancy means providing advice to various organizations, either governmental or private, about an issue connected to the environment. This could mean assessing the environmental impact of an existing or planned project; advising on the pollution or contamination of land, air or water; measuring the ‘carbon footprint’ of an activity; advising on relevant legislation and regulations; and helping companies to become more sustainable.

Nature conservation
This pathway is for those who want to focus on protecting and promoting the natural environment. Nature conservation careers could involve overseeing the sustainable management of a natural area; planning and supervising projects to increase biodiversity or to bolster a particular species; fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of relevant issues. Employers include charities and non-profits, national parks and nature reserves, private estates, local authorities and consultancies.

Environmental education
Suited to those keen to pass on their knowledge and passion for the subject, environmental education careers could mean visiting schools to give talks, leading nature walks and organizing events, training volunteers and running workshops or courses, and liaising with educational and community groups. Common employers include trusts and charities, local authorities and other public sector groups, and attractions such as zoos, wildlife parks and botanical gardens.

Overview

Medicine is obviously a hugely important subject, as it plays a key role in the development of health within society. As well as curing the sick and preventing diseases, medicine is also responsible for amazing scientific discoveries, and the constant advancement of different treatment methods. Studying medicine is highly challenging but extremely rewarding, and will give you the medical knowledge, clinical and research skills, attitudes, awareness and enthusiasm for a vocation in any field of medicine.

A medicine degree is essentially your path to becoming a doctor – whether you want to be working in a local practice or you hope to one day be carrying out complex operations – and it involves the study of everything from human anatomy to the application of a wide range of different treatments.

Those who choose to study medical degrees will need a strong interest in the sciences, along with a passion for helping others and it’s a combination of these two factors that provides the motivation needed to keep going through the many years of training required to become a fully qualified doctor.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Getting into medical school

Given the prestige associated with the medical professions, and the extremely challenging nature of most medical careers, it’s unsurprising that getting into medical school is extremely competitive. In order to gain a place at a top medical school, it’s necessary to demonstrate exceptional grades in science subjects (especially chemistry and biology), as well as showing evidence of commitment to the field. This will usually mean gaining work experience, perhaps at a local healthcare center, private consultancy or another type of care facility such as an elderly care home.

If you have managed to gain the grades and the work experience necessary to secure a place on a medical course, then the chances are you’re no stranger to hard work. Despite this, you’ll need to be prepared for even more challenges, both during your studies and in the years ahead. This is a profession that can demand a lot both intellectually and emotionally, with an intensive and time-consuming workload.

What to expect from a medical degree

As well as allowing you to specialize in a particular division of medicine, medical degrees also provide students with the practical skills needed for specialized hands-on tasks (from taking a blood sample to complex surgical procedures), and the ‘people skills’ needed for interaction with patients and relatives.

Many top medical schools today consider practical development a key focus of their programs. This means that as well as attending seminars and lectures, you will have the opportunity to observe professional healthcare practitioners, and increasingly to start gaining practical experience yourself.

Finally, it’s important to remember that medical training is structured differently in different countries, and medical qualifications gained in one country are not necessarily recognized in others. So before deciding on a location for your medical studies, make sure you think carefully about where you’d like to go on to work, and the process required to complete your qualification.

Why study health & medicine?

Without wanting to sound too cheesy, you’ll literally be saving people’s lives. Plus, if ever there’s a situation where someone’s feeling faint, you’ll be able to intervene – you’ll say, ‘excuse me, I’m a doctor’ and the crowd will part – and everyone will think you’re a hero.

In all seriousness, though, medicine can be an incredibly rewarding and satisfying profession. Once you’ve qualified and entered the world of work you’ll be helping people on a daily basis and making a real difference to people’s lives.

What are your study options?

Courses tend to involve an even mix of theoretical, lecture- and lab-based learning and clinical placements; you’ll usually start off learning the ropes in your first couple of years before moving into placements (shadowing doctors on the job) for the second half of your degree.

What you will learn

The educational experience of our trainee doctors has the core value of improving the health of patients and communities and striving for equity of outcomes and access for all patients. This requires the integration of three platforms of learning. One is the generic knowledge, skills and attitudes that are common to all health professionals, with particular emphasis on communication and cultural skills, team work, empathy and medico-legal ethics.

Medical specializations

While there are many possible medical specializations, all medical degrees will start out with a more general grounding in the subject. This should give you an in-depth understanding of human biology, the principles of disease processes, and an introduction to different medical solutions and clinical procedures.
Further along, fields of specialization may include:

Anaesthetics
This is the part of medical care which makes it possible to numb a patient’s sensations, either in a specific part of the body, or by inducing complete unconsciousness. Specialists in anaesthetics (anaesthetists) are essential members of surgical teams, and are also involved in developing treatments to relieve chronic pain. Further levels of specialization could mean focusing on treating a particular type of case – whether within surgery or pain management. The role combines an in-depth understanding of applied physiology and pharmacology with practical, hands-on skills.

Obstetrics and gynecology
Specializing in obstetrics and gynecology means focusing on the care of pregnant women, their unborn children, and the management of diseases specific to women. Most consultants in this field are generalists, but possible sub-specializations include materno-fetal medicine, gynaecologic oncology and reproductive medicine. Surgical work in this field means working closely with specialists in fields such as urology, colorectal surgery and oncology, as well as liaising with endocrinologists, renal physicians and cardiologists.

Ophthalmology
This is the medical and surgical management of conditions of the eye and related issues. The range of conditions encountered within ophthalmology is wide and covers all age ranges. Common issues include trauma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease and congenital and genetic eye problems. There are many opportunities for sub-specialization, as well as academic and laboratory-based positions.

Paediatrics
Specializing in paediatrics means focusing on children’s health, with the aims of providing sensitive and effective treatment, while allowing young patients to lead lives as normal as possible. General paediatrics remains the bedrock of this field, but there are also opportunities to specialize in primary care, child and adolescent psychiatry and public health, as well as combining paediatrics with specializations in particular conditions, such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis and epilepsy.

Radiology
This medical specialization involves using different types of imaging technology, including radiography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to diagnose and treat patients. Radiology can be vital in providing an accurate and early diagnosis which helps to improve treatment prospects and is fundamental to the management of cancer care. Radiologists also play an important role in identifying sources of disease and reducing the risks of further spread.

General practice
General practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for most patients around the world. The bulk of general practice work is carried out during consultations in GP surgeries and during home visits. GPs provide a complete spectrum of care within their local community and deal with a wide range of problems combining physical, psychological and social elements. GPs must draw on an extensive knowledge of medical conditions and be able to quickly and confidently assess a problem and decide on the appropriate course of action.

Medical skills

Specialist knowledge and skills
Analysis of varied types of information
Professional communication and ‘people skills’
General research skills
Numeracy, including using and interpreting statistics
General IT skills
Problem identification and solving
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Team work
Self-management, including self-motivation and strong work ethic

Health & Medicine degree modules

Career opportunities

Medical graduates can expect fairly secure career prospects (after all, society will always need doctors), with significant financial rewards. Within medical careers, however, you'll find a large amount of variation in salaries, depending on which medical specializations you choose and the level of expertise you reach. A general practitioner, for example, would not expect to earn as much as a neurologist or plastic surgeon.

Careers include primary healthcare and general practice, or in a range of specialist disciplines including dermatology, emergency medicine, general medicine, geriatric medicine, gynaecology, medical research and education, neurology, obstetrics, oncology, paediatrics, pathology, psychiatry, public health, radiology and surgery.

Medical research

Some graduates of medical degrees choose to go into medical research, using their expertise to contribute to the understanding of diseases, and the development of new diagnostic techniques and treatments. This could mean researching the causes of different illnesses, examining the effectiveness of new drugs, or working on advancing medical technologies such as those involved in developing artificial limbs, fertility treatments and gene therapy.

Overview

Health Sciences focuses on socio-economic and behavioural factors affecting health and health provision, the role governments play in determining health policy, how health systems function, and the biological and social bases of ill-health in our communities. The BHSc provides an alternative entry track into the undergraduate medical programme. At the end of the first year, students who have taken the prescribed course of study and have obtained a minimum GPA of 6.0 (B+ average) in their courses will then be eligible for consideration for entry into second year medicine.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Areas of study

Health Sciences is a non-clinical programme that provides a multidisciplinary understanding of health, healthcare and health services. It provides an understanding of the biological, social and behavioural bases of the western medical system as preparation for a career in the health sector and related industries.

What you will learn

Topics in health and society, epidemiology, behaviour and health, health systems, healthcare ethics, Māori and Pacific health and human biology.

Health Science degree modules

Career opportunities

BHSc graduates fill a wide variety of roles in the public health sector. Their understanding of the social dimensions of health and health services, coupled with skills in identifying and evaluating initiatives to improve the health of populations give them excellent career opportunities in health promotion, health policy, health care management and health information services. A career in public health could lead to work with district health boards, non-governmental and governmental health agencies, as well as private health care providers.

Overview

Pharmacology is the study of drugs and how they affect the body. This means creating new chemical substances and analysing the effects of established medicinal compounds, as well as understanding both the beneficial and harmful effects of drugs.

The subject involves elements of toxicology, biology, chemistry, and physiology, and is a broad scientific field applicable to many careers in the life sciences area.

It is important to note the difference between the studies of pharmacy and pharmacology. Courses in pharmacy are geared towards equipping graduates with licenses to dispense prescription medicines in pharmacies, or to become a pharmacist.

Pharmacology courses focus more on the research aspect of this science, teaching the student to investigate the effects of chemical compounds and to innovate ways of creating remedies to the many physical and mental ailments which affect people and animals.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and chemistry (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Pharmacology courses involve two areas of study, pharmacology and toxicology. Pharmacology involves the study and description of the actions of drugs and chemicals on cells, tissues and the whole body. It includes finding out how drugs produce beneficial and adverse effects, and improving the way drugs are tested to give greater benefit in the treatment of disease. Toxicology is closely related to pharmacology, but specialises in the study of harmful effects of drugs and other chemicals on biological systems.

Specializations

Programs leading to a BSc in pharmacology address the fundamentals of the biological sciences within the first year of study, before moving on to pharmacology specializations. These may include:

Toxicology
Biotechnology
Medicinal chemistry
Drug delivery systems
Drug design and development
Molecular cell biology
Biometrics

Pathophysiology

You’ll also spend time focusing on developing research skills, and understanding the ethics involved in pharmaceutical research. Some programs offer opportunities to study additional subjects, such as a modern language, or to gain practical work experience in the field.

Why study pharmacology

If you’ve a passion for science and an interest in medicine then pharmacology may be the ideal course for you. Although medicines can be of amazing benefit to human health, they can also be extremely dangerous if not researched and/or administered correctly. There is always a demand for graduates who can contribute to the field of medical advancement.

Key Skills

As well as preparation for a career within the pharmacology sector, pharmacology degrees should provide the following transferable skills:

Technical expertise and laboratory skills
General research skills
General IT skills
Teamwork
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
Professional communication, spoken and written

Pharmacology degree modules

After your degree

Upon graduation there are a number of different career options available to pharmacology students. As you may have guessed, the majority of pharmacy students graduate with the intention of becoming (surprise surprise) pharmacists. As we touched upon above, though, these students will need to spend a year working in a clinical setting in order to gain professional accreditation (many students will work in a pharmacy under the supervision of a trained pharmacist, for instance). It might be a long road, but students will find they’re in high demand once they’ve passed their final training year.

Pharmacology graduates often end up working in medical and health research for the likes of big pharmaceutical companies. Some also stay on at university and work towards PhD qualifications.

Career opportunities

With a degree majoring in Pharmacology you could teach or conduct research in higher education institutions, work in the pharmaceutical industry, research and develop new medicines, conduct clinical research, work in regulatory and marketing divisions of industry, or develop chemicals. Other fields may include safety aspects of chemicals used in food processing and agricultural industries, assessment of the safety of medicines, employment in hospitals, careers in medical editing, abstracting and publishing, and environmental toxicology.

An undergraduate pharmacology degree from a top university can lead to a multitude of careers, and the opportunity to undertake further studies in pharmacology at master’s or PhD level.

A good number of students from undergraduate programs in pharmacology take on laboratory work, often in research or pharmaceutical companies.

Developing new drugs for diseases is one popular career path. Jobs in hospital labs or within the public and private health sectors are also sought after by pharmacology graduates.

Those who go on to become licensed pharmacists may work in a local pharmacy or open up one of their own, while others remain in the realm of academic research.

Overview

Graduates of pharmacy degrees work right at the heart of human healthcare, taking on roles relating to the design and development of new treatments, prescription and care management, and generally advising on the medical options available for different conditions.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and chemistry (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Types of pharmacy degrees

The types of pharmacy degrees available may vary depending on where you study. In some regions of the world, a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) is offered; elsewhere, the main option is a Master of Pharmacy (MPharm).

If you are considering studying pharmacy abroad, or would like to be able to work in different countries after graduating, it’s important to check which regions your degree qualification will be recognized in. For example, in the UK, you will need at least an MPharm in order to be accepted for the year-long training course that allows you to register as a professional pharmacist.

Entry requirements for pharmacy degrees also vary, but you’ll almost certainly need to have studied chemistry to a high level, preferably alongside a combination of biology, physics and mathematics.

Specializations

Programs leading to a BSc in pharmacology address the fundamentals of the biological sciences within the first year of study, before moving on to pharmacology specializations. These may include:

Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with a living body. Within pharmacology, topics could include learning about the therapeutic and toxic effects of different drugs and poisons; drug absorption and how drugs interact with different foods and nutrients, methods of drug delivery and targeting. It’s also possible to take entire degrees devoted just to pharmacology.

Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms – important within pharmacy, as these microbes can cause illnesses. Within microbiology, further specializations include virology (the study of viruses), bacteriology (the study of bacteria) and mycology (the study of fungi). Microbiology is often taught alongside immunology – the study of the immune system.

Drug development
A third important field of pharmacy is drug development – the study of the processes involved in creating new drugs. This may include learning how to conduct pre-clinical research and clinical trials, and also learning about relevant manufacturing processes, regulatory issues and assessing financial viability.

Why study pharmacy?

If you’ve a passion for science and an interest in medicine then pharmacy may be the ideal course for you. Although medicines can be of amazing benefit to human health, they can also be extremely dangerous if not researched and/or administered correctly. There is always a demand for graduates who can contribute to the field of medical advancement.

Key Skills

As well as the specific pharmacy skills and knowledge needed for a professional career in this field, pharmacy degrees also provide useful transferable skills, which could be used in a number of different careers. These include:

Technical expertise and laboratory skills
General research skills
General IT skills
Teamwork
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
Professional communication, spoken and written

Pharmacy degree modules

After your degree

Graduates often end up working in medical and health research for the likes of big pharmaceutical companies. Some also stay on at university and work towards PhD qualifications.

Career opportunities

With a degree majoring in Pharmacy you could teach or conduct research in higher education institutions, work in the pharmaceutical industry, research and develop new medicines, conduct clinical research, work in regulatory and marketing divisions of industry, or develop chemicals. Other fields may include safety aspects of chemicals used in food processing and agricultural industries, assessment of the safety of medicines, employment in hospitals, careers in medical editing, abstracting and publishing, and environmental toxicology.

The most visible place you’ll encounter pharmacists is behind the counter of a pharmacy store, dispensing medicines and advising members of the public. However, pharmacy careers are in fact available in many different places, including research labs, hospitals and doctor’s surgeries, veterinary care, the armed forces, national regulatory bodies, and in academia.

Popular pharmacy careers

Hospital pharmacy careers
Hospital pharmacy careers mean working within a hospital, dispensing medicines which have been prescribed by doctors, advising patients on how to take the medicines and what to expect, and working alongside other professionals to suggest the most effective course of treatment. Hospital pharmacists are also responsible for purchasing and testing medicines kept in stock by the hospital.

Research pharmacy careers
Research pharmacy careers are available in a range of different organizations, including universities, hospitals, clinical research canters and pharmaceutical companies. Major research fields include drug discovery and development, medical technologies, optimizing medical prescriptions and usage, risk minimization, and national healthcare policy and regulation.

Community pharmacy careers
Finally, community pharmacy careers refer to the most visible pharmacy roles, in high street pharmacies and GP practices. Community pharmacists provide advice for members of the public on how to treat minor ailments, and distribute drugs available ‘over-the-counter’ or with a doctor’s prescription. They may also offer basic health checks or contribute to community programs designed to promote better health.

Overview

Anthropology is the study of humankind in terms of its biology, culture and diversity, both in the past and the present. With the development of new science technologies many practicing bio-anthropologists and archaeologists find they need expertise in science fields to be really effective problem-solvers. If you are interested in applying more science to your studies in archaeology and biological anthropology, this is the subject for you.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course is no walk in the park. You’ll need to have chemistry and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Areas of Study

Anthropology is the study of humankind (both past and present), in terms of its biology, culture and diversity.

With the development of new scientific methods and technologies, many practising bio-anthropologists and archaeologists find they need expertise in science fields to be really effective problem-solvers.

These methods include DNA and ancient DNA analysis, C-14 dating, annual rings of trees, stable isotope research, metallurgy, live and fossil spores, pollen grains, studies of human and animal remains and behavioural observation of humans and primates.

What you will learn?

This major will give you the chance to apply more science to your studies in archaeology and biological anthropology. It enables you to include sciences such as biological science, psychology, geography, chemistry, geology or statistics alongside your anthropological studies.

Anthropological Science degree modules

Career opportunities

Anthropological Science will integrate studies in archaeology and biological anthropology with science disciplines to produce graduates who are able to work or undertake graduate study in the fields which require dual understandings.

Potential careers include:
Archaeological consultancy or for groups like historic places trust
Health and nutrition research
Work in museums Environmental consultancy and mining.

Overview

Medicinal Chemistry Is one of the most rapidly developing areas within the discipline of Chemistry globally. It is the study of the design, biochemical effects, regulatory and ethical aspects of drugs for the treatment of disease. The aim of Medicinal Chemistry is to produce graduates with an appropriate background in biology and pharmacology, built upon a strong chemistry foundation.

Biochemistry is a point where chemistry, biology and medicine meet dealing with the molecular nuts and bolts of living organisms and diseases. Advances in the biosciences are having a profound impact on our daily lives, from human health to conservation, making it a hugely rewarding area to study and work in.

Biochemistry provides the foundation for many disciplines, including botany and zoology, genetics, surgery as well as anatomy, pharmacology and pathology, opening up huge potential for your future career path.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course is no walk in the park. You’ll need to have chemistry and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Areas of Study

Medicinal Chemistry on undergraduate level is designed to equip students with a strong grounding in biological and chemical technique which is relevant to the pharmaceutical world. The programme gives an in-depth coverage of the chemical techniques required and relates these to the relevant pharmacology, anatomy, biochemistry and molecular biology.

What you will learn

Students completing this multidisciplinary degree programme will have a unique combination of skills: they will be trained in the synthesis, reactivity and analysis of organic compounds and gain valuable insight into the pharmacological, regulatory and ethical aspects of these bioactive compounds.

Why study this course?

We have a large and internationally recognised School of Biosciences offering expertise that is the foundation of our research-led teaching.

Students will encounter a broad range of topics on, ranging from studies on the three-dimensional structure of individual molecules through to the study of whole ecosystems

Biochemistry/Medicinal Chemistry degree modules

Career opportunities

Graduates tend to find employment in a wide range of institutions such as hospitals, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, private research institutions, local and national government authorities and agencies and Research Institutes.

Biosciences

Advances in the biosciences are having a profound impact on our daily lives in areas from human health to conservation. Biotechnology, biological pharmaceuticals, and personalised medicine are key growth areas in the health sector. Over the next decade our increasing understanding of how genomes are regulated will revolutionise how we interact with the natural world. Environmental remediation, climate change and related themes pose multi-faceted challenges for the coming decades. Expert knowledge in biology and the life sciences will be in high demand for the foreseeable future, with excellent prospects for exciting and rewarding careers in research, education, media and industry sector.

A significant number of our graduates choose to take a further degree, a Masters or PhD. For many career paths, a further degree is an essential stepping-stone, including (but not limited to) careers in research. While some graduates join research groups around the world.

Overview

Dentistry is all about looking after those pearly whites. Like all other medicine related courses, it’s crucial in preventing the decline of human health. As well as being an essential vessel for the consumption of nutrients, the mouth can also showcase the first symptoms for illnesses such as heart disease and – in some cases – cancer.

Dentistry is a challenging and rewarding profession. In the context of an ageing population who are retaining teeth into old age, the importance of understanding interactions between general and oral health is paramount. Excellent communication skills are needed to enable dentists to treat patients as individuals and a sound understanding of the biological basis of oral disease and preventive approaches to care are essential foundations of dental practice.

Advances in technology and dental materials have increased the scope of practice and the expansion in the numbers of professionals complementary to dentistry (PCDs) has led to an emphasis on the dentist’s role as a diagnostician and team leader together with the dentist focusing on undertaking complex, rather than routine, dental treatments.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

If you are looking to pursue a career in dentistry, then you’ll have to attend an accredited dentistry degree programme (known as a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, or BDS) at University.

The majority of dentistry courses will last for a minimum of 5 years, and they are very intensive programmes of study. In your first (and often second) year, you will be expected to attend lectures on a daily basis as well as learn through a series of seminars and tutorials. There will also be a number of different modules for you to pass – so expect a lot of examinations and written work as well as your practical assessments.

As you progress towards your final year, you’ll start to have more contact time that focuses on patient care. In your final years, the emphasis will be less on acquiring academic knowledge and more on refining your clinical practice skills (in this way, dentistry is structured similarly to medicine).

Unlike many other courses, the majority of dental programmes will not offer flexible non-compulsory study modules. Instead, the course will be rigidly structured to cover the core topics all dentists are required to have knowledge of (including the likes of oral health maintenance, diagnosing oral diseases, clinical competence, reflective practice and scientific understanding and analysis).

Why study dentistry?

You will be taught by nationally and internationally renowned researchers and teachers throughout the course. They will support you in becoming an independent thinker with the ability to critically appraise the evidence-base for clinical dentistry.

There is a strong emphasis on developing your communication skills and professionalism and on working as part of a dental team.

Our outreach teaching programme provides a supportive environment to begin the transition from university to dental foundation training and the elective and special study modules give you an opportunity to pursue individual interests within dentistry and beyond.

Dentistry degree modules

After your degree

Becoming a fully qualified dental surgeon is not, unfortunately, a speedy process, and even after your 5 year degree you’ll have to undertake a further year’s vocational training (as a minimum). This is called Dental Foundation Year 1.

If the idea of clinical practice no longer appeals, though, don’t despair – becoming a dental surgeon isn’t your only available path, and a number of graduates go on to find work within charitable establishments and health organisations, taking control of healthcare initiatives or collecting and analysing market research.

Employability

This can bring new skills that will be useful throughout your future and can make a positive impact on your learning whilst at university. Volunteering enables you to develop skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork, self-confidence and self-discipline all of which can be transferred into your studies.

Employers target graduates for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends.

Overview

Nursing degree actively acknowledges the changing face of patient care and medical technology. It provides unparalleled clinical education in an environment of scholarship and research, and offers multidisciplinary learning opportunities through its ability to draw on a comprehensive range of medicine, pharmacy and health sciences courses offered by the faculty.

Health care is an exciting, demanding, yet rewarding area of work, and nurses are at the forefront of this vital activity. Combining the art of caring with the science of health attainment, maintenance and restoration, they are pivotal to the provision of high standards of patient care.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Why study nursing?

Nursing is an extremely fast-paced and rewarding career within the medical sector. Nursing staff is essential to the running of hospitals and other institutions providing healthcare services. If you are passionate about healthcare and are looking to pursue a career helping people, then nursing may be your ideal course.

While entry-level nurses won’t be paid quite as much as entry-level doctors, it’s also worth noting that it will take you less time to qualify as a nurse than if you were doing a degree in medicine (so you’ll be able to get started with your career sooner).

If you’re torn between nursing and medicine, though, you should think less about the money and more about the role itself – if you think you would prefer to spend the majority of your time caring for patients directly, nursing might be the best option for you.

What are your study options?

As nursing is a vocational course, your degree will give you the chance to practice the skills you have learned in a practical working environment. The key theoretical principles of healthcare provision will be taught in lectures and discussed in further detail in seminars and tutorials, while the application of this knowledge will be taught in a more practical setting (such as on a hospital ward) where you will acquire first-hand skills and experience in dealing with sick patients. Most degrees are three years in length, and there tends to be a 50:50 split between lecture time and practical time.

It’s also worth noting that the majority of Bachelor of Nursing (BN) courses will relate to a specific patient group, with the most common options being adult nursing, child nursing and mental health nursing. You should make sure you do some thorough research into each of these before applying, just to make sure you pick the one that’s best suited to your interests!

Areas of study

Topics covered range from mental health nursing and aged care, to child and family healthcare, medical and surgical nursing, management and leadership in nursing. Courses in pharmacology, microbiology, biological science, psychology, sociology and the humanities support these subject areas.

Critical thinking, communication and clinical skills are developed by a number of research-based projects involving case studies. Supported by tutorials, case studies are discussed during clinical practice blocks and are designed to aid independent learning, reasoning and analysis.

What you will learn

Learning to be a nurse is a challenging and enjoyable experience involving a programme of 50% academic and 50% practical study, in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council This programme provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to work as a professional in the complex health care environment, and to become a nurse leader of the future

The Bachelor of Nursing programme is arranged in three parts. The curriculum reflects the ways in which the healthcare system operates, presenting a multidisciplinary view of patient care. Students learn that healthcare is multifaceted and dynamic, and that no one discipline functions in isolation.

It is structured to include a foundation year, where students study biological, physical and social sciences alongside other health professional students. Years two and three reflect different areas of nursing practice, and the honours year allows for in-depth study in a speciality area of clinical practice.

Described as the heart of nursing education, clinical experience provides students with an opportunity to consolidate their knowledge and acquire professional values and practical skills while learning to work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Clinical learning experiences occur in a variety of settings throughout years two and three of the programme, and during the honours programme. These settings include acute and chronic healthcare facilities, in-patient and out-patient clinics, and institutional and community health agencies, along with primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services.

Nursing degree modules

Placements

You will be continually assessed on clinical placements and be supported by a Registered Nurse mentor who has undertaken a NMC approved mentor preparation course.

Students will have the opportunity to practice nursing in some of the country's leading healthcare trusts ranging from primary care, to acute care and also tertiary centres. You will undertake a range of diverse and exciting clinical placements, gaining a variety of experiences with a wide range of client groups, under the guidance of skilled clinicians.

In order to maximise your learning experience on clinical placements, practice placement teams organise teaching sessions, student forums and provide on-going clinical support for mentors and nursing students.

Adult field of practice

You will have placements in hospital settings, with the opportunity to work in medicine, surgery, accident and emergency, critical care, rehabilitation and older adults. In the community you will work in hospices, intermediate care and with district nurses and other specialist healthcare professionals.

Students are encouraged to visit other wards including the surgical theatres. The Practice Placement Manager is very involved with the student experience and was swift to try to resolve problems that arose.

Career opportunities

Potential careers include advanced nurse practitioner, community, gerontology, paediatric, hospital, primary healthcare or mental health nurse, or nurse educator, manager or researcher.

However, some nursing graduates opt to enter other professions upon graduation. Social work, care work and even medical journalism are all popular options for students looking for an alternative career path.

If you want to change your career (or even go into research), there are a range of postgraduate qualifications available (such as Master’s degrees and PGDips) that will allow you to either re-train or gain a further specialism.

Overview

Psychology degrees are all about the study of people – their behaviour, thoughts, actions, interactions and reactions. Psychology is defined as the understanding of the human mind and its functions. The word itself is a combination of two Greek words: ‘psyche’, which relates to the soul or spirit, and ‘logia’, which refers to the study of something (there you go – some pointless trivia you might be able to crowbar in to an essay at some point.

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. It is a wide subject that ranges from a scientific approach to one that is more personal, as psychologists create theories based on data, varying from counts of simple behaviour in animals to verbal reports of emotions and feelings in people. It can be strongly theoretical or highly practical.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

If you’re hoping to study psychology at university you’ve got two options: a BA (Bachelor of Arts) and a BSc (Bachelor of Science). Some universities will offer one or the other, and some will offer both, but in reality there’s little difference between the two. In theory a BSc qualification is more science-based than a BA, but many universities that offer both options actually advertise identical course content and an identical structure for each. Your best bet is to double-check with the university you’re interested in to check what modules they offer.

For the most part, a psychology course will be taught within a classroom environment. You will be expected to learn psychological theory by attending lectures, and this will then be reinforced through discussions in seminars and by applying the theory to practical case studies. In your first year you’ll cover the basics (different psychological methods and theories and how these are applied), and then you’ll be given the chance to focus on more niche areas as your degree progresses.

Why study psychology and counselling?

Having an understanding of why people think and behave the way they do is not only a valuable skill to have in life, but it’s also something that can be pretty darn handy for a number of different careers.

If you want to learn more about the mysteries of the human mind (which can be a pretty weird and wonderful thing at the best of times), then psychology is the perfect course for you. Don’t worry if you’re unsure of what you want to do after you graduate, either – with a psychology degree you won’t be forced to go down the route of counselling or research, necessarily, as the skills you’ll learn on the course can be applied to a huge range of different careers.

Psychology degree modules

What kind of skills will you learn on the course?

As well as learning about psychological theories, research methods and findings, a degree in psychology will provide you with a range of subject specific knowledge and skills, such as critical thinking, problem analysis, problem solving skills, computing skills, and statistical analysis (using SPSS) and interpretation. This will enable you to learn how scientists identify scientific problems and try to answer them, how to think critically about how psychological research is presented in the media and elsewhere, and also how to apply psychological theories and research to everyday life

Psychology specializations

The following list of possible psychology specializations is by no means exhaustive, but it does give an idea of some of the main fields you could choose to focus on, either when choosing a degree course or further down the line.

Clinical psychology
This is the study of mental and emotional distress and wellbeing. While studying clinical psychology, you’ll learn how to use a range of approaches – interviews, observation, psychometric testing – to assess conditions such as depression, anxiety and relationship problems. Clinical psychologists usually work as part of a wider team of health and social care professionals, and may make recommendations for different types of therapy, counselling or other treatment.

Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology focuses on the brain, and its relation to psychological processes and behaviours. This requires examination of different types of neurological problems, such as degenerative diseases, brain damage from injury, strokes, tumours and disorders caused by consuming toxins or problems with the body’s metabolism. Again, neuropsychologists work as part of a wider team, providing advice on therapies and treatments for both the patient and family members.

Educational psychology
Educational psychology degrees cover the study of barriers to learning, involving the assessment of learning difficulties and also social and emotional factors, and identifying strategies and solutions in response. Educational psychologist graduates who work in the sector may be involved in research and consultation, or play a more hands-on role, in direct contact with children, parents and teachers.

Forensic and criminal psychology
Forensic and criminal psychology degrees nurture the application of psychology to focus on crime and criminal behaviour. Areas of focus include risk assessment, prisoner profiling, treatment and rehabilitation programs, analysis of crime trends, and assessing mental health. As well as appearing in court as expert witnesses, forensic psychologists give advice to prison and probation services, police, social services and health professionals. They may also be involved in civil cases, such as child custody decisions.

What you will learn

Bachelor of Science
Studying Psychology will equip you with an understanding of how people, and sometimes animals, think, feel and behave. You will learn about the brain and how it works, understand the way people respond to everyday and unusual situations, and consider theories on why individuals are different from each other with regard to personality and intelligence and why some people suffer from mental health disorders.

Bachelor of Arts
Psychology is concerned with aspects of how humans think, feel and behave. One important area is the brain and how it works. You can try to understand how people respond to everyday and unusual situations, such as work environments, illness and other stressful life events. You can also examine why individuals have different personalities and intelligence levels, and why some people suffer from mental health disorders.

First and second years
In your first two years you will study the core theories and methods of psychology, covering child development, learning, abnormal behaviour, cognitive psychology, perception, personality, social psychology, and brain and behaviour. You will also learn how to design experiments and collect and analyse data.

Third year
In the final year, under the guidance of your supervisor, you will undertake a substantial piece of independent research work. You also choose options from a list of advanced modules on contemporary psychology including topics such as forensic and clinical psychology, social cognition, psychology and culture, and cognitive neuroscience

Key Skills

Ability to analyze complex data sets, and general analytical skill
Communication and teamwork skills
Numeracy and technology literacy, including statistics handling
Presenting findings in written and spoken form, to an acceptable academic standard
An understanding of scientific literature and how to use it
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Sensitivity to a range of different experiences and emotions
Information-gathering skills, including survey design, observation, case study and sampling

After your degree

Psychology is a broad discipline and our programme offers a range of transferable analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills. As a Psychology graduate you may enter a career in which your knowledge of psychology is a useful foundation, including but not limited to: broadcasting, journalism, human resource management, marketing, social work, the Probation Service and the Civil Service. Other past graduates have also gone on to jobs in industry and commerce, computing, the police and local government

Upon graduation, many psychology students take further postgraduate qualifications in order to train as medical psychologists or therapists and work within private clinical practice or for the NHS. Similarly, there are a number of PhD and MRes programmes for those who wish to carry out research in a specific area of psychological study.

However, many psychology graduates also find work in other sectors such as advertising and PR (due to their in-depth understanding of how people think and react to certain visual aids).

Career opportunities

To qualify as a psychologist, it’s necessary to follow your undergraduate degree with a master’s and further training – which will vary depending on your specialism.

Competition for psychology careers is quite high, so it’s important to start getting relevant work experience as soon as possible.

However, most psychology graduates don’t actually become professional psychologists, though many do work in related roles within healthcare, mental health support or in other people-focused roles.

Examples include arts and music therapy, social work, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and counselling.

Overview

Physiotherapists play a significant part in most health care teams, being involved in the maintenance and/or restoration of movement and function in a range of client groups.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Why study this course

This extremely popular programme is modular and comprises both University and clinically-based modules. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used within a supportive environment, with an emphasis on developing professionalism, team working and independent learning skills.

This shared learning will facilitate your ability to work collaboratively with other professionals in clinical settings.

Modules are centred on the practice of physiotherapy with the relevant theoretical aspects underpinning these. Practical skills are developed through practice on your peer group. Exploration of various topics relevant to your development as a health professional, such as study skills, professional codes of conduct, cultural competence, ethics and research, will be shared with students on the Bachelor of Nursing programme.

Second year

This year introduces you to social aspects of health and illness, and continues your studies in professional development. You will build upon your first year modules, developing knowledge and skills in cardio-respiratory, neurological and muscular-skeletal physiotherapy.

Third year

Your third year focuses on issues related to the context of health care. Research skills are refined in your dissertation. One module offers a choice of topics such as sports medicine and physiotherapy with children.

Physiotherapist degree modules

Placements

Practice education modules occur across all three years of the programme and assessment of your practice education is continuous.

Learning within the clinical arena is an important and compulsory part of the course.

You will be seconded to a range of diverse and exciting placements, where you will gain a variety of experiences with a wide range of client groups, under the guidance of skilled clinicians.

Placements vary as to the experience offered; you may work within the hospital environment, in community-based environments such as clinics or schools, and within the independent and voluntary sectors. You may experience a variety of working practices including extended hours and seven-day working.

Employability

Physiotherapists are key members of most health care teams and work in public and private sectors at home and abroad, although some countries do require further proof of competence to practise. There are opportunities to develop your practice clinically as a clinical specialist or consultant physiotherapist, or you may choose to enter the fields of education, research or industry.

Overview

Veterinary medicine as a subject concerns the treatment of a range of different animals – from domestic pets to the farmyard variety – and combines anatomy with biological sciences, as well as niche subjects like parasitology (the study of pesky parasites) and gastroenterology (the study of the stomach and intestines).

Many of the areas you’ll cover cross-over with straight medicine degrees – such as oncology and neurology – but your course will also include animal-specific modules like breeding. You’ll also have to become very familiar with a whole range of different species, many of which will have different anatomies and behavioural characteristics.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited veterinary medicine course is no walk in the park. You’ll need to have chemistry and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing veterinary medicine, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Veterinary medicine is similar to a degree in medicine in the sense that the courses don’t vary much between universities (veterinary medicine courses are recognised by the Royal College, which means they’re all required to cover certain key areas and topics). While other universities offer courses in veterinary nursing, there are only seven courses in the UK that will lead to graduates being able to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Like medicine, your course will last for 5 years and some universities will offer a foundation year if you don’t have the right science A-levels (the foundation year will cover what you missed at A-level, and will take your degree up to a total of 6 years).

In terms of contact time, your hours will probably be quite high. You’ll have a mixture of time in lectures and time out on clinical placements (the balance will shift from theoretical to practical work as your course progresses), and you’re means of assessment will reflect this mixture; you’ll have exams and course work to complete, but you’ll also have practical tests where you’ll be observed and marked on the way you handle a specific scenario.

Why study veterinary medicine?

If you care about animals and you’re interested in biology, a career in veterinary medicine will give you the best of both worlds. Veterinary medicine is an incredibly challenging and ever-changing field that requires creativity, good inter-personal and problem solving skills and a natural flair for science. It won’t be an easy five years, but it’ll be varied – you definitely won’t get bored – and it’ll give you access to a well-paid career on graduation.

Veterinary degree modules

This year introduces you to social aspects of health and illness, and continues your studies in professional development. You will build upon your first year modules, developing knowledge and skills in cardio-respiratory, neurological and muscular-skeletal physiotherapy.

After your degree

Most veterinary medicine graduates go on to become vets after their degrees are over. Your salary will probably increase as you gain experience this will quickly grow. The job, like your course, will be a constant challenge, but it will also be interesting and diverse (no-one understands the old ‘no two days the same’ cliché quite like a vet). To make things even better, your job prospects are good – the employment rates among graduates in this field are high, so with any luck you won’t be struggling for months to find work.

Once you’re in work, you don’t necessarily need to be a vet for ever – some people eventually go into biomedical research, while others find jobs within the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Overview

Travel and Tourism is a big industry. A travel and tourism degree will tend to be quite vocational in its nature, and will focus on everything from management techniques to policy and strategy – everything you’ll need to enter a career in the sector after you’ve graduated, in other words.

Adventure, risk, fun and excitement - graduates who work in the travel and tourism industries get paid to do what they love.

These industries are all about people, hospitality and customer service - with plenty of fun, adventure and challenges thrown in.

To be successful in a leisure and tourism role, you'll need to be an outgoing, adventurous person who enjoys spending time with others, working towards goals, and is not afraid to take risks. You'll be organized, passionate, tolerant, able to think on your feet, and get a kick out of making sure others are having a good time.

What are your study options?

The content of your degree will differ depending on the university you end up choosing. For the most part, your course will consist of lectures, seminars and practical workshops that will help build your knowledge of the sector as a whole. Degrees will usually be three years in length and you’ll cover a wide range of subjects, from the management and advertising aspects of travel and tourism to the economic and financial impacts (as well as the constraints) of the sector. As your degree progresses you’ll have the chance to choose from different optional modules, which will allow you to narrow your focus to a particular area you are interested in.

If you’re interested in international travel and tourism, you may also have the option of doing your work placement abroad. This will not only give you an insight as to how travel and tourism works in different countries, but will also help you to acquire/refine your knowledge of other cultures and languages.

Why study travel and tourism?

If you’re looking for a career that incorporates travel, business and customer relations, then studying a travel and tourism course could be a good option. As we mentioned earlier, the travel and tourism industry is a massive one, and there are plenty of opportunities out there for grads with the right set of skills.

The other thing worth mentioning is that the travel and tourism sector can be a lot of fun to work in (just watch Fawlty Towers if you don’t believe us). Your course will most likely be very varied, and this diversity will hopefully be reflected in the career you eventually end up in…

Specializations

There are a wide range of courses available at top universities for those interested in embarking on a career in leisure and tourism.

The type of undergraduate degree you choose will mainly depend on your interests. You could choose to focus on the marketing side of leisure and tourism, the organizational or management aspects, or the more practical side - where you get to spend more time outside of the office!

More niche areas of study could include countryside conservation or arts and cultural heritage. Many leisure and tourism degrees will also offer the opportunity to study a modern language - a definite asset for those working in this sector

Key Skills

Professional communication, spoken and written
General IT skills
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
Team work
Flexibility and use of initiative
Problem solving
Organization and forward planning
Specialist knowledge of particular industry/location/language

Travel and Tourism degree modules

After your degree

Your job options are (almost) endless. You might work for an airline or find a job on a cruise ship; you could go on to be involved in the running of a hotel or a theme park; you might work in event management, logistics or maybe marketing.

Your degree will also equip you with a range of transferable skills, which means your options won’t necessarily be limited to the tourism and travel sector. The communication and management skills you’ll have developed over the course of your degree will also make you well-suited to careers in the likes of PR and advertising, or even business and finance roles.

The leisure industry encompasses careers based in indoor leisure centres such as fitness instructors, managers or lifeguards. It also includes careers in the outdoor arena such as sports instructors, players and coaches, and roles in entertainment - basically, anything that people do in their leisure time.

The tourism industry is, in general, slightly more adventurous. Think white water rafting, hiking, cross-country skiing, or skydiving.

But it too has its relaxing side. If a beach holiday appeals, chances are your travel agent, cabin crew, hotel concierge and tour guide have all studied an undergraduate degree in tourism.

However, the industries are competitive and it is important to look for as many opportunities as possible for work experience while you study. Having contacts and experience in the industry could be just as important as good grades when it comes to job hunting.

You should also bear in mind that many jobs in these industries require irregular working hours, and may be significantly affected by seasonal variation. Alternatively, you could stay on at uni and gain a postgraduate qualification

Overview

Who needs statistics in the 21st century? Anyone who wants to be able to look critically at numerical information and not be misled we live in an information age. Computers allow us to collect and store information in quantities that previously would not even have been dreamed of. What is this information? It might be costs, values, sales volumes, measurements, ratings, distances, prices, percentages, counts, times, or market shares. But raw, undigested data stored on computer disks is useless until we can start to make sense of it. Statistics is the human side of the computer revolution, an information science, the art and science of extracting meaning from data.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Areas of Study

There are a range of Stage I courses that cater for whatever your reason for studying statistics is - commerce, arts, business and information systems, or science. At Stage II you can study four different aspects of statistics - data analysis, statistical theory, statistical computing and operations research. Stage III courses fall under four broad headings, namely, applied courses, theory courses, statistical computing courses and operations research courses.

Statistics degree modules

Study outcomes

Investigation - asking questions, designing ways to collect data to answer those questions, collecting data, making sense of what that data says to produce reliable answers - this is the subject matter of statisticians and a set of general life-skills.

Career opportunities

Statisticians find work in all of the following areas: insurance companies, finance companies and banks, market research companies, manufacturing, as private consultants, in crown research institutes, crown health enterprises, government departments In all of these jobs they are designing studies, analysing data, making projections and helping to make decisions. Successful statisticians often begin in technical roles and end up in management.

Overview

Sport science looks at how to finely tune the human body, why this is important, and how to make a living in the sector. In the modern world sport has become extremely big business. From the multi-billion-dollar elite world of professional sport to the equally big one of personal fitness, the impact of sport on the lives of billions cannot be understated.

And as long as there have been sports – a long time – we’ve looked to find ways to improve the performances of, and decrease the risk of injuries to athletes at all levels. Sport science is the formal scientific approach to this.

The study of sports science, a relatively young discipline which only really came to be popular in the last quarter of the 20th century, is an acknowledgement, more than anything, of how seriously sport is taken today.

It is a relatively multidisciplinary subject which calls on things like physiology and biomechanics to measure what is happening in a sportsperson’s body, psychology to analyze the role of the mind in performance, and nutrition to help them fuel their bodies correctly.

But is a sport science degree at university for you? If you’re interested in learning about the human body in action, how to push performance to its very peak and allow sportspeople to fulfil their potential, or just help people stay fit and healthy, then yes.

You’ll have to be scientifically inclined, and a keen interest in sport will obviously be necessary. But be warned: the most popular courses can be quite difficult to get into.

Not every university will offer a sport science course, so you may be required to look beyond the familiar names to find a course that’s right for you.

Specializations

Although sport science may seem like a rather specific area for study, the variety of different outcomes of studying it means that there are a diverse range of specializations on offer.

Some undergraduate courses will cover a wide range of these, leaving a specialization in sport science until graduate level. Some specializations in sport science degrees include:

Sport management: This looks at sport from the point of view of business and policy. Among other things it looks at why sport is important and how facilities can be made available to those who want to participate in sport.

Sports physiotherapy: Sports science meets medicine (albeit a very specific type of medicine) in sports physiotherapy which looks at the prevention and treatment of injuries that occur as a result of participating in sports.

Physical and sport education: For students who want to move into teaching sport, this branch of sport science looks in to the techniques, theory and skills involved in teaching young people about sports and fitness.

Sport psychology: As the name suggests, sport psychology looks into the psychology surrounding sport – what motivates a sportsperson to perform, how a team works together, how lifestyle issues can affect performance for example.

Nutrition: Courses specializing in sport nutrition focus on how what we eat affects our ability and concentration when participating in sport or exercise. Sport nutritionists might either move into research or advise people on every level of the sporting ladder on what to eat to stay on top of their game.

Key Skills

Knowledge of how the human body works
The ability to measure and analyze data scientifically
General laboratory skills
An understanding of the role of the mind in performance
Team working skills
Research skills
The ability to present findings
Experience using advanced information technology
Business skills
Knowledge of the role that sports and fitness plays in the modern world

Sport Science degree modules

After your degree

Upon graduation, there are a number of different career options available to those with degrees in sociology. Many students opt to pursue roles in the social sector or within the hospitality industry due to their understanding of other people’s needs and how to meet them. Similarly, there is also the option of finding work within journalism, or even in the charitable sector as a fundraiser.

For those looking to pursue more vocational career paths, there are a number of different postgraduate study options. Some students study for the Graduate Diploma in Law in order to pursue careers within the family law sector, while some take a PGCE and go in to teaching. There are also a number of different research courses available for sociology students, so you can consider doing an MA (and then maybe even a PhD) if you want to stay in academia.

Lastly – and perhaps most importantly – you shouldn’t feel at all limited in the jobs you apply for after you graduate. If you want to go to work for a big graduate employer like KPMG or PWC, then go for it (they often employ humanities and social science graduates, so don’t feel put off just because you didn’t study maths or economics).

Career opportunities

Options will specifically be open to an individual graduate however, will largely depend on which field of sports science they specialize in, as many courses will be tied to be a particular career (an extra year of work experience is not uncommon).

Like any multidisciplinary subject, there are a wide number of different paths a student can take, as entirely focussed degrees, or modules within a wider sport science course.

Many sport scientists will aim to move into coaching or instructing, helping athletes to improve their performance. This can range from being a sports teacher or coach of an amateur team, to being a personal trainer in a gym, to working with professional or semi-professional athletes at the very top of their game.

Being mobile in this last regard can be helpful, as there are plenty of countries and athletes vying for success in a wide range of different tournaments. This will also require you to specialize in the sport in which you want to work.

There are also the options of being a sports psychologist, professional nutritionist, or a sports therapist. In all of these fields, progress is lead by research, which leads us to another popular career option: academia and research.

Finally, you could combine sport science with something else, and get involved in policy making for example, or start your own sports related business.

Overview

Sociology is often defined as the study of society – specifically its structure and its problems Sociology as a subject deals with topics like race and gender (to name just a couple of the things you’ll be touching on), and how these things relate to society as a whole. You’ll be asking a lot of big questions about things like class structure and crime and punishment, and you’ll be carrying out plenty of research on everything from social change to human rights.

In Sociology we are interested in how the individual relates to society and how societies change across time. You can examine and analyse different aspects of modern society, eg, popular culture and the media, sexuality, ethnic identities, crime, religion, social justice and the family. This course provides the knowledge and skills to critically engage with key issues facing contemporary societies including globalisation; the changing nature of work and the family; gender roles and sexuality; multiculturalism; the impact of the media and information technologies; and new forms of politics.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Statistics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Why study sociology?

Sociology seeks to understand how social relations and structures influence all aspects of our lives. Join us and explore the dynamic, unprecedented social changes reshaping the world today.

If social relationships are something that interest you, sociology may be the perfect course for you. The subject will provide you with an insight in to society and why the people in it think and act the way they do, and can lead into a wide range of different opportunities and careers. This is one of the main strengths of the course; like other humanities subjects, it won’t limit your job prospects.

You should also get on well with sociology if you enjoy discussing theories and ideas; you’ll get plenty of opportunity to meet and chat with like-minded people, so you’ll be able to explore and debate issues as much as you like (and this will be encouraged on the course).

What you will learn

You can examine and analyse the full spectrum of social issues and human activities: popular culture and the media, sexuality, ethnic identities, crime, religion, social justice, families and so on.

This programme provides the knowledge and skills to critically engage with key issues facing contemporary societies including globalisation; the changing nature of work and the family; gender roles and sexuality; multiculturalism; the impact of the media and information technologies and new forms of politics.

Areas of study

There are four broad themes in Sociology. You can move between these groupings and take the courses that interest you.

Cultural sociology: explores the world of image and representation in areas such as the media.

Applied sociology and social policy: social policy is concerned with systems of government and community response to perceived social problems. We focus on health, illness and wellbeing.

Power and resistance: society has established frameworks for regulating and influencing human behaviour, but these frameworks are always contested. Some of the most important examples are sexuality, procreation and intimate relationships.

Comparative sociology and the global society: this approach compares societies globally, regionally, nationally and over time. Topics range from the development of regional organisations in the Pacific to understandings of death in different cultures.

What are your study options?

Most sociology BAs will be three years in length, although some universities will offer four-year degrees that incorporate a placement year or a year abroad. Many unis will also offer joint honours courses that combine sociology with the likes of psychology, law, or criminology (along with plenty of other combinations).

Sociology is a predominantly academic approach towards the study of society, as opposed to social work which is more hands on in nature. As such, most lessons will take place within a lecture setting, with learning being reinforced through group discussions, seminars and tutorials. In terms of modules, you’ll likely cover a broad range of theories and methods in your first year before being given the chance to specialise towards the end of your degree (you’ll be able to choose modules on things likes media, social theory, violence and social harm, and the sociology of racism, to name a few examples).

Specializations

Sociology topics
As with all subjects, the content of sociology degrees will vary at different universities. However, some of the key sociology topics you can expect to study include:

Social theories
You can expect to start with an introduction to social theories (models for understanding society), including the works of major contributors to the field, recent developments and current points of contention or interest.

Social research methods
All sociology degrees will also provide an introduction to different social research methods. These are typically divided into two categories – quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative social research methods are based on quantifiable evidence, interpreted through statistical analysis. Qualitative social research is based on observation and communication. Much social research combines elements of both.

Ethnography
A term which is also often used in the related subject, anthropology, ethnography is the study of and recording of different human cultures. Ethnography is typically based on field work, with the researcher spending a significant amount of time living within the culture s/he is focusing on.

Crime and punishment
One of the most common sociology topics is crime and punishment. This can mean studying issues such as: the underlying causes of crime; how a society defines crime and how this can change over time; how societies attempt to prevent crime, and how crime is punished. This topic may also involve analysis of related moral questions, such as whether violence can ever be justified, and how the lines of ‘punitive control’ are defined.

Social welfare Also commonly found on sociology degree curricula are issues relating to social welfare. This could involve examining the provision of social welfare systems such as health care, housing support and unemployment benefits in different societies worldwide. Students may explore underlying factors – political, economic and cultural – which have shaped different social welfare systems, and also assess the outcomes of various approaches.

Key Skills

Research and data collection
Planning and project management
Data analysis, including competent/advanced use of statistics
General IT skills
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
Professional communication, spoken and written
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Ability to challenge and evaluate common beliefs
Application of theory to real-life situations
Good ‘people skills’ – ability to communicate and establish relationships with many different types of people

Sociology degree modules

Career Options

Jobs for sociology majors
Like most humanities and social sciences courses, sociology degrees do not prepare students for a clearly defined career. However, a degree in sociology does provide a broad set of transferrable skills valued by employers across many different employment sectors. For those who do want to put their sociology background to more specific use, popular jobs for sociology majors include:

Social work jobs
Social work refers to a fairly broad group of roles all focused on trying to improve the quality of life for those classed as ‘disadvantaged’ in some way within a society. Social work jobs are typically found within governments and local authorities, community groups and charities. Roles may be based on research, organization and management, administration, or direct contact with individuals and groups. Key issues for social workers include: drug abuse, mental health problems, physical and learning disabilities, homelessness, child protection and school attendance.

Counselling jobs
Sociology graduates may also consider counselling jobs, which typically involve providing one-on-one (or group) consultations, allowing clients to talk through problems and challenges. Many counsellors specialize in offering help for a particular type of problem (such as relationship counselling or addiction counselling), and also in a particular style of counselling provision. Employers include charities, government agencies, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and independent counselling services.

Probation and prison service jobs
Sociology graduates with an interest in crime and punishment may pursue probation and prison service jobs. Roles here may be administration-based, or centred on direct contact with offenders. Prison officers work within prisons to supervise daily activities, while probation officers work with offenders serving non-custodial sentences or recently released from prison. Tasks could include assessing the risk of re-offence, providing training and advice, and maintaining regular records and reviews.

Community development jobs

Whereas social work roles focus more on supporting individuals and families, community development jobs aim to improve quality of life for larger groups. This could mean focusing on a specific geographical area, or on a group of people within that area, and running projects to bring about positive changes. Examples could include projects to overcome problems relating to unemployment, social tension, or access to resources. Typical tasks include fundraising and managing a budget, organizing events, mediating between different groups, providing training and coordinating various activities and stakeholders.

Overview

A social worker works with individuals, groups, families and communities to overcome the social challenges they face. Studying Social Work gives you the knowledge, skills and professional base required to be an effective practising social worker who can make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Social workers help ensure the welfare of potentially vulnerable individuals or groups who may need a little extra support. Social work as a subject brings together elements of sociology, psychology and aspects of law, with the ultimate aim being to use an understanding of different social processes in order to help struggling members of society.

As part of a social work course you’ll learn how to listen and how to deal with people; you’ll also learn about the types of issues faced by certain members of society (from domestic violence to substance misuse), and how to help the people who face these issues.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Why study social work?

There are a number of reasons why you may wish to study social work. One of the main ones is that although it can be challenging, it’s also an extremely worthwhile sector to be a part of. If you have strong inter-personal skills and you’re passionate about helping people (and, if you’ll excuse our use of a slightly cheesy phrase, ‘making a difference’), then this may be the perfect area of study for you. It’s also an area which will provide you with a wide range of career opportunities.

What you will learn

You will develop skills in direct practice, advocacy, management, social development and policy, based on a sound understanding of relevant theory. You will build your confidence and have access to the most recent research and information to enter into social work practice with skills to help you succeed. The emphasis of the programme is on developing culturally grounded and responsive practitioners who understand the cultural setting of their client community. You will get first-hand experience through supervised placements in social work agencies.

“Social work students learn a wide range of skills and knowledge, both academic and also by applying academic learning into practice. Approximately half the course consists of direct practice, working alongside social workers, or other health and social care practitioners. There is an overall framework of capabilities that social work students have to meet before they graduate.

Areas of study

The social work environment, the theory and practice of social work as a profession, psychology and sociology in social services, cultural diversity, professional communication skills. You can major in Child and Family Practice; Health Social Work Practice or Youth Services Practice from your second year onward (or choose to generalise).

What key modules will be covered?

“Below is an example of the curriculum of a three year social work degree:

Year 1
Developing Professional Practice Year 1: This will introduce you to the role and responsibilities of social workers, the concepts of professionalism and developments in the social work profession.
Ethics and Values: Introduces you to key debates about ethics in society as they relate to social work. This will enable you to develop a critical approach to social work and issues of power and oppression.
Law and Social Policy: To enable students to identify and appreciate the key law and social policy issues in relation to social work. Individual Development and Change: Develop critical analysis and examination of the ‘multiplicity of factors’ involved in understanding the complexity of individual development and change.
Social Work Theory Methods and Skills: An examination of a range of methods and interventions used in social work practice and the theoretical base that underpins them.
Practice Learning 1: A 30-day placement in a social care setting which introduces you to the key skills and contexts of social work.

Year 2
Developing Professional Practice: Further explores the key skills and knowledge required for practice. Locating practice in a theoretical framework underpinned by critiques of power.
Research and Evidence Based Enquiry: Introduces different ways of defining research problems with an understanding of the key theoretical principles of research.
Specialist Pathway Modules: The opportunity to choose one from three discreet practice areas to explore in depth. The areas covered are children, families and young people, mental health and working with adults.
Inter-Professional Practice: Demonstrates awareness of the value of working with other agencies, carers, service users and citizens. This module explores the challenges and benefits of multiagency working.
Practice Learning: A 70-day placement in a social care setting which is linked to the HCPC standards and the PCF.

Year 3
Specialist Pathway Research Project: Presentation of a literature review in your chosen area. It will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the literature in that chosen area and its application to social work practice.
Specialist Pathway Modules: A continuation of the year 2 modules with particular emphasis on the application for practice.
Comparative Perspectives of Welfare: Provides the opportunity to study the historical political, social and economic basis of welfare and social care from European and international perspectives.
Practice Learning 3: A 100-day placement in a chosen module pathway.”

What can students do to boost their job prospects while studying?

“It is important for students to make the most of their time and to do things that can enhance their learning and their future jobs prospects. Getting as much experience of the health and social care sector as possible is important. This can be achieved by volunteering in a variety of different roles, or by part-time working in, say, the care sector. Making the most of your placement opportunities and pushing for good quality placements is important. The networks that you build up on placements may help you find work in the future.

Career opportunities

The BA Social Work degree draws on a number of disciplines that inform social work practice. It includes the study of social work values; knowledge; law; theories; methods and skills with Service users, carers and practitioners work alongside academics to create a dynamic learning environment.

You will be a qualified social worker and eligible to work in a wide range of fields including health, child and family services, child protection and justice, youth, schools, metal health, disability services, probation service and community organisations. You might work in direct service with clients, or in policy, research or teaching. There is a reported shortage of qualified social workers in the workforce and an increasing demand from large social services organisations to recruit only qualified and registered social workers. With your qualification in social work you will be ready to take on a wide range of opportunities

Overview

Politics is about relationships that involve power, authority, influence, conflict, co-operation, selfishness and altruism. Politics is not just what politicians do, although governments provide a large part of it. One of the basic questions we ask is “who gets what, when and how?” Instruments of politics include discussion, propaganda, persuasion, legislation, administration, threats, bribes and use of armed force.

Sometimes referred to as international studies you do not have to look too far to find examples of how international relations impact our everyday lives. From international conventions on human rights; how environmental issues shape domestic legislation; or why the prospect of local military interventions can have an adverse impact on a global economy

Politics degree explores theories and practices of power and governance, from local up to international level. Politics degrees at university are likely to include examination of past and current political conflicts; different models and mechanisms of government; concepts such as freedom, equality and human rights; and ideologies including communism, anarchism and liberalism.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Most politics courses will be the typical three years in length, although some unis will offer the option to study abroad for a year (which could be particularly relevant if you’ve chosen to focus on international relations or global politics).

In your first year, you’ll probably find you have a selection of core modules to take (which will give you a broad overview of the different areas of politics); you’ll then get the chance to focus on the areas you’re most interested in as you progress on to your second and final years. The final part of your degree will usually involve writing a dissertation (a long, in-depth essay) on a topic of your own choosing. This – alongside other essays and exams spread over your last two years – will make up your final grade.

Why study politics?

If you want to gain a deeper insight into how our country is run (and not just ours, but countries all across the world), a degree in politics is a pretty good place to start. Political issues obviously crop up all the time, and the government is always in the media and public spotlight to a certain extent – if you’re hungry for a real understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes, though, then studying on a politics course should give you a greater perspective on why our politicians act the way they do.

As politics is so critical to everything that goes on in society, it’s as much a useful subject as it is an interesting one. Your degree will also equip you with a range of handy transferable skills – you’ll be a proficient writer and analyst, as well as a thorough researcher, by the time you graduate – all of which will be valued by any employer.

What you will learn

In Politics and International Relations, you can learn about power, governance and political relationships around the world.

You can analyse what was, what is and consider what ought to be - from many different viewpoints. You can learn about the issues and problems that affect everyday life by studying globalisation, democracy, foreign and security policies, public policy, identity politics, multiculturalism, and politics and the media.

What key modules will be covered?

We cover broad areas of International Relations theory, International Political Economy, International Institutions, Political Philosophy and Ideology including conservatism, socialism, liberalism, Marxism, environmentalism, feminism etc, etc, theories of government, US politics and society, Human rights, contemporary History, corporate social responsibility and business ethics.”

Key Skills

Ability to analyse different types of data, and identify patterns and implications
Understanding of academic publications and how to use them
Excellent written and spoken communication
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Ability to compose and defend an argument, using appropriate evidence and sources
Understanding of key issues and challenges in contemporary politics

After your degree

Just because you’re studying politics, you don’t necessarily have to become a politician! Of course, your degree will make you well-suited to a job as a political researcher or work in the civil service, but your options are much more varied than that. Your writing skills will mean you can go into the likes of publishing, PR, and marketing, while your research and communications skills mean you’d likely fair just as well in the business and finance world, or the charity sector.

You’ll have plenty of options, to put it simply. And if you decide you’re not quite ready for the world of work, you can also consider staying on at university to do a postgraduate course. Law conversion courses and PGCEs that give you qualified teaching status are both popular options, as is staying on to get your master’s qualification (if you have an area of politics you’re keen to continue researching, a masters is the perfect opportunity to do just that).

Career opportunities

Politics can give you the tools to be successful in both the public and private sectors. A degree in politics could, of course, lead to a career in politics – in an elected position, as an assistant or advisor, or in the civil service. The latter, particularly if you speak more than one language fluently, could include diplomatic positions in other countries.

Other options include political journalism, contributing to policy decisions as part of a think tank (research group), or working for a non-profit agency, human rights organization or pressure group.

Politics degrees provide many transferable skills, including strong research and analysis skills, and excellent written and spoken communication. As a result, politics graduates are often able to find work in a wide range of sectors, including finance, IT and law. . Graduates have become public servants, politicians, diplomats, entrepreneurs, business and marketing executives, consultants, policy analysts, journalists and members of international and non-governmental organisations.

Overview

Marketing is the area of management responsible for researching and satisfying customer needs. It does this through product and service development, planning, pricing, advertising, promotion and distribution.

Have you heard of the four Ps? If you decide to do a degree in marketing, you will. It’s all about the product, its price, the place it’s sold, and its promotion. Understanding consumer behaviour and purchase patterns, in other words, so that you can communicate effectively with a target audience.

Marketing combines subjects like business and psychology in order to build relationships between companies and the people they’re trying to reach; it also involves the analysis of strengths and weaknesses in a business, as well as the opportunities or threats that can arise within an organisation (and what effect these things can have

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Economics or Accounts (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Marketing is a subject that combines well with plenty of others, meaning many universities will offer the opportunity to study it alongside the likes of business, public relations or advertising. It’s worth spending some time researching the different courses before you make your decision, as the content of your course will vary considerably if you decide to do a joint/combined honours course (business and marketing courses will – unsurprisingly – be grounded in business, whereas marketing and PR will lean more towards the media industry).

Courses tend to be the usual three years in length, although many will offer the option of a sandwich year (which means spending your third year in industry). This will bring your degree up to a total of four years, but you’ll come out armed with a full year of experience (which will come in handy when you’re on the hunt for that graduate job).

In terms of modules, you’ll probably get more freedom of choice as you progress through your degree, but you can expect to cover core topics such as consumer behaviour, market research, and (increasingly) digital marketing.

Assessment tends to be through a combination of course work and exams (maybe with a few presentations thrown in for good measure). You can combine courses to focus your studies in any of the following areas: marketing management, advertising and communications management, marketing management, marketing science or services management.

Marketing degree Modules

Why study marketing?

The Department of Marketing’s teaching approach has a strong international orientation, which also emphasises the functional linkages that exist in practice between marketing and finance, accounting, operations, personnel, information systems, business communications and strategic management.

Marketing also focuses on developing and managing ongoing relationships with customers, competitors, partners, suppliers and other shareholders.

If you’re interested in business, psychology or social studies (to name just a few of the subjects that cross over with marketing), then you may well be suited to a degree in this field. If you often find yourself wondering about certain adverts or products – why are some TV ads so annoying? How do some products and brands become so well-known across the world? Why are some websites so popular? – then a marketing degree will help you get to the bottom of these questions.

After your degree

If you’re keen to go into the business side of things, you’ll probably have an easier time finding a graduate job than if you’re hoping to go into the media industry (which is pretty darn competitive, to say the least). Obviously marketing grads go on to find jobs in a huge range of different marketing roles, from big graduate employers like KPMG and Ernst and Young to smaller start-up websites and PR firms.

Students who’ve taken a sandwich year sometimes end up finding work with the company they interned at (so it’s worth doing your best to impress your employer when you’re on placement).

Career opportunities

Graduates who have specialised in marketing typically enjoy a wide range of employment opportunities. Most take up first positions in sales or as assistants in marketing departments and general management. Others may be employed in marketing research or advertising.

Overview

Management examines management policies and practices in the context of organisational growth and development, management theory, theories of leadership, communication processes, employment relations and the dynamics of organisational behaviour. The importance of managing people, and of management processes generally, means that courses offered by the Department of Management and International Business are relevant to most students in the University.

If you’ve ever had a part-time job, ‘manager’ may be a word you’ve come to dread. But what does management mean in a wider context? Well broadly speaking, it refers to the way in which a company, or a department within a company, allocates available resources. While it is most commonly used to refer to the relationship between staff members, it can also refer to different methods of production and supply. There are a number of different courses available that will provide you with a wide range of management skills.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Economics or Accounts (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

If you’re hoping to study management at university, you’ll be pleased to hear there are a whole range of HNCs, HNDs and full-time degree options available. Although most courses will cover the same core aspects of management, there will also be a number of optional modules available covering more specific areas (such as management accounting and project management), so you can tailor your degree programme to suit your own personal interests.

There may also be the option to study management as part of a joint/combined honours programme with a related subject. Such options include management with a modern foreign language or even with another business-related subject such as finance or economics. If you’re studying management with a language you may also have the chance to travel abroad for your work placement.

Management degree Modules

Why study management?

Behind every successful business is an efficient team of management staff. They will play an essential role in ensuring the smooth running of a business on both a long-term and short-term scale, and because of this it is important to have graduates with strong skills within this specific area. If you’re interested in working within this sector and have strong communication skills and a passion for business, then studying management could be a good option (not forgetting the fact that managers tend to get paid well, of course). You will learn about the importance of human and labour factors in organisations including the structure, design and culture of organisations; management theory, policies and practices; and employment relations issues both local and internationally. Graduates are equipped with the skills they need to understand the framework against which business decisions are made and the ways in which people engage with their organisations in the public and private sectors. They are able to operate successfully in all areas of business both at a local level and in the international environment.

Career opportunities

A Management major in the Bachelor of Commerce opens many doors in the business world. Future roles could include: general manager, business development manager, entrepreneur, business consultant, strategic business analyst, international trade consultant, training and development consultant, recruitment consultant, human resources adviser/manager, employment relations manager, public policy analyst, business development manager, business consultant, international trade consultant, and senior management roles in business and industry.

Upon graduation there are a number of different things you can do with your management qualification. If you’ve a particularly strong classification, you may wish to apply for some of the many graduate entry schemes run by larger businesses and companies (Deloitte and PWC, for instance). Salaries on such schemes can start anywhere between $25,000 -$ 45,000 (and upwards) depending on the specific scheme and the company, although they will most likely increase once the scheme has been completed.

On the other hand, you may choose to avoid graduate schemes altogether and find an entry level management job within a wide range of sectors – from arts and leisure to tourism or project development. Salaries in such roles will vary depending upon the sector and the size of the company.

There are also a wide range of postgraduate courses available for those with management qualifications. More vocational options of study include the Graduate Diploma in Law (for those wishing to retrain as a solicitor or barrister) and the PGCE (which would give you qualified teaching status and allow you to teach business and management at secondary school level).

Overview

Hospitality and catering courses will cover things like nutrition, health and safety, and other issues that commonly arise in the industry. Courses are likely to be very vocational in their nature, with plenty of practical elements and the chance to gain lots of hands-on experience.

These industries are all about people, hospitality and customer service - with plenty of fun, adventure and challenges thrown into be successful in a leisure and tourism role, you'll need to be an outgoing, adventurous person who enjoys spending time with others, working towards goals, and is not afraid to take risks. You'll be organized, passionate, tolerant, and able to think on your feet, and get a kick out of making sure others are having a good time.

What are your study options?

The majority of universities will offer you the chance to do a sandwich year as part of your studies (and with some it will be compulsory) – this will be involving spending a year working in industry in between your second and final year at university, applying what you’ve learned up to that point in a real-life setting (and picking up a load of valuable experience for your CV). Studying a sandwich course will take your degree up to a total of four years in length.

If you’re keen to study hospitality, plenty of universities offer both degrees in hospitality management and combined/joint honours courses in hospitality and tourism. In terms of catering, you could take a course in food technology or the likes of hotel and catering management (the former will likely have a more theoretical focus on nutrition and science, while the latter will be more practical in its nature).

Hospitality and Catering degree Modules

Why study hospitality and catering?

The hospitality sector is a big and varied one, with plenty of opportunity for work and a diverse range of career possibilities. Studying hospitality and catering will give you the training needed to be involved in the running of a fast-paced and exciting industry. As your degree will likely be quite vocational in nature (with practical experience being an essential part of it), you’ll also have a good chance of finding work after you graduate.

Specializations

The type of undergraduate degree you choose will mainly depend on your interests. You could choose to focus on the marketing side of leisure and tourism, the organizational or management aspects, or the more practical side - where you get to spend more time outside of the office!

More niche areas of study could include countryside conservation or arts and cultural heritage. Many leisure and tourism degrees will also offer the opportunity to study a modern language - a definite asset for those working in this sector.

After your degree

You could be like Basil Fawlty, and end up running your own hotel, or you could manage the running of a visitor attraction like an amusement park; you might go into the tourism sector or work in events; you could even work in marketing or go into the leisure industry. If you study catering, you might start off with your own market stall and then move on to a pop-up restaurant, and then eventually set-up a permanent restaurant or a chain. Alternatively, you could become a chef. As the section is so incredibly varied, there are all sorts of different job possibilities. You’ll also have a range of transferable skills upon completion of your course that will make you well suited to a range of other careers, should you feel hospitality or catering is no longer for you many employers will value the management, communication and business skills you’ll have developed over the course of your degree.

Overview

Health Sciences focuses on socio-economic and behavioural factors affecting health and health provision, the role governments play in determining health policy, how health systems function, and the biological and social bases of ill-health in our communities. The BHSc provides an alternative entry track into the undergraduate medical programme. At the end of the first year, students who have taken the prescribed course of study and have obtained a minimum GPA of 6.0 (B+ average) in their courses will then be eligible for consideration for entry into second year medicine.

Students with an interest in global health, health systems management, prevention, the bench sciences, social and behavioural sciences, as well as those committed to improving the health of populations the world over, will find that public health research, public health teaching, and public health practice and service are rewarding and noble careers.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have biology and Economics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What you will learn

Topics in health and society, epidemiology, behaviour and health, health systems, healthcare ethics, Māori and Pacific health and human biology.

Areas of study

Health Sciences is a non-clinical programme that provides a multidisciplinary understanding of health, healthcare and health services. It provides an understanding of the biological, social and behavioural bases of the western medical system as preparation for a career in the health sector and related industries.

Health Science degree modules

Specializations

At most schools of public health, there are several concentrations to choose from including biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health education and communication, health law, industrial hygiene, international health and development, maternal and child health, nutrition, social and behavioural sciences, and toxicology.

In addition, some schools of public health offer opportunities for graduate study in tropical medicine and parasitology.

Key Skills

Relevant analytical tools are borrowed from a variety of disciplines such as methodology and statistics, epidemiology, sociology, social and cultural anthropology, social psychology, political science, economics and the science of management and organization.

Students learn how to use these tools to perform sound problem analysis and to ground appropriate health care policy, as well as adequate health care interventions, on the results of such analysis.

Effective public health professionals also rely on a variety of practical skills that enable them to create change and implement public health policies and interventions. Students are taught how to plan, implement, monitor, evaluate and adjust programs, policies and interventions; and also how to identify, recruit, involve, commit, and guide stakeholders operating at the different levels.

Career Options

A myriad of job opportunities are available for public health professionals ranging from health administration to epidemiology, and from program management to laboratory research.

Many public health programs emphasize the development of leadership and expertise in the broad fields of research, education and service with the aim to deliver graduates who can effectively apply relevant theoretical models and concepts to public health issues and reflect upon theoretical developments on the basis of practical experience in the field. Career opportunities

BHSc graduates fill a wide variety of roles in the public health sector. Their understanding of the social dimensions of health and health services, coupled with skills in identifying and evaluating initiatives to improve the health of populations give them excellent career opportunities in health promotion, health policy, health care management and health information services. A career in public health could lead to work with district health boards, non-governmental and governmental health agencies, as well as private health care providers.

Overview

For those keen to study a subject that touches on many of the biggest challenges for the world today, environmental science degrees are a good starting point.

Very much an ‘interdisciplinary’ subject, environmental science degrees challenge students to draw on skills and knowledge from a variety of different fields. This could mean exploring aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, geography, earth and marine sciences, and also social sciences. The idea is to combine multiple perspectives and data sources, to build up a fuller understanding of natural and human environments.

Fieldwork is an important part of most environmental science degrees, which often include trips to a variety of different countries and world regions, to give students experience of different habitats, climates, land formations and societies.

You can also expect to spend a fair amount of time in the lab, learning how to carry out different types of tests. In addition, students often undertake voluntary work in an environment-related role, which provides invaluable experience to prepare them for employment.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have biology and chemistry (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Specializations

Environmental science topics
The list of possible environmental science topics is a long one, and each department will have their own key focus areas. Areas of specialization range from a focus on understanding specific life forms and ecosystems in great detail, to studying environmental systems and changes at whole-planet level. Some examples include:

Soil ecology
This is an example of a subject at the ‘up close’ end of the spectrum, which is still of relevance to everyone. Soil ecology involves an understanding of issues such as soil nutrition levels, the spread of pathogens (viruses, bacteria and so on), the impact of pesticides and other chemicals, and soil porosity (spaces between grains).

Aquatic biology
A specialization in aquatic biology, which includes study of marine biology, involves research on a multitude of subjects, including communities and ecosystems, conservation, and intertidal and coastal ecology. This specialization could equip students for a technician-level job, an academic job or work as a consultant, among other options.

Earth systems
At the ‘big picture’ end of the spectrum, studying Earth systems means looking at large-scale changes in the Earth and its atmosphere, and studying the environmental systems that affect the whole planet. Subjects you might cover include geomorphology (understanding land formations and predicting future changes), weather systems, climate change, ice ages and oceanic systems.

Environmental Science degree modules

Environmental science skills

Numeracy and data analysis
General IT skills
General research skills, including use of scientific literature
Lab and fieldwork skills
Ability to present findings clearly and persuasively
Awareness of a range of environmental issues
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Team work
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines

Career Options

Environmental science
There are many different career paths open to graduates of environmental careers, in sectors ranging from outdoor recreation to waste disposal, and public policy development to agriculture. Some of the main environmental science careers options include:

Environmental consultancy
Working in environmental consultancy means providing advice to various organizations, either governmental or private, about an issue connected to the environment. This could mean assessing the environmental impact of an existing or planned project; advising on the pollution or contamination of land, air or water; measuring the ‘carbon footprint’ of an activity; advising on relevant legislation and regulations; and helping companies to become more sustainable.

Nature conservation
This pathway is for those who want to focus on protecting and promoting the natural environment. Nature conservation careers could involve overseeing the sustainable management of a natural area; planning and supervising projects to increase biodiversity or to bolster a particular species; fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of relevant issues. Employers include charities and non-profits, national parks and nature reserves, private estates, local authorities and consultancies.

Environmental education
Suited to those keen to pass on their knowledge and passion for the subject, environmental education careers could mean visiting schools to give talks, leading nature walks and organizing events, training volunteers and running workshops or courses, and liaising with educational and community groups. Common employers include trusts and charities, local authorities and other public sector groups, and attractions such as zoos, wildlife parks and botanical gardens.

Overview

It’s all about how businesses, money, and the management of money come together. Accounting, business and finance are three areas which overlap each other and often go hand-in-hand – you can’t run a business without taking care of the finances, for instance, and you can’t go into accounting without knowledge of how a business is run.

Despite the fact they cross over, though, accounting, business and finance are also three very different subjects. Finance focuses on fund management, while accounting involves the broader analysis of a business’ financial situation (including its cash flow, liabilities, etc.); a business course will introduce you to all of the elements needed to run a business, which – while touching on accounting and finance – will also include things like marketing and economics.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Economics or Accounts (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Students can choose courses that will focus your studies in any of the following areas: financial management, financial analysis, investments, corporate environment, public sector, financial accounting, and financial reporting.

Although most universities will offer accounting, business and finance as separate degrees, plenty will also offer the chance to do two as a combined option (and if you’re finding it hard to narrow your choice to just one area, this could be a good option to consider).

A degree in one of these subjects will normally be three years long, although many unis will offer the option of a sandwich year – a year spent working for a company in between your second and final year – which would extend your course to four years.

Why study finance?

If you have an analytical mind, a love of problem solving and a good brain for maths, a degree in one of the above subjects could be perfectly suited to you.

Finance degrees are often offered in conjunction with a related subject, such as accounting, business or economics. Indeed, it’s part of the interconnected FAME group of subjects (finance, accounting, management and economics), which are some of the most popular courses at both undergraduate and graduate level.

Essentially, finance is concerned with the management of money – obviously a subject of significant importance for all areas of society and business! As a result, studying a finance degree could prepare students for a broad range of career paths, within many types of organization.

You could work as a savings or pensions advisor, or manage budget allocations within a large corporation. Perhaps you’ll contribute to the development of national or international policies, or become an expert in financial forecasting, helping companies and governments to prepare for the future.

Finance degree modules

Finance skills

Ability to understand and manipulate numerical and statistical data
Ability to analyze different types of information
Ability to communicate findings clearly
Understanding of range of current business practices
Understanding of stock markets, trade and investment
Understanding of different types of financial instruments
Understanding of different types of financial products and services
Knowledge of relevant national and international regulations
Time management, organization and professional communication

Specializations

Corporate finance
Corporate finance focuses on financial management and processes within corporations. Finance topics covered here may include: evaluating the cost of capital, setting benchmarks for financial returns, assessing the market value of corporations, risk mitigation strategies, and mergers and acquisitions.

International finance
Specializing in international finance is a chance to study key financial topics as they apply at international level. This could include international taxation, international financial reporting, international trade policies, foreign direct investment, international monetary systems and international financial markets. You could also focus on finance in developing economies, or specific financial systems, such as Islamic finance.

Behavioural finance
An increasingly popular finance topic, behavioural finance aims to explain why people within financial industries make ‘bad’ decisions, leading to inefficiencies and in extreme cases to market bubbles or crashes. This means using a combination of psychological, social and economic models to understand why individuals and groups behave in certain ways.

Financial mathematics
Degrees focusing on financial mathematics aim to provide students with highly developed mathematical and computational skills needed for specialized roles in finance. Finance topics covered are likely to include: key computational methods in finance, advanced analytical models, valuation of derivative securities and interest rate modelling.

Finance skills

Ability to understand and manipulate numerical and statistical data
Ability to analyze different types of information
Ability to communicate findings clearly
Understanding of range of current business practices
Understanding of stock markets, trade and investment
Understanding of different types of financial instruments
Understanding of different types of financial products and services
Knowledge of relevant national and international regulations
Time management, organization and professional communication

Career Options

Financial management careers
Financial management careers can vary considerably depending on the type and size of the organization involved. Tasks may include monitoring cash flow, contributing to long-term business planning and strategy, managing budgets, providing financial reports, ensuring financial regulations are met, and assessing opportunities to reduce costs and increase profits.

Financial trading careers
Careers in financial trading involve buying and selling financial instruments including stocks, shares, bonds and assets. Typically financial traders are employed by large investment management companies, and buy and sell on behalf of their firm. A particularly high-pressure career, financial trading requires an ability to stay calm under pressure, make quick decisions and multi-task.

Insurance careers
Many graduates of finance degrees also go on to insurance careers. Roles in this sector include assessing the financial risk involved in insuring different things, providing advice to customers, processing insurance claims, and identifying new opportunities for insurance companies. Similar roles are available in the pensions sector.

Financial consulting careers
Financial consulting careers involve providing advice to help businesses and individuals improve their financial processes and performance. This could mean offering guidance on budgeting, debts, investment, wills and estates, mortgages, and the development of business plans and strategies. Financial consultants may work within a consulting firm, or may be self-employed.

After your degree

Although your job prospects are solid, it’s worth noting that positions at the top companies (big graduate employers like PWC and Deloitte, for example) will be extremely competitive. Many graduates of business, accounting and finance do go down this route, though, and end up on graduate training schemes for international or national businesses.

It’s also worth noting that although finance or accounting jobs may seem like the obvious choice, your degree won’t limit you to just working in these types of roles (as you’ll have acquired a range of transferrable skills).

You don’t have to go straight into the world of work, either. Doing a postgraduate course could allow you to gain a further specialism, or even to re-train for a career in the likes of teaching or law. Alternatively, you could work full-time for a few years before going back to university to study for an MBA (Master of Business Administration) – a qualification that will open the door to higher level management roles

Career opportunities

Graduates may decide to follow one of these career pathways: investment banker, merchant banker, corporate banker, merger and acquisition specialist, corporate finance specialist, treasury specialist, stockbroker, financial analyst.

Overview

Although at first glance economics may seem to be all about money, it is fundamentally a people-focused subject. It’s also a highly diverse subject, to the extent that undergraduate economics degrees are available both as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc).

First of all, what is economics? Part of the social sciences group, economics explores the full spectrum of issues that impact on financial situations and decisions. From production to consumption, economics looks at how the world’s resources are used by and distributed among individuals and organizations. This involves studying areas of politics, sociology, law, psychology, geography and history, at local and global levels. Economics combines maths, science (until the late 19th century it was actually viewed as a branch of political science) and social theory to analyse the distribution of things like wealth, services and goods (not to mention how those things are consumed and produced).

The two major veins of economics are microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics looks at the behaviour and interactions of individual agents, such as households, companies, buyers and sellers. Macroeconomics analyses entire economies on a national or global scale, looking at issues such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth and monetary and fiscal policy

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Economics and Maths (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

As a subject, economics is split into two main branches: macroeconomics and microeconomics. While microeconomics refers to individual companies and their places within a specific market, macroeconomics is the study of how all these markets interact with one another as a whole, both on a domestic and global scale. These will be covered early on in your course to give you a core understanding, and then the majority of degrees will offer more specialist modules in your second and third years – from international economics to econometrics, global forecasting and law. The study of Economics also complements Philosophy, Sociology, Political Studies, History, Geography, Law and Employment Relations and Organisation Studies.

Most universities will actively encourage you to gain hands-on industry experience through a placement year, which will normally take place between your second and final year (making your course four years long, instead of three). Doing a placement will help you to apply the knowledge you’ve learned in a practical environment, as well as giving you some valuable experience to talk about on your CV

Why study economics?

Economics often appeals to students with a strong grasp of mathematics – particularly those who are also fascinated by the social sciences. If you have an interest in understanding how we distribute our resources and the moral, legal and financial implications this can have upon different social groups, then economics may be your ideal programme of study.

Studying economics will also give you strong career prospects and a good chance of earning a decent salary (always an added bonus).

What will you learn?

The emphasis is on developing your competence in economic analysis, gaining an understanding of economic principles and applying them to real-world issues. As you progress you will be able to pursue your own interests in more specialised aspects of the subject.

What to expect from economics degrees

Economics degrees are typically taught as a mixture of lectures and seminars, with written assignments to be submitted to seminar tutors. Depending on the institution, your grades may be determined by examinations, through coursework assignments or through project reports.

As mentioned above, economics degrees can come in BA and BSc forms. The latter are likely to focus more on mathematics, statistical theory and techniques for the application of mathematics in economic theory. Of course a BA in Economics will still involve some mathematics, but usually combined with more qualitative modules, sometimes in related social sciences fields such as sociology and psychology.

Whether classed as a BA or BSc, economics degrees require students to combine economic theory with empirical investigation, using statistical techniques to investigate questions in public policy and the business/financial fields. As such, applicants should have an aptitude for numbers and IT along with an ability to analyze problems and an enthusiasm for understanding current affairs and the world around you.

Economics is also often offered as part of a joint or combined honors degree, paired with subjects including computer science, engineering, history, law, sociology, management, mathematics, modern languages and politics.

Economics degree modules

Economics skills

Critically analyzing complex data sets
Constructing and presenting arguments
Approaching issues from multiple perspectives
Presenting complex information to audiences unfamiliar with subject
Strong numeracy and statistics skills
General IT skills, with emphasis on specialist economic software packages
General research skills
Critical evaluation
Problem-solving
Professional communication, written and spoken
Presentation skills
Producing written technical and non-technical documents
Influencing and negotiating with clients
Self- and time-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
Good awareness of current affairs

Specializations

Economics degrees will start by introducing students to core economics topics such as microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and econometrics (applying mathematics, statistical methods and computer science to economic data). Other core modules may include mathematics, statistics, history of economic theory and applied economics.

Further on, students have the opportunity to choose areas of economics in which to specialize. The variety of options available will vary depending on the institution, but some economics topics you may come across include:

Development economics
The study of economics in developing nations, development economics (or the economics of development) uses economic theory to look at ways of promoting economic growth, increasing employment, understanding inequalities and improving wealth distribution.

Organizational behaviour
An increasingly prominent field of research, organizational behaviour is the study of how individuals behave within an organization, and how workplace behaviour can be influenced, with the aim of contributing to the development of principles of effective communication, problem-solving and decision making.

Labour economics
Also referred to as the economics of labour, labour economics involves analysing both micro- and macro- level factors to understand the behaviour of labour markets, and develop solutions to challenges such as high unemployment or skills supply shortage. Core factors within labour economics include employment rates, salaries and minimum wages, worker efficiency, supply and demand of both goods and services, education levels, international trade and globalization, hiring practices and relevant legislation.

Science economics
The economics of science, or science economics, is the study of how the scientific and technological sectors interact with the economy in various ways. Specializing in science economics will mean becoming familiar with basic approaches to conducting scientific research, and different types of organization involved in funding and facilitating research – including private investors, governments, and national and international institutions. This field also examines the importance of science education and research for both economies and individuals.

Urban economics
Specialize in urban economics and you’ll use economic models to study cities and their development. This involves applying economic methodology to policy-relevant issues such as housing, land-use, sprawl, segregation, crime and education. You’ll look at the incorporation of space into economic models, and focus on solving and interpreting economic models to gain an understanding of how to assess the models and how they apply to the economy as a whole.

Information economics
Information economics explores the information asymmetry often found in mutual agreement situations between two economic agents; one agent invariably has more information about a characteristic that is relevant to the agreement than the other. You’ll look at how agents deal with this asymmetry by designing incentives and embedding them in contracts, and study the effects of this asymmetry on the prevailing market equilibrium. Applications of the theory will include other economic strands such as insurance, labour economics, industrial economics and environmental economics.

Other economics topics you may choose to specialize in include:
Education economics, where you’ll learn how to apply economics to the analysis of education policy
Growth economics, where you can study the determinants of economic growth and attempt to explain the disparity of income levels across countries
Experimental economics, a small field of research which covers experimental techniques as well as applications that are being carried out in economics research
Regulation economics, which looks at the development of government policy and analyses government intervention in the industrial and commercial sectors of the economy
Economics of tax policy, which looks at systems and methods relating to taxation, including the key behavioural effects of taxes on factors such as consumer spending, labour supply, saving and investment
Game Theory, which aims to provide an intellectual framework with which to analyze the behaviour of economic agents when motivated by strategic considerations

Economics careers

Economics is an expansive field, and it is usual to graduate from your economics degree with a broad set of transferable skills that will put you in good employment stead – whether you want to pursue specific economics careers or take a broader approach. While being a professional economist might be the number one choice for those most passionate about the subject, there are several other economics-related and economics-friendly careers to choose from.

Economist
An economist is someone who researches and analyses economic trends, issues and data and produces forecasts and reports from an economic perspective. They may then use this information as a basis for advising clients such as companies, financial institutions and public bodies so they can form economic policies or strategies. As an economist you will spend your days collecting and interpreting data, spotting and forecasting trends and creating reports to showcase the data. You are likely to use specialist software and advanced methods in statistical analysis. Most professional economist jobs require at least a master’s level degree.

Economic consultancy careers
Although similar to the role of an economist, economic consultancy careers are based on providing advice to individual businesses and organizations. Consultants are hired on a case-by-case basis to analyze the organization’s economic status and propose plans to help improve and change their existing programs.

Financial analyst careers
A variety of different roles fall within the category of financial analyst careers, all based on being able to research and analyze financial information and present this information to help various clients and managers make decisions.

Accountancy careers
The knowledge gained from an economics degree could also be transferred into a range of accountancy careers. Chartered accountants provide trustworthy information about financial records, provide professional advice and ultimately maximize profitability for their clients. Chartered certified accountants do a similar job, but with a more business-focused view, contributing to their client’s business strategy.

Statistician careers
If you enjoyed your mathematics modules, you might be interested in statistician careers. You’ll use mathematical techniques and software to collect, analyze and interpret data and communicate the results to your client. You’ll have to make sure that the complex statistical concepts you will be working with are explained in a way the client can understand and advise them on their strategy.

After your degree

One of the great things about having an economics degree under your belt is that there are a wide range of career options available to you. Economics graduates work in a wide range of roles – from investment, finance and banking to marketing, politics and advertising. These careers attract graduates of a very high calibre and, while competitive, have the potential to also be very lucrative. If you’ve got a creative or entrepreneurial flair, you may also be interested in setting up your own company – economics will equip you with all the skills you need (and this is an avenue many graduates end up exploring).

Another option is to continue your education by doing a postgraduate course. You could re-train as a lawyer or a journalist, for instance, or you could gain a further specialism in economics by staying on to do a master’s degree.

Career opportunities

Economics can give you a strong platform for your future career. You could work in industry, central or local government, international business, the financial sector, journalism or teaching

Other economics careers you might consider include roles in many interrelated sectors, such as actuaries (business professionals who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty, providing an assessment of financial security systems); stockbrokers (look after the investment portfolios of their clients, buying and selling shares on the stock exchange for maximum return); and bankers (helping with the financial requirements of individuals and businesses, providing advice and financial services).

Other career paths include roles in auditing, business intelligence, economic planning, insurance, international development, management, market research, poverty reduction, retail merchandising, statistics, social research, tax, human resource management, IT, journalism, law, PR, politics, sales or entrepreneurship.

Employability

A degree in Economics provides the skills required for a very wide range of careers. These skills are useful in the financial sector, general commerce, public sector, journalism and education to name but a few. Many employers will value the training that an Economics degree provides.

Our business degrees have long been recognised by major employers across all sectors of the economy. Our students find employment in areas as diverse as retail management, financial services, accountancy, motor manufacturing, management consultancy and pharmaceuticals; some become self employed.

Employers target graduates for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends.

Overview

Media and communication is all about how information is communicated to society as a whole and, now that we’re in the fast-moving, ever-changing digital age, it’s never been a more fascinating area.

If you’re studying on a journalism course, you can expect a mixture of theory and practical assessment (you’ll be expected to get stuck in and actually do journalism, rather than just learning about it). Other media and communication courses may be more theoretical in nature, involving the study of the media and how it has changed and advanced over the years, while bringing in questions of economics and social theory. In this way, you may well touch on aspects of history and sociology over the course of your degree.

Film, television and other media are central to all aspects of contemporary society. By studying them you can gain insight into how we communicate, represent and reflect on ourselves and our world.

Many journalists are attending graduate school to develop their digital media skills, others are going back to school to grow their journalism network, and some to improve on their journalistic fundamental skill sets.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Most degrees in this field are the standard three years in length, and it’s unlikely that you’ll have the chance to do a sandwich year. What many courses will do is encourage you to apply for work experience placements and get involved with things like student media; when you finish your degree you’ll be entering a competitive job market, so the more experience you can get together during your course, the better.

In terms of assessment, you’ll probably find your degree is weighted more towards coursework and essays than exams. Journalism courses in particular will feature lots of practical assessment, where your marks will be based on pieces of actual journalism – whether it’s a radio bulletin or a magazine feature – that you’ve created.

You can study all forms of media, including film, television, the internet, music video and digital media. You can examine aesthetics, content, audiences, social context, technology and production

Why study communication and media?

There’s never been a more interesting time to study communication and media. The digital age has not only created new platforms and ways of communicating with people, but it’s also given rise to plenty of grey areas and ethical debates (that you’ll almost certainly cover in your course).

You’ll also learn some incredibly handy skills – being able to create your own blog, knowing your way around social media and – perhaps most importantly – knowing how to string together a sentence are all skills that will be highly valued by most employers in this day and age. There are also new jobs coming up all the time that value these skills (plenty of companies will now have someone whose sole job is to manager their social media accounts, for instance. There are opportunities to explore film, television and media from both academic and practical perspectives. You can concentrate on historical, critical and theoretical approaches to the discipline or become involved in film-making, television production and script-writing.

Communication and Media degree modules

Journalism topics

More specifically, the following journalism topics are likely to be particularly useful for future graduates:

Media law
Studying media law means learning about the various legal issues that are likely to be relevant within careers in journalism. This includes laws relating to copyright, confidentiality, privacy, censorship, freedom of information, defamation and intellectual property.

Data journalism
Also known as data-driven journalism, data journalism refers to the growing field of journalism based on analysing large data sets and transforming them into information of interest to readers or viewers. This means learning how to work with large quantities of data, filter it to highlight specific aspects, and present it in an interesting way.

Digital journalism
Also called online journalism, digital journalism refers to the many innovations in journalism arising from the internet. Specializing in digital journalism could mean focusing on writing for websites, search engine optimization (SEO), use of multimedia, and strategies to generate revenue from online content.

Research & reporting
There are also many essential journalism topics that are more traditional – such as key skills in researching and reporting stories, whether from a news angle or more of a features or comment-style perspective. Key journalism skills covered here may include interview techniques, verifying information, approaches to finding stories, and reporting for TV or radio.

Lots of other journalism topics may also be offered. For example, it may be possible to specialize in a particular subject, such as sports journalism, or in a particular part of the journalistic process, such as subediting. Related subjects may also be covered within a Masters in Journalism, such as photography, advertising or graphic design.

After your degree

The media is notoriously competitive and hard to get into, and many graduates end up having to do weeks of unpaid work experience or internships before they’ve built up enough experience (or the right connections) to even find an entry level job.

That’s not to say it’s not possible – far from it – but it’s worth being realistic. If you want to go into the likes of TV or journalism, your best bet is to start applying for work experience placements from the start of your degree, so that you’re in the best possible position when you begin looking for jobs. You can also consider doing a postgraduate qualification to give you some extra training (and a much-needed edge over rival applicants).

On the other hand, there are also a range of other careers – from PR to marketing – that will value the skills you’ve learned on your course. Many media and communication graduates go into these types of roles, as well as into jobs in publishing, copywriting or production.

Career opportunities

Thanks to the fast pace of change in communications technologies, careers in journalism are more diverse than ever before. Of course, many of the more traditional journalism jobs are still available – newspapers, magazines and news agencies remain among the largest employers of journalism graduates. But new technologies are also opening up many new and evolving roles too.

Media, Film and Television Studies can be useful for careers in business, politics or the cultural sector. Graduates have careers in film and television production and distribution, advertising, broadcasting, marketing, public relations, curating, archiving, editing, publishing, journalism and reviewing. They work in other forms of media writing, public policy, funding and regulatory bodies, web-based activities and teaching

Newspaper & magazine journalism
Roles within newspaper and magazine journalism include researching and writing news and features articles, editing and commissioning content, subediting and fact-checking, photography and design. Jobs in this field may incorporate both print and online journalism, with many newspapers and magazines operating in both media.

TV & radio journalism
Those who fancy a career in TV or radio journalism also have lots of different options to choose from. Here, roles could include research, script-writing, presenting, filming, editing and directing. Different roles will require more expertise in using broadcast equipment.

Online journalism
While many journalists work across both print and online, many also specialize in online journalism. This could simply mean producing content (written or multimedia) for a website, but there is also high demand for online journalism specialists to work as consultants and strategists, helping media companies make the transition from print to online.

Advertising
Many journalism graduates also go on to work in the advertising sector. This could mean working on advertising campaigns across a range of different media – print, TV, radio, online, billboards and so on. Roles likely to be of interest for journalism graduates include copywriting, public relations, research and creative direction.

Overview

In a challenging economic climate and in the midst of a boom, graduates of business degrees are in high demand among a wide range of employers. You may be taking a first degree or returning to university to enhance your skills and move your career up a level, looking for a foundation in the core principles of international business or a deeper specialization in one particular market or role. Whatever your situation and career goals, there’s bound to be a business degree to match.

This course is constantly evolving to reflect the changing world of business and equips you with the expertise needed to understand business on both a national and global scale.

This degree combines the latest research and thinking with the philosophy that future leaders of industry need a sound and broad-based business education. Business examines management policies and practices in the context of organisational growth and development, management theory, theories of leadership, communication processes, employment relations and the dynamics of organisational behaviour. The importance of managing people, and of management processes generally, means that courses offered by the Department of Management and International Business are relevant to most students in the University.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Economics or Management (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Types of business degrees

The term “business degrees” is often used as an umbrella term covering a wide range of courses, in subjects that include finance, accounting, management and economics. It may be useful to think about two main types of business degrees: those that cover a broad spectrum of business-related subjects, and those which focus more specifically on a narrower strand.

It’s also common to find business degrees that allow students to combine a key field of business (such as human resources management, financial analysis or entrepreneurship) with a second subject, in a combined honours or joint degree option. For example, you could choose to develop your project management skills while also studying computer sciences, or combine international business studies with modern languages.

What you will learn

You will learn about the importance of human and labour factors in organisations including the structure, design and culture of organisations; management theory, policies and practices; and employment relations issues globally. Graduates are equipped with the skills they need to understand the framework against which business decisions are made and the ways in which people engage with their organisations in the public and private sectors. They are able to operate successfully in all areas of business both at a local level and in the international environment. Students can combine courses to focus your studies in any of the following areas: general management and strategy, international and cross-cultural management, human resources and employment relations, innovation and entrepreneurship, or organisational studies.

What to expect during your business degree

Typically, business degrees last three or four years at undergraduate level (depending on the country and program), and a further one or two years at master’s level. Undergraduate business degrees will typically start with a focus on core business principles, later on allowing students to choose specializations. At master’s level and beyond, even greater specialization is possible.

Business degrees are usually assessed using a combination of coursework and examinations, and the teaching process often involves a strong focus on case studies. These are descriptions of actual business situations, which students are expected to analyze in depth, and use the information provided to discuss and evaluate various business strategies and theories.

Some business schools offer accelerated programs, allowing students to graduate more quickly by taking on a more intensive workload. Others offer part-time or distance learning options, for those who want to continue working while furthering their education. And some include a “sandwich year” – in which students undertake a work placement for one year of the program.

Business Studies degree modules

Specializations

Business is certainly a broad and multidisciplinary field, and business topics vary depending on the institution and course focus. Common course options include: accounting, business administration, business analysis, business computing, business ethics, business statistics, and commercial law, developing markets, economic principles, finance, human resources, international studies, management, marketing, operations management, research and technology.

Students may also be able to specialize in business practices within a particular world region or specific industry sector; in fact the possible combinations are almost endless. Perhaps you’ll focus on e-commerce or the uses of social media in brand management, or become a leader in human resource management for SMEs, or an expert in business logistics in Latin America.

Some of the main business topics to choose from include:
Accounting
As an accounting major you’ll learn how to analyze businesses’ stats and reports to highlight areas for improvement that could boost profits and minimize inefficiencies. You will learn how to shape financial practices within a business or organization, gaining an understanding of how financial systems work, how to apply accounting principles to make financial decisions, and how these may affect the bottom line. Often offered alongside finance, accounting requires strong skills in mathematics, statistical analysis, technology and ethics, and the development and use of critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Advertising
For many companies, successful advertising is an essential part of a successful business model. Specializing in this field means studying advertising trends, learning about the processes and costs involved, and working out how to apply this knowledge to an identified target market. Through coursework, you will learn how to create and manage a successful ad campaign, how to present products and services to potential consumers and how to use modern technology tools. Other aspects of advertising you may learn about include buyer behaviour, social media marketing, collaborative advertising, internet advertising and viral campaigning.

Business law
Although some business students may find business law initially challenging due to its often alien terminology and concepts, learning about the laws surrounding business can be an important part of running a company. You will learn about key areas of business law such as contract law, agency law and other key legislation, impacting on the everyday workings of businesses, from company formation to insolvency. You may also study issues connected to the ethics and legality behind the sale of goods and consumer credit and protection, torts and other wrongs such as negligence, defamation and damage of property, director appointments and shareholding, how to arrange partnerships and the influence of national and international law in the modern business world.

Marketing
Along with advertising executives, marketing professionals help a business to succeed by working out how to attract customers and promote products and services. You will learn about advertising, merchandising, promotion, statistical analysis and campaign tracking, and will use case studies to research, analyze and evaluate the marketing plans of successful (and less successful) companies. Marketing and advertising specializations are also attractive because they are not industry-specific – every industry can benefit from being able to market and sell their product/service.

Human resources
Business graduates with specializations in human resources are always in demand, as all kinds and sizes of organization depend on recruiting and retaining a productive, well-matched and happy workforce. Specializing in human resources will mean studying business topics such as strategic planning, employee health and safety, hiring and firing, interviewing, recruiting, training, employee benefit management and arbitration. In general, human resources and human resource management students will develop their critical thinking, interpersonal and problem solving skills.

Economics
A vast subject in its own right, but often intersecting with the business field, economics can be broken down into two broad levels. Microeconomics looks at individual decisions regarding monetary and resource distribution decisions, while macroeconomics is concerned with the performance, structure, behaviour and patterns of an economy as a whole, either on a national or global scale. Business students specializing in economics will have the opportunity to study econometrics, international economics and labour economics, all the while relating these studies to business practice. You will also learn about interest rates, exchange rates, economic indicators and equity markets, and gain statistical and analytical skills.

Entrepreneurship
At the end of a successful entrepreneurship specialization, you should be ready to start a successful business from the ground up. You will learn how to exercise complete control over how a business functions and how it will proceed into the future, by learning about capital management, product development and global business, alongside aspects of accounting, marketing and finance relevant to running a business. An entrepreneurship degree could either provide the building blocks to start up your own business, or qualify you to work as a consultant for others undertaking this project.

Business skills

Excellent numeracy
At least basic-level financial analysis – constructing and interpreting balance sheets
General IT skills; proficiency in software such as Excel and PowerPoint, as well as specialist software
General research skills
Self-management and independent learning, including planning and meeting deadlines
Professional communication, spoken and written
Ability to present ideas logically and critically
Team work
Leadership
Problem-solving
Data analysis
Ability to be self-critical
Ability to identify causes, trends and patterns and knowing how to capitalize on trends
Knowledge of current global markets

Career opportunities

This degree has long been recognised by major employers across all sectors of the economy. Students find employment in areas as diverse as retail management, financial services, accountancy, motor manufacturing, management consultancy and pharmaceuticals; some become self-employed.

Employers target students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. If you make the most of the wide range of services, you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.

A business major in the Bachelor of Commerce opens many doors in the business world. Future roles could include: general manager, business development manager, entrepreneur, business consultant, strategic business analyst, international trade consultant, training and development consultant, recruitment consultant, human resources adviser/manager, employment relations manager, public policy analyst, business development manager, business consultant, international trade consultant, and senior management roles in business and industry.

Business careers

There is a lot of variety within the world of business careers – in every country, across every industry, and within many different sizes and types of business. Every organization needs effective managers and leaders, with diverse skill sets and specialized knowledge. To strengthen your career prospects, you may choose to pursue additional business courses, either short graduate training courses or full-length graduate-level degrees – either an MBA or a specialized master’s degree.

Common business careers paths include:

Accountancy and finance careers
Although many business degrees require students to learn aspects of these subjects, many accountancy and finance careers require additional specialized qualifications. Many companies also run graduate programs where business graduates can expand on their accountancy and finance skills while working, and pay the costs involved in completing the qualifications. Accountancy and finance careers may involve roles such as reviewing a company’s financial information and systems, advising clients on tax planning and issues, managing accounting records, advising clients on business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, and detecting and preventing cases of financial fraud, negligence or other misdemeanours (forensic accounting).

Marketing and advertising careers
The skills in analysis and reporting gained from a business degree, combined with industry knowledge and a little creative flair, could also be put to good use in marketing and advertising careers. Here, tasks could include conducting market research, managing client relationships, developing marketing strategies, liaising with copywriters, designers and printers, managing budgets, monitoring competitor activities and evaluating the results of marketing or advertising campaigns.

Retail careers
Industries such as catering and retail are excellent places for business graduates with management knowledge to develop their skills and climb the career ladder. Again, many large companies offering retail careers run graduate training courses and graduate management programs, which often promise to fast-track candidates into management positions by providing them with on-the-job learning and skills development. Places can be competitive and you will usually need high grades on your degree qualification, as well as some existing work experience.

Human resources careers
For business graduates who want to combine their management and interpersonal skills, human resources careers can be both rewarding and lucrative. The role requires a combination of soft skills and a very strong understanding of the inner workings of businesses and the many employment laws that govern companies. Further specializations could be in recruitment, employee training, or employee benefit schemes.

Business consultancy careers
One of the most degree-relevant careers for business degree graduates, business consultancy careers involve using business skills to provide objective advice, expertise and specialist skills to an organization to help improve its business performance. Business consultancy firms range from larger firms that offer end-to-end solutions to smaller or niche firms that specialize in a particular market or challenge. Roles within business consultancy careers could include research, data collection and analysis, team and project management team, preparing business proposals and presentations, and assisting in the implementation of solutions.

Other possible sectors for business graduates include auditing, banking, chartered accountancy, communications, distribution, hospitality and leisure, insurance, industrial companies, journalism, law, manufacturing, media administration, production management, public relations, risk management and tax.

Overview

It’s all about how businesses, money, and the management of money come together. Accounting, business and finance are three areas which overlap each other and often go hand-in-hand – you can’t run a business without taking care of the finances, for instance, and you can’t go into accounting without knowledge of how a business is run.

Despite the fact they cross over, though, accounting, business and finance are also three very different subjects. Finance focuses on fund management, while accounting involves the broader analysis of a business’ financial situation (including its cash flow, liabilities, etc.); a business course will introduce you to all of the elements needed to run a business, which – while touching on accounting and finance – will also include things like marketing and economics.

Finance is the study of how individuals and firms allocate resources through time. Finance includes the study of capital markets and the financing decisions that confront organisations. The study of finance can be regarded as either a specialist professional area in itself or a basic tool which is useful across the broad spectrum of business or non-profit organisations. Finance offers great potential as a vocational discipline.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Economics or Accounts (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Although most universities will offer accounting, business and finance as separate degrees, plenty will also offer the chance to do two as a combined option (and if you’re finding it hard to narrow your choice to just one area, this could be a good option to consider).

A degree in one of these subjects will normally be three years long, although many unis will offer the option of a sandwich year – a year spent working for a company in between your second and final year – which would extend your course to four years.

Why study Accounting & Finance?

A degree in any of these areas will be challenging, but the rewards will be great. If you have a degree in accounting, business or finance you’ll have excellent employability prospects (all companies value money and a working knowledge of business), and you’ll have a good chance of earning decent money after you graduate.

If you have an analytical mind, a love of problem solving and a good brain for maths, a degree in one of the above subjects could be perfectly suited to you.

Accounting & Finance degree modules

Career opportunities

If you study Finance at undergraduate level, you might decide to follow one of these career pathways: investment banker, merchant banker, corporate banker, merger and acquisition specialist, corporate finance specialist, treasury specialist, stockbroker, financial analyst.

After your degree

Although your job prospects are solid, it’s worth noting that positions at the top companies (big graduate employers like PWC and Deloitte, for example) will be extremely competitive. Many graduates of business, accounting and finance do go down this route, though, and end up on graduate training schemes for international or national businesses.

It’s also worth noting that although finance or accounting jobs may seem like the obvious choice, your degree won’t limit you to just working in these types of roles (as you’ll have acquired a range of transferrable skills).

You don’t have to go straight into the world of work, either. Doing a postgraduate course could allow you to gain a further specialism, or even to re-train for a career in the likes of teaching or law. Alternatively, you could work full-time for a few years before going back to university to study for an MBA (Master of Business Administration) – a qualification that will open the door to higher level management roles

Overview

The programme aims to develop the intellectual, analytical and communication capabilities of students to levels that can prepare them for successful careers as professional accountants, together with the transferable skills that are necessary to apply their capabilities and technical knowledge in new and challenging contexts across accounting, finance and commerce.

It will adopt a variety of teaching and learning strategies to promote high levels of knowledge, understanding and competence about what accounting is, how it is applied and how accounting measurements affect our behaviour as individuals, organisations and societies. Studies of core disciplines such as accounting, finance, information systems, economics, tax and law will be complemented by electives that enable students to broaden their knowledge in, for example, languages, arts and natural sciences. The BSc Accountancy programme will enable students to combine their academic study with relevant. Accounting involves consideration of the presentation of financial statements and techniques for their analysis; management accounting explores the use of accounting data for managerial planning, decision-making and control.

The programme will provide an educational environment that stimulates and supports learning and personal development and utilises the extensive range of university support services to enrich the students' learning experience

Most universities offer undergraduate courses focusing just on accounting, it’s common to find accounting paired with other related subjects (such as finance) or included under a broader title, such as business and management. This reflects the multidisciplinary nature of accounting, which intersects with fields including information technology, law, statistics and economics.

Generally, however, you can expect accounting degrees to have a strong focus on quantitative methods and data analysis, including descriptive statistics, probability, statistical inference and hypothesis testing.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Economics or Accounts (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What you will learn

You will learn how to present financial statements that can be used to assist business planning and decision-making. You will also learn financial analysis techniques. Other topics covered within accounting degrees may include: preparing and interpreting financial reports; budgeting, costing and performance management; national and international regulations and standards; market structures and business cycles; the use of accounting data in planning and decision making.

Accountancy degree modules

Specializations

Audit
Audit involves analysing and assessing a company or organization’s financial statements. Auditors may be called upon to check for errors or inconsistencies, but also to provide feedback on the effectiveness and efficiency of the systems being used.

Tax
Specialists in this field prepare tax statements for organizations and/or individuals, and give advice on tax-related issues – for example, helping companies assess the tax implications of various cash flow or investment options.

Risk assessment
Risk assessment is the use of accounting data to make informed decisions, based on the probability of particular outcomes, and the possibility of offsetting risks

Accounting skills

Ability to analyze complex data sets
Excellent numeracy and technology literacy, including statistics and financial modelling
Presenting findings in written and spoken form to an acceptable academic standard
An understanding of academic literature and general academic research skills
Problem identification and solving
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Ability to work both independently and in groups
Good time management

Career opportunities

Accounting careers
Prospects for those embarking on accounting careers are strong even compared to other sectors of business and finance.

Accounting salaries & employers
Accounting careers don’t just pay well; they also offer challenging and stimulating work. Accountants are involved in developing systems for tracking companies’ financial performance, advising on mergers and acquisitions, and calculating the costs and rewards of new technologies, ventures and strategies. Many go on to become Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) of large companies.
As well as working within businesses or government agencies, accountants may also work as part of a public accounting firm – of which the best-known are the so-called ‘Big Four’: Ernst & Young, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and KPMG.
It’s also possible to go solo, as a self-employed accountant, which may appeal if you like the sound of being your own boss and interacting personally with a range of smaller clients.

The study of Accounting can be regarded as either a specialist professional area in itself or as a basic tool which can be applied across the broad spectrum of business or non-profit organisations. If you study accounting at undergraduate level, you may decide to embark on one of these careers:
Accountant in a chartered accountancy practice, industry or the public sector (financial accounting)
Business consultant or financial manager in a manufacturing, service or consultancy organisation (management accounting)

Overview

Wherever you go in the world, education is considered to be one of the central roles of society - and teaching is considered almost universally to be one of the most noble and respectable professions.

BA Education (Hons) It combines the academic study of childhood and education with a practical focus on career development in related areas.

This degree is interdisciplinary and combines ideas and research from areas such as education, psychology, sociology, philosophy, social policy and history.

Like all such professions, it is a big job, for which practitioners must be trained to a high level using the latest techniques. Whether it’s the all-round skills needed to teach younger children or the subject-specific expertise necessary to train students at more advanced levels, it is crucial that teachers get it right.

Add on the pressures of dealing with young people facing the challenges of growing up, and you have a profession which is not for the faint-hearted. Ergo, neither are education degrees.

The BA (Hons) Education aims to equip students with the academic knowledge, as well as relevant practical skills and experiences, which aid progression to professional training and to careers working with children and young people in a diverse range of settings and geographical locations.

Most modules explore how people, and especially children, develop and learn, identifying and evaluate different ways of knowing about and understanding children and young people and their behaviour; with how educational policy can promote, or frustrate, attempts to develop justice; and with the skills and competencies necessary to develop graduate careers.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Types of education degrees

While most education degrees are designed to prepare students for work in various educator roles, some are more theory based. The latter types of education degrees focus on analyzing current and past education systems and debating their strengths and flaws.

The goal of these courses is ultimately about improving education, drawing on research looking at everything from the way children learn to the best governmental structure for schools and how to keep the teachers themselves motivated.

While education is almost universally acknowledged to be of key importance for individuals and societies, education systems themselves are fairly diverse. For this reason, it’s usually beneficial to study your education degree, and complete your teacher training, in the same country where you intend to work.

Primary education

Primary school is a crucial stage in a young person’s mental and social development, and therefore being a primary school teacher is a big responsibly. However, it can also be very rewarding.

As well as studying the professional aspects of being a teacher, a degree in primary education will give you a basic grounding in the subjects you will be teaching your precocious charges. Courses will feature placements, so you’ll get a hands-on taste of the working world too.

Secondary education

Unlike the more general requirements of primary school teaching, secondary school teachers need to be fairly expert in their particular subject area. Therefore, secondary school teacher training will need to take place alongside studies in another subject.

Alternatively, you might complete a bachelor’s degree in the subject which you want to teach, and then do a graduate qualification in secondary education afterwards. Placements will also form a key part of your training.

Education Studies

As the name suggests, education studies is the study of education itself. This is an interdisciplinary subject, looking at things like the psychology of learning, the role played by societal and sociological factors, and the history of education.

Study this if you want to understand the bigger picture of education, and perhaps work towards changing education systems for the better – be it in an administrative, managerial or research capacity.

Transferable skills include:

Written communication developed through writing essays;
Oral communication skills gained through reasoned debates during seminars and presentations;
Ability to work as part of a team, through collaborative group work;
Research and analytical skills with the ability to judge and evaluate information;
Organisational and time management skills by prioritising tasks to ensure academic, social and work commitments are completed on time;
Negotiation, informally with peers and formally with staff;
Problem solving and IT skills.

Why study education?

Providers of education are always in demand. Teachers and educational specialists offer an essential service to a wide range of people all looking to further their own knowledge. For a sharp individual with strong communication skills and a passion for working with others, education could be the perfect area.

Assessment methods

Studying at degree-level is likely to be very different from your previous experience of learning and teaching. You will be expected to think, discuss and engage critically with the subject and find things out for yourself. We will enable you to make this transition to a new style of learning, and the way that you are assessed during your studies.

Students are not only the basis of the knowledge they gained, but also the skills that they have acquired. You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations and formal exams. Students also prepare portfolios of experiences and activities which enhances their employability on graduation –

This programme seeks to widen horizons and to promote self-valued for their leadership and problem solving capabilities.

Key Skills

As well as preparing you to enter the teaching profession or a related role, education degrees should furnish you a range of useful transferrable skills, including:

People skills
Excellent spoken and written communication
A framework for keeping up with an ever-evolving profession
The ability to deal with sensitive issues in an informed manner
Expertise in a single subject or across a spectrum
Firsthand experience of the field you’re about to enter
Organization and planning skills
An ability to think creatively and present ideas in new ways
Flexibility and adaptability

Employability

Employers target students who can demonstrate the ability to drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness many graduates go onto successful careers that are open to any graduate with an excellent Honours degree, such as banking, accountancy, public services etc

However, if you’re looking to diversify your knowledge – or even shift careers completely – there are a number of other postgraduate courses you can take. Many students looking for a change may study for a postgraduate study as a means of opting out of the teaching industry altogether.

Educational psychology, social work, government work and even journalism are all popular

programmes for those with a background in education Most students studying BA Education (Hons) programme go onto work or undertake further study

Education careers

No matter what the economic climate, teachers will always be in demand. Training as a teacher, therefore, will render you eminently employable.

In addition, many countries worldwide are reportage a shortage of teachers – particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. So if you’re looking to shore-up your career prospects, you could do a lot worse than to enter the teaching profession.

The same applies for those working in the education sector but not as teachers. Where there is mass teaching, a strong all-round education infrastructure will be required.

Beyond the classroom, education careers are also available in management, administration, research and advisory roles. All of these fields offer scope to contribute to the improvement of education systems and techniques, and help education providers adapt to changing contexts and new challenges.

A background in education can also be useful for those who work in any sort of position which involves working with young people, or generally sharing knowledge. Examples include exhibition curators, community youth workers and social workers.

Overview

Art itself is notoriously difficult to define, and the fact that the notion of art is forever changing and developing makes it even trickier to pin down. One popular definition of a ‘piece of art’ is something that is produced as a direct result of human creativity. While art has traditionally been concerned with beauty and aesthetics, it can also be used as a means of challenging social and moral conventions, and plays a key role in reflecting upon culture and society within any given era.

What are you study options?

Most courses will be three years in length, although some unis offer four year courses that give students both a BA and a Master’s qualification.

Many art courses will have a predominantly practical focus and will teach you to use a wide range of artistic mediums such as sculpting, painting and even electronics. You’ll also acquire an overview of art history and how different artists used their work to reflect the social and cultural attitudes of the times in which they were produced.

While you’ll be expected to attend lectures as part of your degree, you’ll also need to carry out your own work and independent research in your spare time (as the course itself will likely have less contact hours than some subjects). Assessment will vary depending on the nature of your course, but most practical-based art degrees will assess you on the strength of your portfolio.

Why study art and design?

Art is a fascinating subject to study – not only from a creative perspective but also from a historical one. As part of your course you will learn a range of practical skills that will allow you to develop your own artistic style and gain an understanding of different approaches towards art, from surrealism to the aesthetic movement.

If you’re a creative person, studying a degree in art will not only put you in touch with experts, but also with other like-minded students. This will give you a great opportunity to network and chat to those who share your enthusiasm and interest for the subject.

You will gain an excellent understanding of fine arts and design through which you will develop your own personal ideas and style and build your own research-based practice. These skills will lay the foundations for a lifetime of continuous learning and personal development.

Areas of study

You will study a mix of compulsory and elective courses across a range of art forms and media and learn to interpret your ideas through drawing and other media, engage in creative problem-solving, expand your lateral thinking skills and engage in personal research and investigation. As you progress you will develop an in-depth understanding of fine arts practice through interdisciplinary studio-based instruction and engagement with our critical studies programme.

After your degree

Upon graduation there are a wide range of opportunities for those who have an in-depth knowledge of the arts sector. Many students in this particular field will find work as critics, curators or even in arts administration, PR and marketing roles.

However, the majority of art and design students enter their undergraduate programmes with the hope of finding work as artists and designers. While some students do change their mind, many students attempt to find work as artistic practitioners, showcasing their work in galleries and event spaces. Similarly, another popular option for students is to set up their own business selling their work online or on a commission basis. This is a particularly popular option among graduates with day jobs who opt to work freelance in order to subsidise their incomes (a good approach – at least to start with – as finding work as a full time artist is not easy).

Of course, there are a lot of jobs within the arts sector that may require specialist training at postgraduate level. If you’re looking to teach art in a school environment, you may wish to study on a PGCE course, or even a Master’s – and then a PhD – if you’re looking to teach at university level. Similarly, due to the nature of the arts sector, there are a number of postgraduate courses that train students to become experts in the restoration and preservation of artwork.

Career opportunities

Graduates of Elam have the skills required to initiate and sustain a career as an exhibiting artist. Other professional possibilities include graphic designer, secondary school teacher, photojournalist, creative director in an advertising agency, film director, illustrator, commercial photographer, arts writer, art critic, animator, art curator, art gallery director, and set designer.

Overview

Software engineers are the people who design and maintain the software behind this functionality, and guarantee that it works. They combine their expertise in computer science, engineering and maths to design, develop and test software.

Ever wondered how your mobile phone works? How text messages, photos and videos are sent between phones, or how you can access your email using your mobile phone?

They need a good balance of relevant knowledge and skill. These include software architecture, system performance, testing and quality assurance, requirements engineering, management of software processes, selection and use of software tools and components, computer and human interaction, and documentation.

Why study this course

The programme is oriented towards producing graduates with a "whole system" view of Software Engineering. Graduates gain not only sound knowledge of current techniques and technologies for developing software, but are also aware of the business contexts in which software is conceived and developed.

Critical thinking, communication with colleagues and clients, and awareness of the role the profession plays in society are strongly emphasised. The programme has a strong engineering perspective providing students with significant exposure to a variety of software processes, project management techniques, quality assurance techniques and software tools, as well as a range of leading edge computing applications, computing technology, and computer systems skills and knowledge.

Specializations

Software engineering topics

You can expect to begin your computer science degree by developing a foundation in key Software Engineering topics. Some core computer science courses you may cover include theory of computation, fundamentals of computer science, compliers and operating systems, information theory, basic programming, systems and architecture, software development and testing, web applications and databases, algorithms and data structures, and principles of computer hardware. Some mathematical concepts you may cover include formal methods, Boolean algebra, discreet mathematics, set theory, probability, statistics, linear algebra, differential equations and calculus.

You will then choose from an ever-growing range of specialist computer science topics, including advanced internet, advanced programming, artificial intelligence and artificial life, computational logic, computer graphics, computer modelling, computer networks, computer security, computer vision, encryption, ethical hacking, GUIs, games development, human-computer interaction, mobile applications, multimedia computing, networking theory, professional issues and research methods, software engineering and design, and web-development.

Programming language theory

Programming is an interdisciplinary topic, incorporating elements from subjects such as mathematics, software engineering and linguistics. Programming language theory involves looking at the design, implementation, analysis, characterization and classification of programming languages and their individual features. Your introductory courses will teach you one or more programming languages. Knowledge of more than one will help you to better understand their individual strengths and weaknesses, which will in turn help you to better engage with the challenges addressed by programming language theory. You’ll cover topics such as syntax, natural semantics, structural operational semantics and abstract machine code.

Computer graphics

Studying computer graphics involves using computers to create still or moving two or three dimensional images using specialized graphics hardware and software. You’ll study how to manipulate visual and geometric information using computational techniques, focusing on mathematical and computational foundations of image generation and processing rather than purely aesthetic issues. You’ll need knowledge of physics, light and materials, as well as knowledge of the mathematics of homogenous matrices, and of data storage, representation and manipulations. Computer graphics makes the interaction and understanding of computers and interpretation of data easier for both computing professionals and consumers. With companies exploring increased use of trends such as ‘gamification’, the demand for computer scientists with advanced knowledge of computer graphics has never been greater.

Human-computer interaction

The study of human-computer interaction (HCI) considers the challenges in making computers and computations useful, usable, and universally accessible to humans, in order to prevent unexpected problems caused by poorly designed human-machine interfaces. Coupled with studies rooted in behavioral sciences, you’ll cover the study, planning and design of this kind of interaction, with the understanding that a computer has an almost unlimited amount of uses which can only take place in an open-ended dialogue between the user and the computer. You’ll approach the subject on the machine side, with computing techniques such as computer graphics, operating systems, programming languages and development environments, and on the human side, exploring communication, graphics, linguistics, social sciences such as cognitive psychology, and user satisfaction.

Artificial intelligence

The study of artificial intelligence (AI) is closely related to the field of artificial life (AL), and both are involved in synthesizing goal-orientated processes such as problem-solving, decision-making, environmental adaptation, learning and communication using computers and algorithms. While the field of artificial life examines systems and studies the complex behaviors that emerge from these systems, artificial intelligence uses systems to develop specific behaviors in machines and software. AI is a cross-disciplinary topic drawing on applied mathematics, symbolic logic, semiotics, electrical engineering, philosophy (of mind), neurophysiology and social intelligence. AI involves the automation of tasks (such as evaluative and predictive tasks) in computer applications involving complex real-world data - successful use of AI in this manner can act as a viable substitute for humans doing the same tasks.

Algorithms and data structures

Algorithms are a step-by-step procedure for making calculations, used in data processing and automated reasoning - this creates an output that is often, but not always, predictable. Data structures provide a way of storing and organizing data in a computer so it can be used efficiently - different kinds of data structures are suited to different kinds of applications and may be highly specialized to specific tasks.

Together, algorithms and data structures underlie all other aspects of computer science, and involve learning how to store and process data as efficiently as possible, while ensuring algorithms are able to cope with the system in question. You’ll learn things such as linked lists, sorting and recursion, trees, hashing, greedy solutions, graphs and optimizing data arrangements. You may also go on to the analysis of algorithms (determining the amount of resources necessary to execute algorithms).

What you will learn

You will gain a sound knowledge of operating systems, computer organisation and architecture, data communications, and algorithm design and analysis. In addition to this, you’ll develop skills in mathematics, project management and professional ethics.

During this course you will learn about all kinds of computational systems, their theory, design, development and application. This includes programming languages, software engineering, artificial intelligence, operating systems, databases, nature-inspired computation, concurrent computing, robotics and the theory of computation. The degree incorporates concepts from fields as diverse as mathematics, engineering, linguistics and psychology.

Computer scientists design and create search-engines, social networking applications, software applications used in the financial world to map customer profiles and expose credit card fraud, and software applications used in the medical sector to identify cancers through the analysis of medical images.

At a deeper scientific/mathematical level, we look at the theory underpinning complex algorithms, or the difficulty of implementing solutions to complex problems in a provably reliable way. At the engineering level, we ensure that complex systems are built to appropriate standards, are properly tested and run efficiently. Then at the human level, we ensure that applications are easy to learn and use and are well matched to functional expectations.

Software Engineering skills

Computer science is typically taught through a combination of lectures, case studies, seminars and laboratory sessions, alongside project and group work. Expect theory to dominate your first year, with more practical, lab-based courses increasing as your studies progress. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, poster sessions and oral presentations. Final assessment is usually in the form of a large-scale, research-led final project which may be accompanied by a report, dissertation or examination.

As well as gaining expertise in a range of technical software Engineering skills, you will also have the chance to develop various non-technical skills, which can be useful for moving into careers in other sectors. Some transferable computer science skills you’re likely to develop during your degree include:

Specialist knowledge of computer science theories, methods, practices and strategy
Understanding of a range of programming languages
Understanding of computing architecture, construction, engineering and design
Understanding of computing software, tools, packages and design
Wide understanding of a range of computer-based systems
Awareness of and ability to cope with and adapt to rapid technological changes
Excellent mathematics/numeracy skills
Good foundation in physics
Ability to understand complex numerical data
Teamwork and leadership skills
Analytical and critical thinking skills
Creative thinking skills
Time management and organization skills
General commercial awareness
Written and oral communication skills, including presentations and report writing
Ability to negotiate, persuade, and present reasoned arguments
Strong problem-solving, analysis and decision-making abilities

As a student of Software Engineering, you will learn a variety of programming languages and how to design, analyse and maintain high quality software.

Software careers

Software engineers don’t just write programs. They meet clients, discuss the needs of their clients, and design solutions. Software engineers work in many application areas, such as banking, health informatics, architecture, medicine, telecommunication and global positioning systems.

Jobs for software engineers are often available nationally and internationally - from start up companies to large multinational companies and from government departments to consultancies.

Choose a computer science degree, and you could be working at the forefront of the next greatest technological innovations. The increasing scope of computer science means you have the choice to work in a wide variety of highly specialized areas. With computer technologies playing an ever growing role in all aspects of modern life, you’re likely to find your computer science skills in high demand across many different industries although, unsurprisingly, most graduates go into roles within the computer industry. Computer science careers include:

IT consultant
Working in partnership with clients, an IT consultant advises their client on the planning, design, installation and usage of information technology systems to meet the client’s business objectives, overcome problems or improve the structure and efficiency of their IT systems. As you represent a broad role in IT, your job will be similar to that of systems analysts, systems designers and applications programmers, whose roles are more specialized but nonetheless work on a consultancy basis.

On a typical day, you will meet with clients to determine their requirements, plan timescales and resources with them, and spend time clarifying the client’s current system specifications, work practices and nature of their business. You’ll analyze their IT requirements, develop solutions, implement new systems (which may include designing and installing) and present the results in a written or oral report, answering feedback, and then helping clients with the subsequent changes and in organizing training for other users. You may also become involved in sales and business development, identifying potential clients and maintaining good business contacts.

Information systems manager
While a similar role to an IT consultant, an information systems manager is usually a full-time member of staff, responsible for the secure and effective operation of computer systems within their company. You’ll be responsible (perhaps with the help of a team of IT staff) for the entire upkeep of the ICT infrastructure within your organization, with typical tasks involving the overseeing of installation of systems, ensuring systems are backed-up and that the back-up systems are operating effectively, purchasing hardware and software, setting up secure access for all users, including remote users, ensuring security of data from internal and external attack, and providing IT support and advice for users.

You’ll need to make sure the ICT facilities meet the needs of your company and are current, while remaining within a set budget, and within all relevant software licensing laws. You may also need an understanding of business and management principles in order to contribute to organizational policy regarding quality standards and strategic planning in relation to IT.

Database administrator
A database administrator (DBA) is responsible for accurately and securely using, developing and maintaining the performance, integrity and security of a computerized database. The specific role is always determined by the organization in question, but is likely to either mean being involved purely in database maintenance or specialized in database development. The role is also dependent on the type of database and processes and capabilities of the database management systems (DBMS) in use in your particular organization.

Typically, this role includes ensuring data remains consistent, is clearly defined, easily accessible, is secure and can be recovered in an emergency. You’ll also be required to troubleshoot should any problems arise, liaise with programmers, operational staff, IT project managers and technical staff, provide user training, support and feedback and write reports, documentation and operating manuals.

Multimedia programmer
A multimedia programmer is responsible for designing and creating multimedia computer products, making sure they are functional and maintaining fidelity to a designer’s specification. You’ll use creative as well as technical skills to develop multimedia features including text, sound, graphics, digital photography, 2D/3D modelling, animation and video. You’ll need to work with the designer to understand the design concept, discuss how it can be technically implemented, identify the operational rules necessary, write efficient computer code or script to make the features work, run tests of the product to test for bugs and rewrite or add new code if necessary.

You’ll also be available for technical support after the product is completed, and need to keep abreast of industry news and developments in order to suggest and implement improvements. You may work across platforms (such as the internet, interactive television, information kiosks, DVDS, computer games consoles and mobile phones) or remain specialized in one platform. Your role may overlap with similar IT roles such as web developer, games developer, systems developer or software engineer, or you may find yourself working in tandem with these professionals to achieve mutual goals.

More jobs with a Software degree
Further jobs with a Software degree include working in other areas of development (such as web, games, systems, products, programs and software), as an analyst (be it business continuity, systems or technical), as an administrator (of databases or networks) or in an academic or industrial research capacity, contributing to the ongoing development of computers and related technologies.

Computer science career opportunities are available in a huge variety of industry sectors and organizations, including: financial organizations, IT companies, management consultancy firms, software houses, communications companies, data warehouses, multinational companies (IT-related, financial services and others), governmental agencies, universities and hospitals. Other options include working as a technical author or trainer (explaining technical information to non-technical audiences), or going in to teaching, journalism, management or entrepreneurship.

Overview

Physics is an exciting part of science and technology. It seeks to explain the behaviour of everything from the basic nature of nuclear matter to the galaxies of the universe. An appreciation of the laws of nature which govern the behaviour of matter and radiation enhances our insight into the physical world around us. Physics addresses some of the deepest questions of how the universe works and explores nature beyond the bounds of human experience. To understanding how the Sun and stars work, the physics and biophysics of nanoscale structures, quantum states of matter such as superconductivity and ultracold atom gases, and metamaterials (the physics of invisible cloaks) are all key to our research themes.

From studying stars far beyond earth, to explaining the shape of a water droplet, physics degrees offer students the chance to understand the world around them in all its enormity and complexity.

The subject has a bit of a reputation for being detached from everyday applications – but this is not really justified. In fact, physicists have a major role to play in many key industries, including for example the use of fibre optics in communications systems, or the application of electromagnetic knowledge in developing new industrial technologies.

That said, however much practical work and experimentation is involved, any physics degree will also include lots of theoretical learning and complex mathematics – so make sure that’s something you’re prepared for.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Although a lot of physics courses are the standard three years in length, many universities now also offer an MPhys (which lasts for an extra year and includes a master’s qualification). Plenty of physics courses will also give you the option of doing an extra year in industry (where you’ll get the chance to sample the world of work and bag some welcome experience for your CV); some unis even offer you the chance to spend your industry year abroad on a research placement, so you should make sure you take this into account when deciding which course to choose.

Physics courses will usually be assessed by an even mixture of exams and course work, and you’ll find you get time in the lab as well as in the lecture theatre. In your first year you’ll probably cover a range of different physics topics, such as computational physics, core maths principles, motion and relativity, and the solar system. Then, as you progress with your degree you’ll have more flexibility in your choice of modules, and you’ll have the chance to go in depth on anything from lasers to applied nuclear physics.

In terms of joint honours options, many unis will allow you to combine physics with the likes of maths, astronomy or engineering (as these subjects all tend to complement each other and overlap).

Why study physics?

If you’re studying physics you’ll be at the cutting edge of new technology developments and advancements, which can be a very fast-paced and exciting world to be a part of! If you have a curiosity for how things work and you like the idea of getting to the bottom of the universe’s biggest mysteries, a degree in physics could be just the ticket.

The other good point to a physics degree is that you’ll hone your research and analysis skills, not to mention your ability to solve problems and apply reason and logic to a situation – all of which are very useful skills to have in the eyes of an employer.

What you will learn

Studying Physics will give you an understanding of the nature of matter combined with training in experimental methods and the mathematical analysis of physical processes.

Key Skills

Physics degrees are widely respected for their academic rigor, and the transferable skills they provide, which include:

Specialist knowledge
Data analysis
General research skills
Excellent numeracy
General IT skills
Problem solving
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines

Specializations

Broad topics of study could include electricity and magnetism, relativity, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, fluid dynamics and geophysics. There may also be the opportunity to take modules in related subjects, such as astronomy, mathematics, geology and electronics.

In addition, you should get an overview of how physics relates to contemporary issues, such as global warming, and to various industries, such as medicine, communications and engineering.

After your degree

As we mentioned above, you’ll have good job prospects after you complete your degree, thanks to those handy transferable skills your course will teach you.

Physics grads go into all sorts of careers – from researching for big technology firms to putting those analytic skills to use in financial or computing roles. You could also stay on at uni and get your master’s degree, and then – if you want to be like Sheldon and go into research – you could even go on to do a PhD and become a doctor.

Career opportunities

A wide range of career opportunities exists for physics graduates. Industry takes many of our graduates, particularly in areas such as process and control of production, electronic and computer applications, materials development, and environmental and safety issues (such as noise control and radiation monitoring) Career Options

Career options for physics graduates are actually very diverse, including both research-based roles and more hands-on positions.

Depending on your specialization and personal interests, you could use your physics degree as a foundation for a career in aerospace engineering, medical technology, software development, teaching or manufacturing.

Roles in business and finance are also a major career option for physics graduates, largely thanks to the high levels of numeracy a physics degree requires.

A large number of physics students also pursue graduate education, and this path is likely to lead to a career in research. This could mean staying within the higher education sector, working for a public agency or joining a private research lab.

Oh, and of course there’s always television presenting, if you fancy yourself as the next Brian Cox.

Employability

Students can pursue a career in research in an academic or industrial environment, or you could work in product development for a high-tech company. You could also apply your analytical and computational skills through scientific consultancy. This is just the beginning, with many other careers open to you, including teaching, patent law, and mathematical finance.

As you progress through your degree, we place a great emphasis on teaching you transferable skills: mathematical, computational, problem solving, group working, and management and presentational. They will all contribute to making you more attractive to potential employers.

Employers target students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness

Past Physics and Astronomy graduates have gone into a very wide range of challenging and rewarding careers in destinations.

Examples of occupations

Software Engineer
Trainee Clinical Scientist
Technology Graduate
Secondary School Teacher - Physics
Research Analyst
Nuclear Manufacturing Engineer Intern
Musician
Recruitment Consultant
Internet Application Engineer
Data Analyst
Further study - examples of courses
MSc Astrophysics
MSc Computer Science
MSc Forensic Ballistics
MSc Medical Imagery
MSc Nuclear Physics
MSc Physics and Technology
MRes Chemical Engineering
PhD Electronic Engineering
PhD Physical Sciences

Overview

Studying for a metallurgy degree requires a good head for sciences; the subject involves investigation of the chemical and physical properties of metallic elements, compounds and alloys.

Metallurgy degrees also cover metal-related technologies, including extraction methods, use in industry and engineering, and metalworking processes such as casting, forging and sintering.

At some universities, metallurgy’s practical applications in engineering and industry are emphasized through visits to facilities, guest speakers and work placements. Disciplines you may touch on include physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, engineering design and instrumentation technology.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Specializations

Three or four years may seem a long time to dedicate entirely to the study of metals at university. But, while metallurgy is often offered as part of a broader materials science course, in fact it incorporates a diverse range of different skills, subject areas and applications.

Some of the areas you might choose to focus on include:

Physical metallurgy: This is the study of the properties and forms of different metals, how they respond to different conditions, and various types of change they can undergo.

Specialism in this field will also involve learning how to use a range of methods for examining metals, such as thermal analysis, mechanical testing, diffuse X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy (lots of impressive-sounding words to impress your friends and family).

Chemical metallurgy: Unsurprisingly, this involves looking at the chemical properties of metals, and chemical transformations. It may also include the use of chemical processes to extract and refine metals.

Engineering and process metallurgy: You guessed it – this is the study of metals as used in engineering processes. This may include the production of alloys, shaping, and an awareness of the effects of different processes on metallic properties, such as brittleness caused by cold or cryogenic conditions.

Key Skills

Obviously, you should end up with a thorough knowledge of metals, their behaviors and the range of processes used in extracting and processing them.

Depending on how you specialize, you could also develop an in-depth understanding of design and manufacturing processes and/or mining and extraction processes.

Additional skills include:
• Ability to analyze complex data sets, and general analytical skill
• General laboratory skills
• Teamwork and communication skills
• Numeracy and technology literacy
• Presenting findings in written and spoken form, to an acceptable academic standard
• An understanding of scientific literature and how to use it
• Problem identification and resolution
• An awareness of industrial and commercial processes and practices

Career Options

Broadly speaking, it’s possible to divide metallurgists into those who specialize in physical, chemical and process metallurgy – but in practice these roles overlap.

All three fields can be either office-based or more hands-on, spanning the whole design and manufacturing timeline – including research, design, manufacture, production management and quality control.

For example, metallurgists may carry out theoretical research, conduct analyses using specialist computer software, produce reports and give advice on how to achieve desired outcomes – such as increased strength or reduced corrosion.

Metallurgists may also oversee processes such as casting and soldering, develop new parts and prototypes, and carry out quality and safety control tests.

Unsurprisingly, demand for metallurgists is highest in metal-based industries, including mining, aviation and car manufacture.

Overview

Mechanical Engineering is the innovative application of science and technology to the design, production and operation of mechanical devices, machinery and systems. Mechanical engineers are good at designing things, especially complex items like racing yachts, robots, sawmills and aeroplanes.

Mechanics, energy and heat, mathematics, engineering sciences, design and manufacturing form the foundation of mechanical engineering. Mechanics includes fluids, ranging from still water to hypersonic gases flowing around a space vehicle; it involves the motion of anything from a particle to a machine or complex structure.

They also design industrial machinery and processes, which in turn make other things such as paper mills or car assembly plants. Mechanical Engineering also involves the efficient use of energy, for example, in processes such as a heating system for a hospital or a refrigeration plant for food exports.

Mechanical engineering degrees offer a wide range of specializations to choose from. From robots and microchips to racing cars and power plants, mechanical engineering is a discipline at the forefront of modern technology.

You may decide to make a contribution to the development of sustainable energy, or help improve technologies used in agriculture. Alternatively, you may be attracted by the exciting world of aerospace engineering, or the competitive arena of Formula 1 racing-car design.

This broad subject overlaps with a number of other engineering fields, including civil and structural engineering, electrical engineering, and aerospace and marine technologies.

As in other engineering subjects, applicants to mechanical engineering degrees are expected to have a strong background in maths and physics.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Areas of study

You will take compulsory courses in several core areas.

One area covers the relevant engineering sciences – mechanics, mathematics, dynamics, fluids, heat transfer, thermodynamics, industrial engineering, control systems, solid mechanics and materials.

A second area based on design teaching applies these sciences to practical problems.

A third area covers essential aspects of professional engineering such as economics, management and sustainability issues.

Mechanical engineering skills

Mechanical engineering degrees are largely focused on providing students with specific mechanical engineering skills and knowledge needed to pursue a professional career in the field. In addition, the following transferrable skills, useful across many types of graduate role, should also be gained:

• Technical expertise
• Very strong numeracy
• Data analysis
• General IT skills
• Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
• Professional communication, spoken and written
• Team work
• Creativity and integrated problem-solving
• Awareness of relevant contexts, including business and environmental issues

Mechanical engineering specializations

Mechanical engineering degrees will typically start by giving students an introduction to key mechanical engineering topics such as statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, stress analysis, mechanical design and technical drawing.

Having covered the basics, you may choose one of the following mechanical engineering specializations:

Transportation systems
Mechanical engineers are heavily involved in the design, improvement and of transportation systems – including systems that operate on road, rail, water and in the air. Students may choose to specialize in a particular mode of transport, and should also learn about current challenges and areas for improvement, developing technologies, related environmental issues, and transport planning strategies.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing is another major area for mechanical engineers, who are involved in the design and operation of the machinery used in industrial production lines. This specialization would involve learning about different production processes, integration of machinery with computer systems, and applying design methodology to develop new solutions.

Combustion
A third significant sector in which mechanical engineers are involved is combustion – the process of burning something. Students will learn about the uses of combustion in various sectors, including energy generation, heating and lighting, waste disposal, engines and manufacturing. Mechanical engineering students will focus on the design and operation of the mechanical systems used to facilitate and transfer the energy generated by different types of combustion reaction.

There are many other possible mechanical engineering specializations, many involving cross-over with a related field of study. Examples include robotics, micro/nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, computational engineering, materials, energy conversion and welding and joining.

Risk assessment and quality control will also be major topics in most mechanical engineering degrees, and many also cover subjects such as product development and project management, to further prepare students for professional roles.

Mechanical engineering careers

Mechanical engineering careers span many different sections of society – transport, manufacturing and industry, healthcare, communications and media, energy production, military and so on. Within each of these sectors, different types of role are available. Examples include:

Mechanical engineering maintenance A second major role taken on by mechanical engineers is maintenance. Again, maintenance roles are available in many different sectors and types of organization. Examples could include contributing to the maintenance of refrigeration systems, lifts and elevators, heating, lighting and air conditioning systems, industrial machinery, and transport systems.

Mechanical engineering consulting More experienced mechanical engineers may choose to pursue consulting roles, working either as part of a consultancy or as an independent contractor. This means the opportunity to work on a variety of different projects at different types of organization, providing expert advice, and perhaps also taking on project management duties.

Overview

Mathematics has many faces Number crunching, and plenty of it. It can be challenging, powerful, fascinating and even mysterious - but above all it is useful. Mathematics makes essential contributions to the biological, information and physical sciences, economics, engineering and finance. Mathematics can also be applied to communications, linguistics and genetics. Wherever problems need to be solved, mathematics has a role to play.

One of the longest established of disciplines, and underpinning many others, mathematics is the language of science and engineering and an intellectual field in its own right. It speaks without barriers across time. It is a discipline that is forever opening up to us, revealing new and fascinating truths and ideas, and helping to expand upon our knowledge in all directions.

Maths is essentially the science of numbers, and all the wondrous things you can do with them. You’ve got the likes of (*deep breath*)… algebra, trigonometry, statistics, mechanics, calculus, differential equations, geometry… the list goes on. What it all *cough* adds up to is the theory and manipulation of numbers, and applying those numbers to real-world problems.

Mathematics is the foundation that underpins the sciences, and it is considered a universal subject in that it transcends language barriers and cultural beliefs. It is also one of the few subjects that can deliver exact, clear-cut answers, giving us a base of fact on which to operate.

What is mathematics?

The Oxford English Dictionary states that mathematics is an “abstract science which investigates deductively the conclusions implicit in the elementary concepts of spatial and numerical relations, and which includes as its main divisions geometry, arithmetic, and algebra”. The American Heritage Dictionary sums up the subject as the “study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols”.

What to expect from mathematics degrees

Most undergraduate mathematics degrees take three or four years to complete with full-time study, with both China and Australia offering the fourth year as an “honors” year. Some institutions offer a Masters in Mathematics (MMath) as a first degree, which allows students to enroll to study mathematics to a more advanced level straight after completing secondary education. Some institutions arrange placement years for students to work in industry, providing opportunities to apply mathematics skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.

Mathematics is typically taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, with students spending a lot of time working independently to solve problems sets. Assessments vary depending on the institution; you may be assessed based on examinations, practical coursework or a combination of both.

A typical mathematics degree program involves a combination of pure (theory and abstract) mathematics and applied (practical application to the world) mathematics. Some institutions also offer pure and applied mathematics as separate degrees, so you can choose to focus on just one. Mathematics is also often offered as a joint-honors degree, paired with subjects including business management, computer science, economics, finance, history, music, philosophy, physics, sports science and statistics

Why study mathematics?

Studying any mathematics course will expand your knowledge and understanding of the world, helping you to become a sought-after graduate wherever there is a call for logical thinking and statistical or strategic knowledge.

Maths can be a very satisfying subject to study in that there’s always a right answer (even if that answer isn’t always easy to come by). That’s one of the best things about maths: when you’re right, you’re right. If you’ve always had a good head for numbers and you like solving puzzles and working through problems in a logical manner, then a degree in maths could be your number one (sorry) option.

We weren’t lying when we said maths is a universal language, either. The skills you’ll learn on a maths degree will set you up for an incredibly wide range of different careers, so when you do graduate you’ll have all sorts of different options available to you.

“Studying Maths is about discovery: it explores centuries-old disciplines and problems that are still unanswered, as well as continually finding new connections and applications to other fields such as physics, biology and economics,” says Emma Goulding, Assistant Publications Officer at the University of Bristol. “Maths informs many diverse subjects – engineering, finance and science to name but a few – but is also a fascinating subject in its own right.”

What are your study options?

At uni, maths can be divided in to two main strands: applied mathematics and pure mathematics. The former involves applying maths to real-world problems, while the latter is concerned with theory. Most mathematics degrees will cover both of these, giving you the option to narrow your focus to the area you’re most interested in as you move into your second and then final years (although some unis will offer specific degrees in either applied or pure).

Most maths courses will be the standard three years in length, although some unis do offer MMath courses (which are four years long and will give you both an undergrad qualification and a masters), and others offer you the chance to combine maths with another subject (common options include maths and economics or maths and physics, although degrees in the likes of maths and biology or maths and psychology are also available).

What kind of skills will you learn on the course?

A Maths degree will equip you with a range of critical thinking methods using evidence and logical patterns, as well as the skills to design and analyse models. You’ll also develop your communication skills and the ability to assess risk and solve problems.

Areas of study

Stage I Mathematics courses provide you with a range of concepts, theoretical results and skills in analysis, computation and modelling. Stage II and III courses build on these and help you to acquire a broader base of skills and a deeper understanding of the concepts involved.

What you will learn

By studying mathematics you will be stimulated and challenged by some of the greatest ideas in the history of human thought. Our stage I courses will provide you with a range of concepts, theoretical results and analytical, computational and modelling skills that may be applied in a wide variety of areas - in biological, information and physical sciences, economics, engineering and finance for example. As you advance to stage II and III you’ll understand more advanced topics, and will acquire a broader base of skills and a deeper understanding of the concepts involved.

What key modules can you expect to cover in your first year?

Linear algebra and geometry

Analysis (2 units)
Calculus
Mechanics
Computational mathematics
Number theory and group theory
Statistics
Probability

Specializations

You can expect to study a range of introductory courses in your first year, covering key mathematics topics such as abstract algebra, calculus, complex numbers, differential equations, geometry, number theory, probability and statistics. You’ll then move on to more advanced study, and will need to choose from a range of elective courses. Popular mathematics topics include:

Complex analysis

Complex analysis involves investigating the functions of complex numbers – numbers which can be expressed in a form which allows for the combination of real and imaginary numbers. Complex analysis is useful in many branches of mathematics, including algebraic geometry, number theory and applied mathematics, so it is an essential starting point for the further study of mathematics. You’ll learn about the analytic functions of complex variables, complex functions and differentiation of complex functions, how complex variables can be applied to the real world and cover the many theorems surrounding complex functions such as Cauchy’s theorem, Morera’s theorem, Rouché’s theorem, Cauchy-Riemann equations and the Riemann sphere to name a few.

Discrete mathematics

Discrete mathematics involves mathematical structures that are fundamentally discrete (with finite, distinct, separate values) rather than continuous. This includes topics such as integers, graphs, trees, sets, chromatic numbers, recurrence relations and mathematical logic. Discrete mathematics usually involves examining the interrelations between probability and combinatorics. You’ll also learn about the complexity of algorithms, how to use algorithmic thinking in problem solving, algorithmic applications of random processes, asymptotic analysis, finite calculus and partitions. You’ll learn how discrete mathematics is applied to other topics within mathematics, and you’ll also look into broader academic fields such as computer science.

Mechanics

Mechanics is concerned with the study of forces that act on bodies and any resultant motion that they experience. Advanced study of mechanics involves quantum mechanics and relativity, covering topics such as electromagnetism, the Schrödinger equation, the Dirac equation and its transformation properties, the Klein-Gordon equation, pair production, Gamma matrix algebra, equivalence transformations and negative energy states. You’ll also look at how relativistic quantum mechanics can be used to explain physical phenomena such as spin, the gyromagnetic ratios of the electron and the fine structures of the hydrogen atom. You could also study statistical mechanics, which covers topics such as inference, multivariate complex systems, state variables, fluctuations, equilibrium systems, transport models, dynamical ordering and phase transitions, and emergent behavior in non-equilibrium systems.

Measure theory

Measure theory originates from real analysis and is used in many areas of mathematics such as geometry, probability theory, dynamical systems and functional analysis. It is concerned with notions of length, area or volume, with a measure within a set being a systematic way to assign a number to a subset of that set. You’ll look at the definition of a measurable space, additive measures, construction of measures, measurable functions, integrals with respect to a measure, differentiability of monotone functions, k-dimensional measures in n-dimensional space, Lebesgue-Stieltjes measure and Lebesgue measure. Theorems you will cover include Lusin’s theorem, Egoroff’s theorem, Fatou’s lemma, monotone convergence theorem, dominated convergence theorem, Fubini’s theorem, Radon-Nikodym theorem, Riesz representation theorem and divergence theorem.

Fractal geometry

The mathematical concept of ‘fractals’ is difficult to formally define, even for mathematicians! Fractals are geometric forms that display self-similar patterns on all scales of magnification, making them look the same when seen from near as from far. Fractal geometry looks at the mathematical theory behind fractals, the definition and properties of Hausdorff dimensioning and iterated function systems. You’ll gain intimacy with forms such as the middle third Cantor set, the Mandelbrot set and the von Koch snowflake curve.

Fluid dynamics

Useful for students interested in engineering and aerospace, fluid dynamics addresses fluid phenomena of various scales from a mathematical viewpoint. You’ll apply mathematics topics such as ordinary and partial differential equations, basic mechanics and multivariable calculus, and will learn about governing equations, how to deduce the equations of motion from conservation laws (mass, momentum, energy), vorticity, dimensional analysis, scale-invariant solutions, universal turbulence spectra, gravity and rotation in atmospheric and oceanic dynamics, equations of motion such as boundary layer equations, flow kinematics, classical and simple laminar flows and flow instabilities. You’ll cover Euler’s equation, Navier-Stokes equation, Bernoulli’s equation, Kelvin’s circulation theorem, Taylor-Proudman theorem, Reynold’s number, Rayleigh number, Ekman number and Prandtl’s boundary layer theory.

Other mathematics topics you can choose from include: algorithms, applied mathematics, calculus, commutative algebra, computational mathematics, computer game technology, cryptography, differential equations, financial mathematics, financial modelling, functional analysis, geometry, knot theory, linear algebra, linear equations, mathematical biology, mathematical modelling, matrix analysis, multivariable calculus, number theory, numerical analysis, probability, pure mathematics, qualitative theory, real analysis, set theory, statistics, theoretical physics, topology and vectors.

Mathematics skills

While you will build expertise in a range of specific mathematics skills, both technical and analytical, a mathematics degree should also equip you with a range of wider reaching skills applicable across many different sectors. Some transferable mathematics skills you may gain during your degree include:

Specialist knowledge of mathematical theories, methods, tools and practices
Knowledge of advanced numeracy and numerical concepts
Advanced understanding of mathematical and technical language and how to use it
Understanding of complex mathematical texts
Ability to analyze and interpret large quantities of data
Ability to interpret mathematical results in real-world terms
Ability to work with abstract ideas, theories and concepts with confidence
Ability to construct and test new theories
Ability to design and conduct observational and experimental studies
Ability to communicate mathematical ideas to others clearly and succinctly
Ability to construct logical mathematical arguments and conclusions with accuracy and clarity
Proficiency in relevant professional software
Ability to work on open-ended problems and tricky intellectual challenges
Logical, independent and critical thinking skills
Creative, imaginative and flexible thinking skills
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
Excellent skills in quantitative methods and analysis
Understanding of statistics
Good knowledge of IT and scientific computing
General research skills
Organizational skills, including time management and presentation skills
Team-working skills

Careers with a mathematics degree

Mathematics graduates go on to pursue many different career paths, often shaped by the mathematics topics they’ve chosen to focus on and the level of academic study they reach – as well as other interests with which they choose to combine their mathematics skills. The long list of possible careers with a mathematics degree includes roles in scientific research, engineering, business and finance, teaching, defense, computing and various types of analysis.

Mathematics graduates are highly sought-after by employers in many sectors as they are perceived as having proven intellectual rigor, strong analytical and problem-solving skills and an ability to tackle complex tasks. So, even if your decision to study mathematics at university is motivated solely by your love of the subject, it seems likely that your degree will nonetheless provide a strong foundation for future career options. Some popular careers with a mathematics degree include:

Accountancy careers

Accountancy careers involve providing professional advice on financial matters to clients. This might involve financial reporting, taxation, auditing, forensic accounting, corporate finance, businesses recovery, accounting systems and accounting processes. You’ll be relied on to manage financial systems and budgets, prepare accounts, budget plans and tax returns, administer payrolls, provide professional advice based on financial audits, and review your client’s systems and analyzing risks.

You’ll need to carry out tests to check your client’s financial information and systems and advise your clients on tax planning according to legislation, on business transactions, and on preventing fraud. You’ll also need to maintain accounting records and prepare reports and budget plans to present to your client. You may need to manage junior colleagues.

Engineering careers

A mathematics degree could also be the starting point for many different roles within engineering careers. Most engineers work as part of a multi-disciplinary project team, with a range of specialists. As such, you’re likely to need excellent team-working and communication skills – as well as the ability to apply your mathematics skills in a very practical environment.

Potential engineering careers with a mathematics degree include roles in mechanical and electrical engineering, within sectors including manufacturing, energy, construction, transport, healthcare, computing and technology. You may be involved in all stages of product development or focus on just one aspect – such as research, design, testing, manufacture, installation and maintenance.

Banking careers

There are a range of banking careers that may be suitable for mathematics graduates due to their strong focus on numbers and analytics. Two of the major pathways are investment banking and retail banking. Investment banking careers involve gathering, analyzing and interpreting complex numerical and financial information, then assessing and predicting financial risks and returns in order to provide investment advice and recommendations to clients. Retail banking careers involve providing financial services to customers, including assessing and reviewing the financial circumstances of individual customers, implementing new products, processes and services, maintaining statistical and financial records, meeting sales targets and managing budgets.

Actuarial careers

Actuarial careers involve using mathematical and statistical modelling to predict future events that will have a financial impact on the organization you are employed by. This involved high levels of mathematics skills, combined with an understanding of business and economics. You’ll use probability theory, investment theory, statistical concepts and mathematical modelling techniques to analyze statistical data in order to assess risks. You’ll prepare reports on your findings, give advice, ensure compliance with the requirements of relevant regulatory bodies and communicate with clients and external stakeholders.

Careers in mathematics research

Careers in mathematics research are available within both the private and public sectors, with employers including private or government research laboratories, commercial manufacturing companies and universities. A research mathematician is able to study, create and apply new mathematical methods to achieve solutions to problems, including deep and abstract theorems.

The role also involves keeping up to date with new mathematical developments, producing original mathematics research, using specialist mathematical software and sharing your research through regular reports and papers. Your job will vary depending on the sector you work in, but some tasks may involve developing mathematical descriptions and models to explain or predict real life phenomena, applying mathematical principles to identify trends in data sets or applying your research to develop a commercial product or predict business trends and market developments.

Statistician careers

A statistician collects, analyzes, interprets and presents quantitative information, obtained through the use of experiments and surveys on behalf of a client. You’ll probably work alongside professionals from other disciplines, so interpersonal and communication skills are important, as well as the ability to explain statistical information to non-statisticians.

Typical tasks include consulting with your client to agree on what data to collect and how, designing data acquisition trials such as surveys and experiments while taking into account ethical and legislative concerns, assessing results and analyzing predictable trends and advising your client on future strategy. You might also advise policymakers on key issues, collecting and analyzing data to monitor relevant issues and predicting demand for products and services. Statistician careers are available in a range of sectors including health, education, government, finance, transportation and market research, and you may also teach statistics in an academic setting.

Teaching careers with a mathematics degree

In many countries, governments are calling for more mathematics graduates to go into teaching. Often this requires completing a postgraduate qualification in teaching, though this depends on the level and type of institution you teach at. Duties will involve instructing students, creating lesson plans, assigning and correcting homework, managing students in the classroom, communicating with students and parents and helping student prepare for standardized testing.

Other careers for mathematics graduates

Operational research (the science of improving efficiency and making better decisions)
Statistical research (using advanced mathematical and statistical knowledge to improve the operations of organizations);
Intelligence analysis (analyzing data to provide useful, useable information to businesses and governments)
General areas of business and management such as logistics, financial analysis, market research, management consultancy;
Careers in IT such as systems analysis and development or research.
Careers in the public sector, as advisory scientists or statisticians.
Scientific research and development, in fields such as biotechnology, meteorology or oceanography.
Career opportunities
Mathematics develops advanced problem-solving skills and opens up career opportunities in industry or government, computer development, insurance, meteorology, traffic engineering, systems analysis, computer programming, statistics, biometrics or operations research. There is also a demand for mathematics teachers.

After your degree

All the big graduate employers (Ernst & Young, PWC, etc.) are often only too happy to take on well-qualified maths graduates, and you’ll be perfectly suited to big-money careers in the likes of accounting and banking.

On the other hand – if you find you don’t want to go down one of these routes – you’ll also have a wide range of other options. Maths graduates go on to find work in everything from marketing to law, so you shouldn’t feel at all limited in your quest for a job.

When you graduate from one of our mathematics programmes, you can expect to be able to pursue careers in any one of the major blue chip companies in sectors as diverse as finance and computing or in government, teaching. Many students continue their studies to graduate level, taking masters programmes or PhDs. Wherever the application of logical thinking and statistical or strategic knowledge is called for, being one of our graduates will give you a head start.

This degree will help you to develop key skills such as analytic thinking, problem solving, independent research, report writing and the use of technical language. These skills are all highly sought after by employers.

Maths degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. graduates have gone on to careers in, for example, management, accountancy and finance, software development, statistics, teaching and the Civil Service, but there are many diverse options out there for Maths graduates.”

Examples of occupations

Actuarial Trainee
Actuarial Consultant
Actuary
Analyst
Associate Auditor
Consultant
Financial Analyst
Management Accountant
Secondary School Teacher
Software Tester
Further study-examples of courses
ACA - Accountancy
ACCA - Accountancy
MSc Accounting and Finance
MSc Actuarial Science
MSc Computing Systems
MSc Finance and Investment
MSc Operational Research
MSc Statistics
PGCE Mathematics
PhD Applied Mathematics

Overview

Through the combination of business and management acumen with technical expertise, engineering management degrees are designed to play a key role in preparing the next generation of managers in the engineering sector.

Engineering is a broad discipline which applies scientific, economic, social and practical factors to the design, building, maintenance and improvement of structures, machines, devices, systems and materials. It is typically divided up into civil and structural engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, with many further sub-specializations in each field. Management applies social, economic, theoretical and practical factors to the coordination, planning, organizing, staffing and leading of all aspects of an organization, through the strategic direction of human, financial, technological and natural resources.

What is engineering management?

Engineering management is a specialized field of management concerned with the engineering sector. Reflecting industry demand for management-focused engineers (or from the opposite perspective, managers with an understanding of engineering), a growing number of specialized engineering management degrees are available to help develop the knowledge and skills needed for these roles. During an engineering management course, students will develop industrial engineering skills, knowledge and expertise, alongside knowledge of business and management techniques, strategies and concerns.

Types of engineering management degree

The title given to engineering management degrees may vary depending on the institution, and can include: Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management (BSEM), Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering Management, Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) in Engineering Management, and Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Management (BEEM). Keep in mind that the specific structure and content of engineering management courses will also vary, so make sure to check the curriculum before applying. Some (non-exhaustive) variations on engineering management degree titles you may come across include:

Engineering Management: Usually a multidisciplinary program which builds theoretical and practical knowledge of all engineering fields and engineering mathematics, along with advanced project and personnel management knowledge and skills

[Branch of Engineering] with Management: This could also be [Branch of Engineering] and Management or simply [Branch of Engineering] Management. Examples include ‘Chemical Engineering with Management’, ‘Mechanical Engineering and Business Management’ or ‘Construction Engineering Management’. These programs include specialized engineering focus, with complementary modules in business and management studies.

[Branch of Engineering] (Engineering Management): This includes programs such as ‘Systems and Control Engineering (Engineering Management)’ or ‘Chemical Engineering (Business Management)’. The focus is on the business side of the engineering topic, with business treated as a specialization, and engineering and business modules studied alongside one another.

Business Administration Major with engineering management option: Available mainly in the US, this is the engineering route to a business administration degree, drawing from both academic areas and allowing students to develop a broad view of business principles and engineering topics. This can be a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program, and may have a liberal arts core.

Some institutions may also offer dual-degree programs, at the end of which you will graduate with two bachelor’s degrees (one in engineering, one in management). You’ll either divide your time equally between the two degrees, or be able to choose whether to concentrate more on business/management or more on engineering.

Professional accreditation

If your degree is accredited by an institution such as the UK’s the Engineering Council, you might be able to fully satisfy the educational base for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status or partially satisfy the educational base for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. In order to complete the educational base for CEng, you’ll need to take part in an accredited program at the postgraduate level, build up your professional development and undergo a professional review.

The accreditation body for post-secondary education programs in engineering in the US is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). After the completion of a four-year ABET-accredited program, you’ll qualify for admission to examination at the first level of professional registration. Note that some employers may prefer accredited degrees, and they are also more likely to be recognized on an international level.

Entry requirements

In general, undergraduate entry requirements for engineering management degrees include mathematics, or further mathematics, with some institutions asking for a qualification in physics or any other science subject. A background or interest in business and/or economics can be helpful, while a foundation in the social sciences (such as psychology and sociology) can aid your understanding of management in organizations.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and chemistry (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What to expect from engineering management degrees

Engineering management is typically taught through a combination of lectures (some delivered by leading industry practitioners), case studies, hands-on workshops, laboratory-based practical classes, engineering design activities (EDAs), tutorials, group and individual project work and consultation sessions. Generally, a combination of continuous assessment through small practical exercises for each module is used along with individual and group project work, essay writing, presentations, coursework and examinations, with an individual project or dissertation taking up most of your last year.

You’ll use a range of industrial software, for applications such as 3D modelling, project management, quality assessment, inventory management and simulation of processes. Studies focused on the fundamentals of your chosen engineering branch are likely to dominate your first year, with business and management topics (including legal studies, contract management, project evaluation and corporate management) introduced as your degree progresses.

You may also be able to participate in engineering or business research projects available at your institution. These projects are usually funded by industry bodies, charities, government departments and research councils, and are a good way of putting your degree knowledge to practical use and seeing first-hand how your studies are directly applicable to the workplace. Depending on your institution, you may be able to undertake research abroad, or take part in a salaried industrial placement for one year (such programs are sometimes called ‘sandwich’ courses), in sectors including automotive, aerospace, electronics, consumer goods, computer software, food processing and manufacturing, either locally or abroad

Overview

Engineering makes things happen. From the large-scale infrastructure of the physical environment we inhabit to the virtual environment of computing and information technology, from applied research to the world of elite sports – the work of engineers has a huge impact on our lives; enabling us to live longer, healthier and more comfortably.

If you are interested in designing solutions to problems and are creative, resourceful, curious, ambitious and enjoy working with teams of people then the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is the right degree for you.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Career opportunities

The Faculty of Engineering is proud of its extraordinary success in supporting our students to find employment before graduation. Graduates from our programme are working in a rich and exciting range of careers, including:

Engineering activities of all levels within your chosen field Research and development

Engineering consultancy

Analysis, development, design and automatic control of processes in the dairy, food and beverages, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, steel, aluminium and polymer industries.

Planning, designing and supervising the construction of buildings, roads, water supply plants, dams, canals and flood protection systems.

Designing and manufacturing electromechanical systems, and thermal devices and processes including engines and control systems for automobiles and aircrafts, power generation plants, lifesaving medical devices and consumer products.

Development and application of semiconductor devices, data processing systems, robotics, embedded systems and software engineering.

Engineering telecommunications and radio systems, power systems and wireless technologies for communications and power delivery

Academic careers

An academic career is a great way to use your skills and knowledge to help the next generation of engineers. At the same time, you can pursue research in your field, build a network of international contacts and colleagues and continue to remain part of the University culture.

Engineering telecommunications and radio systems, power systems and wireless technologies for communications and power delivery

Overview

Electrical power and systems are at the heart of modern society – and so too are electrical and electronics engineers. Engineers specializing in these fields are involved in everything from the latest smart phone, to ensuring a constant supply of energy to our homes and workplaces.

What's the difference between electrical and electronics engineering?

The difference between electrical and electronics engineering is often blurred. However, it’s generally true to say that electrical engineers are concerned mainly with the large scale production and distribution of electrical power, while electronics engineers focus on much smaller electronic circuits.

These include the circuits used in computers and other modern technologies, and indeed electronics is often taught alongside computer science. Both electronics and electrical engineering degrees also overlap with mechanical and civil engineering.

To study any of these subjects at university, you will need a strong background in maths and physics. Many courses will start with some foundation modules designed to ensure this background knowledge is up to the required standard.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Specializations

Common electrical engineering topics include energy generation and transmission, magnetostatics and electrostatics (types of electric charge), and electrical installations (such as heating and lighting systems).

Meanwhile electronics courses will typically cover topics such as analogue and digital circuit design, digital communication, wireless technologies, and computer programming.

Further into the course, it is often possible to specialize in the application of electrical/ electronic engineering in a particular industry. Examples include:

Power
One of the major specializations for electrical engineers – and among the most important issues for modern society – is power generation and distribution. Programs in this field should prepare students for work across a range of stages in the power system, from designing energy generation and conversion facilities, through to managing the supply of energy to individual users and devices. Students may choose to further specialize in a particular type of energy source, such as wind or solar power.

Communications and media
Here, there may be opportunities to study the applications of electrical engineering in a broad range of technologies and media, including digital and satellite broadcasting, fibre-optic communications, and wired and wireless networks. Students interested in this specialization may go on to work in TV and radio broadcasting, mobile or terrestrial telephone communication, internet services – and of course the next development in the fast-changing field.

Computer systems
Here, topics may include artificial intelligence, computer architecture, security and cryptography, network communications, circuit design and digital signal processing. This could lead to careers in software, chip or system design, but also a much broader range of roles – from CCTV surveillance to automated systems for heavy industry.

Electrical engineering skills
As well as providing students with specific electrical engineering skills and knowledge, in preparation for a specialized professional role, electrical engineering degrees should also provide graduates with the following transferable skills:

• Technical expertise
• Numeracy
• General IT skills
• Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
• Professional communication, spoken and written
• Team work
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Data analysis
• Awareness of relevant contexts, such as business and environmental issues

Electrical engineering careers

In the US, the Bureau of Labour Statistics has predicted 6% jobs growth between 2010 and 2020. This is slower than the overall growth rate predicted across the economy, largely due to slow growth rates predicted in many manufacturing industries which employ electrical engineers.

However, the Bureau forecasts rising demand in sectors such as computer systems design, wireless technology, and general research and development.
Other major employment sectors for graduates of electrical engineering degrees include:

• Power generation and supply
• Construction
• Transport infrastructure maintenance and development
• Manufacturing
• Communications and media
• Computer hardware and software design
• Healthcare
• Science and technology research

Within each of these industries, positions are available in research and development, design, and testing and maintenance. Career progression could mean taking on supervisory and management roles.

For both research and management roles, graduate-level education can help to accelerate career progression, giving students the chance to gain additional expertise and skills.

Overview

Engineering makes things happen. From the large-scale infrastructure of the physical environment we inhabit to the virtual environment of computing and information technology, from applied research to the world of elite sports – the work of engineers has a huge impact on our lives; enabling us to live longer, healthier and more comfortably.

If you are interested in designing solutions to problems and are creative, resourceful, curious, ambitious and enjoy working with teams of people then the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is the right degree for you.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Career opportunities

The Faculty of Engineering is proud of its extraordinary success in supporting our students to find employment before graduation. Graduates from our programme are working in a rich and exciting range of careers, including:

Engineering activities of all levels within your chosen field Research and development

Engineering consultancy

Analysis, development, design and automatic control of processes in the dairy, food and beverages, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, steel, aluminium and polymer industries.

Planning, designing and supervising the construction of buildings, roads, water supply plants, dams, canals and flood protection systems.

Designing and manufacturing electromechanical systems, and thermal devices and processes including engines and control systems for automobiles and aircrafts, power generation plants, lifesaving medical devices and consumer products.

Development and application of semiconductor devices, data processing systems, robotics, embedded systems and software engineering.

Engineering telecommunications and radio systems, power systems and wireless technologies for communications and power delivery

Academic careers

An academic career is a great way to use your skills and knowledge to help the next generation of engineers. At the same time, you can pursue research in your field, build a network of international contacts and colleagues and continue to remain part of the University culture.

Engineering telecommunications and radio systems, power systems and wireless technologies for communications and power delivery

Overview

The scientific study of our earth is crucial to the life of our planet. The Earth Sciences major enables you to gain practical and theoretical knowledge that is critical to understanding Earth and the environment we live in.

Earth science is actually a pretty broad term for the group of subjects that deal with, well, the earth. You’ve got the likes of geology, which concerns the study of the earth’s structure and the materials that make it up; there’s oceanography, which deals with the science of the sea; and there are a variety of conservation subjects, which focus on the preservation of the earth, the environment and all of its raw materials.

Biology and geography play a large part, as do all the core sciences. The subjects that come under the banner of earth sciences are all very varied, but they are linked by their shared interest in the things that make our planet tick.

Study Earth sciences and you can expect to be concerning yourself with topics such as the evolution of life, planetary interiors, the causes of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, oceanic and atmospheric phenomena, and earth surface processes.

There is also a strong focus on environmental issues. You might look at the Earth’s resources, how we use them and how we could preserve them, atmospheric changes and their effect on life on Earth, or how human activity might increase the likelihood of natural disasters.

Why study earth sciences?

If you’re fascinated by the inner workings of our planet and you want to know more about how it works and how to preserve it, then you could do a lot worse than considering a degree in earth sciences. The course itself should give you a nice blend of lecture time and practical time, and the chances are you may even get a bit of time in the field, too, where you’ll be able to carry out project research and get to grips with the more hands-on elements of your course. With issues such as climate change, pollution and conservation being given ever-increasing amounts of attention, there’s never been a more interesting time to study the earth and its changing environment.

What are your study options?

Pretty varied, although the majority of earth science courses will be similar in terms of length – the standard three years (although some will offer the option of a sandwich year, which will allow you to undertake a year on placement in between your second and final years).

There are also some courses at certain unis that are four years in length, and which give you a Masters qualification on top of the standard undergraduate BSc (so you’ll end up with something along the lines of an MSci or an MEnv). Some of the skills you will learn include: Exercising critical and innovative spatial and temporal thinking; undertaking field observations and laboratory analyses to interpret geological and earth surface processes; and using quantitative techniques, including statistics and simple numerical models, and applying principles of experimental and sampling design

Specializations

‘Earth sciences’ is really an umbrella term for a wide range of more specialized disciplines. In many cases universities simply offer these specializations as separate degrees. Others offer wider Earth sciences degrees with internal options for specialization. Either way, the diversity of the different branches means that you will almost certainly have to pick what you would like to specialize in fairly early in your academic career.

Geology: One of the most popular Earth sciences, geology is the study of the physical make-up of the solid parts of the planet Earth. The applications of the subject include understanding why natural disasters occur, where and how we might find valuable physical resources, how the Earth came to be how it is today, and how it will be in the future

Oceanography: Oceans make up 71% of the world’s surface, according to the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. However, 95% of this total remains unexplored. Oceanography is the Earth science discipline which aims to help us understand the physical, chemical, and biological composition of these mysterious swathes of our planet.

Soil science: Though dedicating yourself to studying mud might seem a bit strange, it makes a lot more sense when you realize how important a subject it is. After all, we wouldn’t last very long without the things that grow in soil; both for us and for feeding livestock. With the human population rapidly increasing and food shortages threatening to become an issue, soil science looks set to play a key role in the future of agriculture.

Meteorology: Meteorology is the study of atmosphere, most often employed in predicting the weather. In the modern age, meteorology is also being employed in predicting climate change, so in addition to studying the effect of meteorological phenomena on human life, it looks at humanity’s effects on the atmosphere.

Palaeontology: This is a unique branch of the sciences, sitting somewhere between Earth sciences and biology. It uses fossils or geochemical evidence to study ancient life, and through them, work out the evolutionary path that led from single-cell organisms to the complex and not-so-complex life-forms which exist today.

Overview

Computer scientists design and create search-engines, social networking applications, software applications used in the financial world to map customer profiles and expose credit card fraud, and software applications used in the medical sector to identify cancers through the analysis of medical images.

At a deeper scientific/mathematical level, we look at the theory underpinning complex algorithms, or the difficulty of implementing solutions to complex problems in a provably reliable way. At the engineering level, we ensure that complex systems are built to appropriate standards, are properly tested and run efficiently. Then at the human level, we ensure that applications are easy to learn and use and are well matched to functional expectations.

Ubiquitous computers that are hidden within electro-mechanical environments have made a huge impact on our civilisation. Examples include drive-by-wire technology in cars, game consoles, robotics, home automation and appliances, factory automation, mechatronics systems, instrumentation and embedded systems.

These fields are driving rapid change in industry and society, and leading to the creation of new businesses with both industrial and domestic applications.

Engineers who design such complex systems need excellent skills in computing and electrical engineering.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Areas of study

Movement and change in the computer systems field is phenomenal, so it is not practical to provide a lasting professional education based just on the technology.

The Computer Systems Engineering (CSE) specialisation is designed to achieve a balanced integration of topics from electrical engineering and computer science to train engineers who are capable of tracking the complex problems in this domain. It is about solving practical engineering problems by creating computer-based systems.

Computer systems engineers can also be classified as electronics engineers since they have excellent skills in both electronics (hardware) and software design for ubiquitous computers.

Career opportunities

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering drives industry partnerships that enable cutting edge learning. Our graduates are contributing to and leading a wide range of industries worldwide.

As innovative design and product development continues at a rapid pace, so does the demand for qualified engineers. As a graduate specialising in Computer Systems Engineering, you leave the University with the skills and knowledge required to embark on a successful and professional career.

Graduates work in a range of companies including multinational computer firms, engineering consultancies, telecommunications companies and companies engaged in research and development of new intelligent systems

Overview

Computer Science is a highly relevant and dynamic field of study involving the design, development and use of computers, as well as systems that use computers. Our work, leisure, education and health are all enhanced by computer technologies, which continue to be applied in innovative and exciting ways.

Laptop, tablet or Smartphone, you’re probably reading this guide on a device created using the expertise, theories and skills gained from computer science degrees

Computer science degrees deal with the theoretical foundations of information and computation, taking a scientific and practical approach to computation and its applications. Computation is defined as any type of calculation or use of computing technology that follows well-defined models (such as algorithms and protocols) in the practice of information processing (which in turn is defined as the use of these models to transform data in computers).

Computer science is considered by many of its practitioners to be a foundational science - one which makes other knowledge and achievements possible. The study of computer science involves systematically studying methodical processes (such as algorithms) in order to aid the acquisition, representation, processing, storage, communication of, and access to information. This is done by analyzing the feasibility, structure, expression and mechanization of these processes and how they relate to this information. In computer science, the term ‘information’ refers usually to information which is encoded in bits and bytes in computer memory.

Some higher education institutions may use computer science (CS) as an umbrella term to cover various specialist and vocational degrees involving computers and technology. You may also find the term computer science being used to refer to information technology (IT) degrees, although many institutions now distinguish between the two (exactly how and where they draw this line varies). Make sure to check your chosen university’s course details closely.

Degrees in computing, IT and computer science all deal with (surprise, surprise) computers. All aspects of them, in fact – from programming languages and software development to more specialist subjects, like computer security and artificial intelligence. If you’re interested in computing but don’t have a specific interest, then many universities will offer general degrees in computer science or computing (where you will touch upon a range of areas); on the other hand, if you already know you want to go into something like AI, there are a number of specialist courses that may be of interest to you.

Computing and information technology is advancing and changing all the time, so companies value graduates who have up-to-date skill sets in these areas.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Why study this course

Computer Science is a dynamic discipline. What began with the curiosity of only a handful of academics has blossomed into a field with an impact on our lives that would have astonished most of the pioneers. In the past 50 years computers have contributed to numerous advances in almost every field, and Computer Science now provides the foundations for the information processing and communication systems that are at the heart of today?s world. Future changes in computing and communications technologies will depend on advances in this science and the rate of progress shows no signs of slowing down.

Specializations

You can expect to begin your computer science degree by developing a foundation in key computer science topics. Some core computer science courses you may cover include theory of computation, fundamentals of computer science, compliers and operating systems, information theory, basic programming, systems and architecture, software development and testing, web applications and databases, algorithms and data structures, and principles of computer hardware. Some mathematical concepts you may cover include formal methods, Boolean algebra, discreet mathematics, set theory, probability, statistics, linear algebra, differential equations and calculus.

You will then choose from an ever-growing range of specialist computer science topics, including advanced internet, advanced programming, artificial intelligence and artificial life, computational logic, computer graphics, computer modelling, computer networks, computer security, computer vision, encryption, ethical hacking, GUIs, games development, human-computer interaction, mobile applications, multimedia computing, networking theory, professional issues and research methods, software engineering and design, and web-development.

Programming language theory: Programming is an interdisciplinary topic, incorporating elements from subjects such as mathematics, software engineering and linguistics. Programming language theory involves looking at the design, implementation, analysis, characterization and classification of programming languages and their individual features. Your introductory courses will teach you one or more programming languages. Knowledge of more than one will help you to better understand their individual strengths and weaknesses, which will in turn help you to better engage with the challenges addressed by programming language theory. You’ll cover topics such as syntax, natural semantics, structural operational semantics and abstract machine code.

Computer graphics: Studying computer graphics involves using computers to create still or moving two or three dimensional images using specialized graphics hardware and software. You’ll study how to manipulate visual and geometric information using computational techniques, focusing on mathematical and computational foundations of image generation and processing rather than purely aesthetic issues. You’ll need knowledge of physics, light and materials, as well as knowledge of the mathematics of homogenous matrices, and of data storage, representation and manipulations. Computer graphics makes the interaction and understanding of computers and interpretation of data easier for both computing professionals and consumers. With companies exploring increased use of trends such as ‘gamification’, the demand for computer scientists with advanced knowledge of computer graphics has never been greater.

Human-computer interaction: The study of human-computer interaction (HCI) considers the challenges in making computers and computations useful, usable, and universally accessible to humans, in order to prevent unexpected problems caused by poorly designed human-machine interfaces. Coupled with studies rooted in behavioral sciences, you’ll cover the study, planning and design of this kind of interaction, with the understanding that a computer has an almost unlimited amount of uses which can only take place in an open-ended dialogue between the user and the computer. You’ll approach the subject on the machine side, with computing techniques such as computer graphics, operating systems, programming languages and development environments, and on the human side, exploring communication, graphics, linguistics, social sciences such as cognitive psychology, and user satisfaction.

Artificial intelligence: The study of artificial intelligence (AI) is closely related to the field of artificial life (AL), and both are involved in synthesizing goal-orientated processes such as problem-solving, decision-making, environmental adaptation, learning and communication using computers and algorithms. While the field of artificial life examines systems and studies the complex behaviors that emerge from these systems, artificial intelligence uses systems to develop specific behaviors in machines and software. AI is a cross-disciplinary topic drawing on applied mathematics, symbolic logic, semiotics, electrical engineering, philosophy (of mind), neurophysiology and social intelligence. AI involves the automation of tasks (such as evaluative and predictive tasks) in computer applications involving complex real-world data - successful use of AI in this manner can act as a viable substitute for humans doing the same tasks.

Algorithms and data structures: Algorithms are a step-by-step procedure for making calculations, used in data processing and automated reasoning - this creates an output that is often, but not always, predictable. Data structures provide a way of storing and organizing data in a computer so it can be used efficiently - different kinds of data structures are suited to different kinds of applications and may be highly specialized to specific tasks. Together, algorithms and data structures underlie all other aspects of computer science, and involve learning how to store and process data as efficiently as possible, while ensuring algorithms are able to cope with the system in question. You’ll learn things such as linked lists, sorting and recursion, trees, hashing, greedy solutions, graphs and optimizing data arrangements. You may also go on to the analysis of algorithms (determining the amount of resources necessary to execute algorithms).

Computer science careers: Choose a computer science degree, and you could be working at the forefront of the next greatest technological innovations. The increasing scope of computer science means you have the choice to work in a wide variety of highly specialized areas. With computer technologies playing an ever growing role in all aspects of modern life, you’re likely to find your computer science skills in high demand across many different industries although, unsurprisingly, most graduates go into roles within the computer industry. computer science careers include:

IT consultant: Working in partnership with clients, an IT consultant advises their client on the planning, design, installation and usage of information technology systems to meet the client’s business objectives, overcome problems or improve the structure and efficiency of their IT systems. As you represent a broad role in IT, your job will be similar to that of systems analysts, systems designers and applications programmers, whose roles are more specialized but nonetheless work on a consultancy basis. On a typical day, you will meet with clients to determine their requirements, plan timescales and resources with them, and spend time clarifying the client’s current system specifications, work practices and nature of their business. You’ll analyze their IT requirements, develop solutions, implement new systems (which may include designing and installing) and present the results in a written or oral report, answering feedback, and then helping clients with the subsequent changes and in organizing training for other users. You may also become involved in sales and business development, identifying potential clients and maintaining good business contacts.

Information systems manager: While a similar role to an IT consultant, an information systems manager is usually a full-time member of staff, responsible for the secure and effective operation of computer systems within their company. You’ll be responsible (perhaps with the help of a team of IT staff) for the entire upkeep of the ICT infrastructure within your organization, with typical tasks involving the overseeing of installation of systems, ensuring systems are backed-up and that the back-up systems are operating effectively, purchasing hardware and software, setting up secure access for all users, including remote users, ensuring security of data from internal and external attack, and providing IT support and advice for users. You’ll need to make sure the ICT facilities meet the needs of your company and are current, while remaining within a set budget, and within all relevant software licensing laws. You may also need an understanding of business and management principles in order to contribute to organizational policy regarding quality standards and strategic planning in relation to IT.

Database administrator: A database administrator (DBA) is responsible for accurately and securely using, developing and maintaining the performance, integrity and security of a computerized database. The specific role is always determined by the organization in question, but is likely to either mean being involved purely in database maintenance or specialized in database development. The role is also dependent on the type of database and processes and capabilities of the database management systems (DBMS) in use in your particular organization. Typically, this role includes ensuring data remains consistent, is clearly defined, easily accessible, is secure and can be recovered in an emergency. You’ll also be required to troubleshoot should any problems arise, liaise with programmers, operational staff, IT project managers and technical staff, provide user training, support and feedback and write reports, documentation and operating manuals.

Multimedia programmer: A multimedia programmer is responsible for designing and creating multimedia computer products, making sure they are functional and maintaining fidelity to a designer’s specification. You’ll use creative as well as technical skills to develop multimedia features including text, sound, graphics, digital photography, 2D/3D modelling, animation and video. You’ll need to work with the designer to understand the design concept, discuss how it can be technically implemented, identify the operational rules necessary, write efficient computer code or script to make the features work, run tests of the product to test for bugs and rewrite or add new code if necessary. You’ll also be available for technical support after the product is completed, and need to keep abreast of industry news and developments in order to suggest and implement improvements. You may work across platforms (such as the internet, interactive television, information kiosks, DVDS, computer games consoles and mobile phones) or remain specialized in one platform. Your role may overlap with similar IT roles such as web developer, games developer, systems developer or software engineer, or you may find yourself working in tandem with these professionals to achieve mutual goals.

Career opportunities

Top graduate employers like Deloitte and KPMG will also look favourably on the transferable skills you’ve gained through your degree, which means you don’t necessarily even have to go into computing – any role that values analysis and problem-solving will be well suited to your skill set. Alternatively, if you want to change your career path you can always consider doing a postgraduate course after your degree, which will allow you to re-train in another subject like teaching or law. Examples of occupations:

Software Engineer
Software Developer
Technical Analyst
Applications Developer
Cyber Security Consultant
Design Engineer
Junior Programmer
Software Consultant
Technical Consultant
Technology Analyst
Further study - examples of courses
MSc Computer Security
MSc International Business
MEng Aeronautics & Astronautics
MSc Computer Science
MSc Artifical Intelligence
MSc Operational Research
MSc Imbedded Systems
PhD - Physical Sciences in the Biomedical Imaging
PhD - Computer Science

Overview

Take a degree in civil engineering, and you’ll find out just how much work goes into building, maintaining and expanding a society. Graduates of civil engineering degrees are the brains behind all the largest and most essential structures that surround us – buildings, transport networks, energy and water supplies.

Civil engineers make modern life possible. They work on the planning, design, construction and maintenance of projects such as skyscrapers, motorways, bridges, tunnels and dams.

If you look at a city from an aircraft, the construction you see is designed and supervised by civil engineers. Much of the hidden support for our cities, including the water supply and processes that minimise waste and pollution, is the work of environmental engineers.

Civil and environmental engineers are needed for expanding cities and new construction to meet the needs of rising populations throughout the world.

Civil Engineers play a pivotal role in shaping our future and are fundamental to all aspects of the built environment from the design and construction of iconic structures to the provision of underground services.

In fluid mechanics, we investigate topics ranging from the aerodynamics of cyclists/trains, to the flooding of rivers; current geotechnical engineering projects range from developing 'intelligent' tunnels to cleaning up contaminated land; and in structural engineering our students are designing a variety of structures to withstand extreme winds as well as investigating and implementing the sustainable construction technologies of tomorrow.

All parts of the programme use computers in creative and analytical work. Like the sound of designing a new bridge or developing a new hydropower system? Got a strong background in maths and physics? Then a degree in civil engineering could be for you.

As a civil engineering undergraduate student, you’ll learn to apply maths and physics knowledge to real-life situations and problems, taking account of environmental, financial, legal and ethical considerations.

Most civil engineering degrees include a mixture of lectures and lab work, and there’s usually an emphasis on team working: an integral part of being a civil engineer.Those studying civil engineering may also have opportunities to participate in field trips and complete industry placements, either as a ‘year in industry’ or for shorter periods.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What you will learn

As a civil engineering student you will learn how to use maths and science to design major construction projects, design and build the infrastructure for modern cities, calculate the maximum load a bridge can withstand, solve transportation problems and understand the environmental issues to be aware of when undertaking construction.

As an environmental engineering student you will learn how to design, develop and evaluate structures, equipment and systems to provide practical solutions to problems caused by increasing consumption, increasing waste and the potential threats to biodiversity. Projects include learning how to clean up toxic material that has seeped into the ground and designing an effective wastewater treatment plant.

Civil specializations

Your civil engineering specialization will really depend on the kind of structures you’re most interested in, and which part of society you’d like to help build or improve. Some of the most common specializations include:

Structural engineering: unsurprisingly, structural engineering focuses on structures. This could include buildings, bridges and dams, but also machinery and vehicles – even space craft. You’ll learn about working with different materials, stress distribution and strain, effects of internal and external forces, and strategies for strengthening and rehabilitating existing structures.

Architectural engineering: Architectural engineering is in many ways very similar to structural engineering, but generally also involves more of a focus on details and systems within structures – such as heating and lighting systems, ventilation and acoustics.

Transportation engineering: Transportation engineering is concerned with the design of infrastructure to support travel by air, at sea and on land. This encompasses the planning and improvement of roads and railway systems, ports and harbours, airports and runways.

Hydraulic engineering: Hydraulic engineering is concerned with the movement or control of large bodies of fluids, including water supply and sewage systems, irrigation, cooling facilities, flood and storm barriers, and hydropower.

Geotechnical engineering: Geotechnical engineering means specializing in the behavior of Earth materials – basically soil and rock. They may be employed in the mining and petroleum sectors, and are also involved in structural engineering projects, giving advice on foundations for above-ground structures, and also on underground or underwater projects.

Environmental engineering: Environmental engineering focuses on developing strategies to prevent or reduce harm to the environment. Key issues include air and water pollution, and disposal of waste materials.

Civil engineering skills

As well as providing you with specialized civil engineering skills and knowledge needed for a professional engineering career, civil engineering degrees should also leave you with the following transferable key skills:

Ability to analyze complex data sets, and general analytical skill
Very strong numeracy
Technology literacy
Presenting findings in written and spoken form, to an acceptable academic standard
Problem identification and solving skills
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Strong communication and team work
Understanding of contemporary issues in construction, environment and urban development

Overview

Chemistry is involved in the understanding of processes, and the production of molecules and materials essential to modern life. Studying chemistry will help you understand and appreciate the world in which you live. Advances in chemistry have had an enormous influence on our modern lifestyle and standard of living. Inventions such as semiconductors, polymers, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials of all kinds are based on chemical science. Future developments and advances in our understanding of these areas will enrich our lives and provide employment opportunities for graduates who have a sound understanding of the chemistry involved.

There’s much more to chemistry than just mixing things together in test tubes. Indeed, chemistry is a branch of science that concerns the composition and properties of a substance or body and, for those with a natural aptitude for maths and science; it can be a fascinating area of study.

An understanding of chemistry can have a significant impact on everyday life. We utilise chemical knowledge on a daily basis – whether travelling to work on public transport or using electrical equipment – and as such there is a significant demand for specialists within this particular field

Along with biological sciences and physics, chemistry is one of the three main arms of science. It can be defined as the study of matter – what it’s composed of and its structure, its properties, and how it reacts and changes when exposed to different situations.

As it studies matter at its most basic level, there is much overlap between chemistry and other science subjects. Chemical processes and the composition of elements play a large part in the study of living organisms and matter’s relationship to forces. The origins of the discipline lie in the ancient art of alchemy, the goal of which was to turn worthless material into gold.

Though this obviously didn’t work, it was based on the founding principle of chemistry: that matter is composed of building blocks which give it is essential properties, and if these building blocks are altered in some way – a change of temperature or the addition of another substance – then changes often occur.

Our understanding of the topic is much better these days and goes down to a molecular level. But don’t think this means we know everything! In fact, our greater knowledge has simply stretched the boundaries of what’s possible

Why Study Chemistry?

If you’ve a natural aptitude for science, a passion for discovering how things work and strong mathematical and analytical skills, then chemistry should be right up your street! The course should be nice and varied, meaning you won’t just be stuck in lecturers all the time – you’ll also get the opportunity to spend plenty of time in the lab, carrying out experiments and conducting your own research.

Areas of Study

Chemistry is the science of molecules. It deals with molecular structure and synthesis, interactions between molecules, chemical reactions, and theoretical models that explain molecular behaviour. Since chemistry aims to understand the structure and properties of matter in the world around us, it is a central science, with impacts on fields as diverse as biology, geology, environmental studies, medicine and engineering.

Specializations

As with other scientific subjects, specialization is essential due to the basic complexity of the subject at this level. At undergraduate level, this will often take the form of elective modules, though specialized courses are also an option. Graduate study will certainly involve specialization. Many specializations will overlap with other science subjects. Some examples are:

Chemical engineering: like alchemy but less gold-fixated, the purpose of chemical engineering is to convert substances into more useful ones - like medicines – using chemical processes. The focus can be on the actual substance produced or the process of conversation.

Biochemistry: The study of the chemical processes within living organisms, such as those which convert thought into action or make you feel a certain way. This is a massive subject and it is predicted that huge strides will be made in the foreseeable future.

Medicinal chemistry: In a way, this branch of chemistry represents a coming together of the two disciplines above, as it involves synthesizing certain chemicals present in the human body. There will always be a demand for this sort of research, and there’s surely a lot of satisfaction to be had in coming up with life-saving or improving drugs

Astrochemistry: The junction between chemistry and astronomy, the goal of astrochemistry is to discover of what matter in space is composed, and how elements and molecules behave there. You’ll be rooted on earth, so this will involve computational chemistry, spectroscopy (using light to help identify matter), and ingenuity.

Nuclear chemistry: A fairly self explanatory discipline, nuclear chemistry is the study of radioactive elements, how to harness them, and their effects on organisms and matter. It has applications in medicine and energy, and will involve engineering and collaboration with engineers.

What kind of skills will you learn on a chemistry course?

Like other subjects of similar levels of essential complexity, the main thing you will gain from a chemistry degree is a level of expertise in the subject. However, that’s not to say there aren’t other benefits. Here are a few of them:

As General laboratory skills
The ability to analyze complex data sets, and general analytical skills
Team working and communication skills
An understanding of scientific literature and how to use it
Attention to detail
Interdisciplinary skills and a framework for the further incorporation of other subjects
Initiative and independence
Numeracy and technology literacy
Presenting findings in written and spoken form, to an acceptable academic standard
Framework for lifelong learning
The skills you develop while studying for a chemistry qualification are transferable and highly desirable to employers in all sorts of sectors.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities for chemistry graduates are many and varied. In industry you might be employed in applied research and development, chemical analysis, quality control, pollution control, environmental monitoring, marketing or management. Some of the industries that employ chemists are food processing, paper manufacturing, winemaking and brewing, paints, plastics, ceramics, metals, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products and fertilisers. Chemistry graduates also work in Crown Research Institutes, medical and forensic laboratories, public bodies such as regional authorities, and in the teaching profession in secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Many graduates with higher degrees in chemistry have made successful careers in basic or applied research.

As with other ‘hard’ sciences, if your goal is to pursue a career in chemistry, you will probably need to go down the graduate study route – mad scientists excepted! The complexity of the subject means that often an undergraduate course will be insufficient.

Research positions can be undertaken in a range of different environments: universities, public and private research institutions, and at profit-orientate private companies.

The latter can range from defence companies to ice cream makers: there’s no shortage of practical money-making applications for chemistry.

There are plenty of opportunities for aspiring research chemists, but be warned: it can get pretty challenging at higher levels. Accordingly, you will be competing with some very clever people.

Research is not the only path open to chemists. Specialist teaching and journalism are always options, as are other careers for which specialist knowledge will be an asset: forensics for example, or health and safety related professions.

You can also enter graduate programs in law or medicine. And then there’s a whole range of general graduate jobs – sales, finance, and the media for example – out there.

Education Studies

As the name suggests, education studies is the study of education itself. This is an interdisciplinary subject, looking at things like the psychology of learning, the role played by societal and sociological factors, and the history of education.

Study this if you want to understand the bigger picture of education, and perhaps work towards changing education systems for the better – be it in an administrative, managerial or research capacity.

Transferable skills include:

Written communication developed through writing essays;
Oral communication skills gained through reasoned debates during seminars and presentations;
Ability to work as part of a team, through collaborative group work;
Research and analytical skills with the ability to judge and evaluate information;
Organisational and time management skills by prioritising tasks to ensure academic, social and work commitments are completed on time;
Negotiation, informally with peers and formally with staff;
Problem solving and IT skills.

Why study education?

Providers of education are always in demand. Teachers and educational specialists offer an essential service to a wide range of people all looking to further their own knowledge. For a sharp individual with strong communication skills and a passion for working with others, education could be the perfect area.

Assessment methods

Studying at degree-level is likely to be very different from your previous experience of learning and teaching. You will be expected to think, discuss and engage critically with the subject and find things out for yourself. We will enable you to make this transition to a new style of learning, and the way that you are assessed during your studies.

Students are not only the basis of the knowledge they gained, but also the skills that they have acquired. You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations and formal exams. Students also prepare portfolios of experiences and activities which enhances their employability on graduation –

This programme seeks to widen horizons and to promote self-valued for their leadership and problem solving capabilities.

Key Skills

As well as preparing you to enter the teaching profession or a related role, education degrees should furnish you a range of useful transferrable skills, including:

People skills
Excellent spoken and written communication
A framework for keeping up with an ever-evolving profession
The ability to deal with sensitive issues in an informed manner
Expertise in a single subject or across a spectrum
Firsthand experience of the field you’re about to enter
Organization and planning skills
An ability to think creatively and present ideas in new ways
Flexibility and adaptability

Employability

Employers target students who can demonstrate the ability to drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness many graduates go onto successful careers that are open to any graduate with an excellent Honours degree, such as banking, accountancy, public services etc

However, if you’re looking to diversify your knowledge – or even shift careers completely – there are a number of other postgraduate courses you can take. Many students looking for a change may study for a postgraduate study as a means of opting out of the teaching industry altogether.

Educational psychology, social work, government work and even journalism are all popular

programmes for those with a background in education Most students studying BA Education (Hons) programme go onto work or undertake further study

Education careers

No matter what the economic climate, teachers will always be in demand. Training as a teacher, therefore, will render you eminently employable.

In addition, many countries worldwide are reportage a shortage of teachers – particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. So if you’re looking to shore-up your career prospects, you could do a lot worse than to enter the teaching profession.

The same applies for those working in the education sector but not as teachers. Where there is mass teaching, a strong all-round education infrastructure will be required.

Beyond the classroom, education careers are also available in management, administration, research and advisory roles. All of these fields offer scope to contribute to the improvement of education systems and techniques, and help education providers adapt to changing contexts and new challenges.

A background in education can also be useful for those who work in any sort of position which involves working with young people, or generally sharing knowledge. Examples include exhibition curators, community youth workers and social workers.

Overview

Chemical Engineering is dynamic and evolving. It provides many solutions to problems facing industries in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, oil, energy and food and drink sectors. It is vital to many issues affecting our quality of life; such as better and more economical processes to reduce the environmental burden, and more delicious and longer lasting food due to the right combination of chemistry, ingredients and processing.

Ever wondered how materials like nylon and polyester are made? How it’s possible to make food stay fresh for longer? Or what happens inside a water treatment plant? Maybe you know all that, but are curious about how bionic plants, fog harvesting and carbon nanotubes can be used to improve the world around you. These are just some examples of topics you might cover as part of a chemical engineering degree – essentially the study of how to turn raw materials into useful, everyday (or perhaps more specialized) products.

Chemical engineering is a multi-disciplinary branch of engineering that combines natural and experimental sciences (such as chemistry and physics), along with life sciences (such as biology, microbiology and biochemistry) plus mathematics and economics to design, develop, produce, transform, transport, operate and manage the industrial processes that turn raw materials into valuable products.

Many of the processes within chemical engineering involve chemical reactions, and the field takes cues from chemists who are looking for new ways to create products and to investigate the mechanisms within chemical reactions. Chemical engineers then translate this chemical information to formulate designs. As such, there are two broad subgroups that better answer the question “What is chemical engineering?” – more precisely:

Designing, manufacturing and operating plants and machinery for carrying out large-scale industrial chemical, biological or related processes, developing new or adapted substances for a wide range of products.

Chemical engineers may be specialized in one or the other subgroup, but work from both side will be required in order to create a final product. They will need to consider economic viability, management of resources, health and safety, sustainability and environmental impact.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and chemistry (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Why Study this course

This programme provides diverse, yet balanced, courses, enabling our graduates to gain employment in a wide range of industries. Employers target students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment

Entry requirements for chemical engineering degrees

Entry requirements for chemical engineering degrees usually emphasize a strong background in chemistry and mathematics, while knowledge of other sciences is beneficial. Some background knowledge of the nature of chemical engineering and its various real-world applications is also a good way to prove to university admissions officers that you have a keen interest in pursuing a chemical engineering degree.

Many institutions accept a range of entry routes into chemical engineering – you can enter from a natural sciences background, or through engineering or computer sciences. Some institutions are even more flexible, accepting students from all disciplines. And, if you don’t have the required grades or subjects needed for entry, some institutions offer a foundation course to help you get up to speed with the required skills and knowledge.

If you have a diploma or similar lower-level certificate in chemical engineering from a recognized institution, you may be able to be admitted directly into the second year of a chemical engineering degree program – check with the institution(s) you are interested in to find out if this is an option.

Areas of study

Chemical and materials engineering draws on chemical, physical and materials engineering sciences as well as biological principles and mathematical skills in order to understand the fundamentals of processes and ensure their optimisation. Chemical and materials engineering is concerned with the transforming of raw materials into valuable end-products and the development of high-performance materials for use in our modern, technological society.

Chemical engineering activities include the conception and development of processes and their products, and from design through to management of process plants, along with research and education in these fields.

What you will learn

You will gain an understanding of the properties of materials and how they can best be processed.

You will learn to apply your knowledge of energy, raw materials, process chemistry, process dynamics and other matters to achieve the highest possible product quality and process efficiency to provide for societal needs while demonstrating a concern for the environment.

Particularly important to chemical engineers is the shift from pollution prevention to 'clean technology', which is reflected in our teaching philosophy.

What to expect from chemical engineering degrees:

Undergraduate-level chemical engineering degrees can last from three to five years. The duration varies based on the institution and the country in which you study, but also depends on whether you choose to study a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or a Master of Engineering (MEng) – also referred to as a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) depending on national naming conventions.

The BEng will last three to four years, and the MEng four to five years. Some institutions may also offer the chance for BEng students to transfer to a related MEng degree program during the latter half of their degree, provided they meet certain academic requirements. Conversely, those enrolled on the MEng program may be able to cut short their degree and graduate with a BEng instead.

The MEng allows students to develop a greater depth of chemical engineering skills, knowledge in chemical engineering and complete a wider range of project work. Once you have accumulated the necessary work experience, qualifications, skills and knowledge, an accredited MEng also allows you to gain the status of Chartered Chemical Engineer. Many institutions offer a “sandwich year”, in which students spend one year working in industry and/or studying abroad. You may also be able to combine chemical engineering with another discipline such as environmental engineering, business management, foreign languages and subjects in the humanities.

Regardless of whether you choose a BEng or MEng, you’ll begin your degree program with some core chemical engineering courses, covering fields such as pure and applied mathematics, computing and computer-aided design (CAD), and the sciences. You’ll then proceed to study these topics in more depth, with the option to specialize by choosing from a range of elective courses. In later years, you’ll move on to more advanced laboratory classes, working with large-scale and industrial equipment. You can also expect to learn about the wider context of chemical engineering, including financial, ethical and environmental issues, and may have the opportunity to study business, finance and management courses.

Typically, chemical engineering courses are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, computer practice sessions, extensive practical laboratory work and project work (individual and group). Some institutions will offer online teaching, as well as site visits (or field work). Your institution may also be able to provide classes by industry professionals, who will give an insight to current industrial practices and concerns.

Final assessment is typically a substantial research and development project, but you may also be tested through written examination, coursework, laboratory reports, multiple choice examinations, oral presentations, and interviews.

Specializations

Chemical engineering courses

While its origins are in oil refining and petrochemical production, and the fundamentals of the subject have changed relatively little, chemical engineering is constantly evolving. It is constantly pioneering new and improved materials and related techniques which help advance scientific knowledge in fields such as nanotechnology, fuel cells, fabric development, mineral processing and bioengineering.

Some typical chemical engineering courses you may cover include fluid mechanics, mass and heat transfer, techniques for separation of materials, thermodynamics, plant design, process systems, process economics, process analysis and process operations. –

Other courses could cover biochemical engineering, colloid and interface science, engineering management, environment, food engineering, food processes, fossil fuels, gas absorption and adsorption, liquid effluent treatment, membrane science, nanoscience, nuclear energy, petrochemicals, pharma ceutical process development, reaction engineering, reactor design, safety and hazard engineering, sustainable engineering and waste management

Chemical reaction engineering

Also called reaction engineering or reactor engineering, chemical reaction engineering deals with chemical reactors (vessels designed to contain chemical reactions) such as those found in industrial plants. Chemical reaction engineering is the management of industrial reactor/plant processes and conditions to ensure optimal reactor/plant operation. The term is frequently used specifically in relation to catalytic reaction systems where a homogenous or heterogeneous catalyst is present in the reactor. You’ll learn about multi-produce and multi-purpose plants, how to analyze reaction kinetics and mechanisms, how to study and optimize chemical reactions in order to define the best reactor design, how to construct models for reactor analysis and design and how to use laboratory data and physical parameters to solve problems and predict reactor performance. You’ll draw upon many topics within chemical engineering, including the others explored here.

Plant design

Plant design involves creating plans, specifications, and economic analyses for new industrial plants and/or plant modifications. You’ll gain an understanding of the fundamental basis of designing industrial plants, and learn how to use the design tools most commonly employed by engineers in industry. You’ll learn about the design criterions for process equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers and phase separators, and gain an understanding of plant economics and plant optimization using cost models. You’ll also learn about the safety, regulatory and economic concerns within plant design (such as during the choice of process, material and equipment).

Process engineering

The field of process engineering is the application of chemical engineering principles to optimize the design, operation and control of chemical processes. You’ll develop an understanding of the concepts and techniques involved in materials extraction and processing, the basic terminology used in the chemical, minerals and material industries, and the basic science involved in a range of unit operations such as: crystallization, distillation, gas absorption and adsorption, evaporation, filtration and drying. You’ll become familiar with the design and operation of a range of process engineering equipment and operations, learn about different fuel sources and energy consumption patterns and learn about safety, regulatory and economic concerns within plant design (for example regarding the choice of process, material and equipment).

Transport phenomena

The umbrella term “transport phenomena” encompasses all agents of physical change in the universe. It is a name given to describe a range of phenomena that frequently occur within industrial problems. It concerns the exchange of mass, energy and momentum between observed and studied systems. This includes topics such as fluid dynamics (momentum), heat transfer and mass transfer. You will gain a thorough understanding of the mathematics needed for describing transport phenomena at macroscopic, microscopic and molecular levels, and for drawing deep mathematical connections between them.

Process design

Specializing in process design means becoming an expert in the design of unit processes. The chemical equivalent of one unit operation, one unit process, is the individual physical step in a chemical engineering process (like crystallization, drying or evaporation), which is used to prepare elements during chemical processing in reactors. Unit processes and unit operations go hand in hand to constitute a process operation, involving the conversion of material by chemical (bio- or thermo-) means.

Considered central to chemical engineering and one of the most challenging fields within it, process design brings together all of the components within chemical engineering. You’ll learn how to create processes, design the equipment for a process, operate processes and improve processes in order to achieve the desired physical and/or chemical transformation of materials. As design usually starts at a conceptual level, you’ll also learn how to use specialist computer software for process simulation.

Chemical engineering skills

As well as gaining expertise in the core scientific and engineering topics, techniques and concerns, a chemical engineering degree will also equip you with a range of non-technical skills that can be applied in a range of employment sectors. Some transferable chemical engineering skills include:
Specialist knowledge of chemical engineering theories, methods and practices
Knowledge of core scientific topics across all sciences
Understanding of scientific literature and how to use it
Understanding of manufacturing processes
Knowledge of terminology used in the chemical, minerals and material industries
Advanced numeracy skills
Advanced laboratory skills
Ability to analyze complex data sets and form conclusions
Clear understanding of the commercial application of science, chemical engineering and general engineering

Overview

It’s all about planning and designing structures, then putting those plans into effect. Architecture deals with the design stage – using a blend of creativity and scientific knowledge to develop.

structures of all shapes and sizes – and building and town planning is what comes after; building courses teach students how to follow a design through to completion, while town planning courses look at the possible effects that might come from the implementation of the design for a new building or development.

In this way all three are linked – if you go into building, for instance, you’ll be working along both architects and town planners – while still being very separate disciplines.

Graduates of civil engineering degrees are the brains behind all the largest and most essential structures that surround us – buildings, transport networks, energy and water supplies.

Like the sound of designing a new bridge or developing a new hydropower system? Got a strong background in maths and physics? Then a degree in civil engineering could be for you.

As a civil engineering undergraduate student, you’ll learn to apply maths and physics knowledge to real-life situations and problems, taking account of environmental, financial, legal and ethical considerations.

Most civil engineering degrees include a mixture of lectures and lab work, and there’s usually an emphasis on team working: an integral part of being a civil engineer. Those studying civil engineering may also have opportunities to participate in field trips and complete industry placements, either as a ‘year in industry’ or for shorter periods.

Architects today find themselves working in a world with constantly expanding boundaries. The study of architecture at undergraduate level study provides a vital introduction to the architectural profession and related aspects of design that reflect the evolving requirements of the discipline. Through a stimulating combination of studio projects, lectures, critiques and practical experience you will have the opportunity to develop your design skills and creative practice.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

The architecture courses provide an introduction to the key aspects of architecture and the related design disciplines and give you the skills required for advanced courses in the higher level architecture degree, or as a basis for creative practice in fields other than architecture.

If you want to study architecture, you’ve got a fairly long road ahead of you – it takes a full seven years to become a fully qualified architect – which includes a three-year undergraduate course followed by a year in industry, followed by a postgraduate course, followed by another year in industry!

Building and planning courses tend to be the usual three years in length, although it’s worth noting that to become fully chartered you’ll need to complete more on-the-job training after you graduate. Many building and planning courses also offer the option of a sandwich year (meaning your course would be four years in total and you’d spend a year in industry between your second and third year), which would help you work towards your chartered status.

You will study a range of core courses and participate in studio design projects within each of the key areas of architectural studies:

Architectural Design - courses allow you to develop an awareness and understanding of the discipline and practice of architectural design in a studio context. They also enable you to acquire specific abilities and skills in preparation for advanced design courses in the higher level architecture degree, or as a basis for design practice in fields other than architecture.

Architectural Media - courses are directed towards the participation of drawing in architectural design. The particular properties of drawing types, software and media are explored as they express their characteristics in architectural design.

Architectural Technology – courses cover construction and structure including study of materials, methods, assemblies, constructional and structural principles, comparative evaluations of structural systems and the principles and practice of sustainability

Specialzation

Your civil engineering specialization will really depend on the kind of structures you’re most interested in, and which part of society you’d like to help build or improve. Some of the most common specializations include:

Structural engineering
Architectural engineering
Transportation engineering
Hydraulic engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Environmental engineering

Engineering skills include:

Ability to analyze complex data sets, and general analytical skill;
Very strong numeracy;
Technology literacy;
Presenting findings in written and spoken form, to an acceptable academic standard;
Problem identification and solving skills;
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives;
Strong communication and team work,
Understanding of contemporary issues in construction, environment and urban development

Civil engineering careers

Architectural Studies graduates are prepared for a broad range of careers within the architecture, building design and construction sectors. Examples include architect*, architectural historian, building industry consultant, building technologist, computer-aided design professional, design-based librarian or archivist, heritage architect, interior designer, project manager, and urban designer

A degree in civil engineering offers the prospect of stable career progression, potentially high salary, and the opportunity to work on stimulating and exciting projects.

Often a distinction is made between ‘consulting’ and ‘contracting’ civil engineering careers.

The first group are those who work on the design stage of a project, collaborating with architects and other professionals.

The second oversee the actual construction, dealing with practical issues such as procuring materials and meeting deadlines, and helping to resolve any problems that arise.

A third group are maintenance engineers, who are most commonly employed to maintain equipment and machinery used in manufacturing processes. This involves regular checking and monitoring, and overseeing the replacement or upgrading of equipment.

Overview

Aeronautical engineering represent the branch of engineering that deals with the research, design, development, construction, testing, science and technology of aircraft. The field also covers investigation into aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft, including behaviours and related factors such as airfoil, control surfaces, lift and drag.

In recent years, aeronautical engineering has become one of two major and overlapping branches of aerospace engineering, with astronautically engineering being the second.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have Maths and Physics (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What to expect from aeronautical engineering degrees

You’ll usually find aeronautical engineering degrees referred to as a BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) and MEng (Masters in Engineering). Aeronautical engineering degrees at the undergraduate level usually last three or four years, but many institutions allow students to progress directly into a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering, extending the course length by an additional year or two.

In such cases, BEng and MEng students take the same courses for the first two or three years, and suitably well-performing students then continue with the BEng for one more year or progress to the more advanced MEng for two years. Some institutions may also allow for this transfer in the first or second year of the BEng degree program while others allow post-secondary candidates to enroll in a MEng straight away. A few institutions also offer associate degree programs, but these usually are reserved for practicing engineering professionals who have already graduated in a related field, and want to change careers into aeronautical engineering.

Teaching is primarily lecture-based, with students also completing coursework and laboratory exercises, attending tutorials and participating in field trips. Group work and group design work may be an element, with independent study expected in all degree programs, and assessment divided between examinations and coursework projects. Depending on your chosen institution’s facilities, you may be able to attend lectures given by experts in the aerospace industry, and even experience rides in a flight simulator.

You’ll need to be highly competent in mathematics and physics in order to apply – expect your competency in these two subjects to be rigorously tested. And, if your degree is taught in English and you are an international student, you may need to prove your proficiency through a standardized exam such as the IELTS or take an English language course prior to commencing your degree in order to obtain a student visa or entry into the program.

Specializations

Technically, your aeronautical engineering degree will be specialized from day one, as you will be concentrating on a specific field within engineering. Nonetheless, you will be incorporating many common engineering concepts into the subject of aeronautical engineering. As with any engineering course, therefore, you will likely start with a grounding in mathematics, physics, mechanics and electronics – all essential topics for the designing, building and testing of aircraft.

More specific aeronautical engineering topics you may cover in the first and second years include: introduction to aerodynamics, introduction to structural analysis and courses in dynamics and control, structures and materials, aircraft design, aircraft performance, computing, electronics, fluid mechanics, statics, systems engineering, telecommunications and thermodynamics. As you’d expect, the further along you get in your degree, the more scope there is for pursuing your own interests, expanding on your foundation learning and personalizing your degree. When it comes time to choose your specialization, some options include: aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, avionics, propulsion.

Career Options:

Aeronautical Engineer:

As an aeronautical engineer you’ll apply scientific, technological and mathematical principles to research, design, develop, maintain and test the performance of civil and military aircraft, including weapons, satellites and even space vehicles. You may also work on designing (using computer-aided design (CAD) software) manufacturing and modifying the different components that make up these aircraft and systems.

This role involves improving flight safety, fuel efficiency, speed and weight, reducing system costs, using advancing technologies to meet client and customer needs, researching and developing design specifications, addressing the environmental impact of air travel and the materials/systems you will be designing. You’ll need to be able to resolve any issues that arise during the design, development and testing process, including investigating any aircraft accidents and project management.

Aeronautical researcher

An aeronautical researcher is in charge of researching new technologies, materials, systems and equipment in the aeronautical engineering field. You’ll be involved in analyzing and testing discoveries, comparing findings with existing knowledge, challenging discrepancies, writing reports outlining conclusions and ensuring you use specific, accurate techniques for each study. You can specialize in a wide range of engineering disciplines, for example researching a new process for increased propulsion, a lighter material for improved aerodynamic design, a more versatile propeller, a more efficient wing layout or solutions to tackle in-flight icing. Research may take months or even years to complete, culminating in your findings published in industry journals.

As a senior aeronautical researcher, you will be in charge of the entire research process including ordering, gathering and verifying supplies, putting together and supervising a team and ensuring adherence to safety, accuracy, timelines and budgets.

Aeronautical designer

An aeronautical designer is usually involved in providing design and detailing expertise for companies who develop aeronautical components, products and systems. You’ll need to ensure technical excellence while maintaining fidelity to any specifications and design requirements put forth by your client. From design, build, experimentation and installation to testing, validation and analysis of the new product, you’ll need to make sure the product complies with the requirements set out by regulatory authorizes on the national and international level.

You’ll need to provide drawings and schemes using specialist software (this will vary depending on the company you work for and what you are designing). You’ll then summarize your findings and communicate these to other members of your team and/or to your client. You’ll need a good understanding of assembly methods, manufacturing methods (machining, injection mold, composite) and cost-effective designing and will need to keep up with the latest material technologies and advances in production processes. Products you could be working on include airframe design, engine design and design of airliner cabin comfort systems.

Aeronautical maintenance technician

As an aeronautical maintenance technician (AMT), you’ll hold a mechanic certificate issued by an accredited organization, such as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), that confirms you are fully qualified to handle aeronautical maintenance checks. You will be responsible for the complete range of mechanical components and structure of aircraft, including engines, gearboxes, flying controls, landing gear, hydraulics, air conditioning, anti-icing and fuel systems.

This job involves examining, testing, diagnosing, replacing and repairing both mechanical and avionic components of an aircraft as necessary, ensuring compliance with safety and operational standards. Some AMTs may specialize in one section of a particular type of aircraft such as the airframe, engine, hydraulic or electrical system. You may also be responsible for supervising a larger team of AMTs and aircraft maintenance mechanics. –

Key Skills

As well as a highly comprehensive background in basic and advanced engineering concepts, techniques and methods along with specific aeronautical engineering skills, you should leave your degree equipped with a range of transferrable skills that can be affectively applied to a wide range of fields. Some of these skills include:

High proficiency in research methodology, experiments and data collection
Excellent analytical and logical-thinking skills
Excellent knowledge of mathematics and physics
Interdisciplinary skills, including expertise in mechanics and engineering
Ability to identify and tackle complex technical challenges
Ability to work well in a team
A critical approach to problems
Good attention to detail
Good communication skills, both written and verbal and people from various backgrounds and with varying aeronautical knowledge
Good problem-solving skills
Ability to think creatively
Ability to adapt to changing needs/in response to findings from experiments
Awareness of commercial, industry-related and environmental issues

Employability

Employers target students who can demonstrate the ability to drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness many graduates go onto successful careers that are open to any graduate with an excellent Honours degree, such as banking, accountancy, public services etc

However, if you’re looking to diversify your knowledge – or even shift careers completely – there are a number of other postgraduate courses you can take. Many students looking for a change may study for a postgraduate study as a means of opting out of the teaching industry altogether.

Educational psychology, social work, government work and even journalism are all popular

programmes for those with a background in education Most students studying BA Education (Hons) programme go onto work or undertake further study

Education careers

No matter what the economic climate, teachers will always be in demand. Training as a teacher, therefore, will render you eminently employable.

In addition, many countries worldwide are reportage a shortage of teachers – particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. So if you’re looking to shore-up your career prospects, you could do a lot worse than to enter the teaching profession.

The same applies for those working in the education sector but not as teachers. Where there is mass teaching, a strong all-round education infrastructure will be required.

Beyond the classroom, education careers are also available in management, administration, research and advisory roles. All of these fields offer scope to contribute to the improvement of education systems and techniques, and help education providers adapt to changing contexts and new challenges.

A background in education can also be useful for those who work in any sort of position which involves working with young people, or generally sharing knowledge. Examples include exhibition curators, community youth workers and social workers.

Overview

Theatre and dramatic arts won’t necessarily be the same as an A level in drama. While drama at A level usually places an emphasis on the practical side of the subject, a degree – depending on where you go to study – will probably focus more on the theoretical side. In fact, if you want to spend all your time treading the boards, your best bet will probably be to attend an acting school.

Many courses in theatre and dramatic arts will focus on the study of famous playwrights, well known acting styles and techniques, and the way theatre as a whole has changed and developed over time.

What are your study options?

There are plenty of different degree (and joint/combined honours options) in this subject area. Many universities offer a combination of dance and drama, while some degrees will focus on the production side of theatre, and others will focus on the writing aspect. The key here is to make sure you do plenty of research, so that you know exactly what the course you’re applying to entails.

If you really do want to spend the majority of your time learning to act, though, don’t despair – there are some universities that have courses with more of a practical focus (the Theatre and Performance BA at Plymouth University, for instance) – you might just have to do a bit of hunting to find the one that’s best suited to your interests.

Why study theatre and dramatic arts?

If you enjoy subjects like drama and English literature, then a degree in the area of theatre and dramatic arts could be well-suited to your interests. Taking a degree in this area will allow you to focus on the specific part of the dramatic arts that appeals to you the most: whether you like the idea of working behind the scenes at the Globe, you want to become a writer for the stage, or (of course) you want to be starring alongside Brad Pitt in the latest Hollywood film.

It’s also worth thinking about the different skills a course in theatre and dramatic arts will give you. You won’t just be learning about different playwrights, or the way in which a musical is produced; you’ll also be learning how to express yourself, how to communicate your ideas and how to analyse existing concepts – all of which are very transferable and will be valued by a variety of employers.

Your degree – depending on where you study, of course – will also be nice and varied. If you’re on a dance and performing arts programme, for instance, you’ll be mixing practical performance with workshops and written theory (so your degree shouldn’t ever get boring).

After your degree

We’re not going to lie, getting a job in the performing arts isn’t the easiest thing in the world. The arts sector as a whole is incredibly competitive (especially if you want to become an actor), so you’ll probably need a great deal of talent and luck in order to make it a full-time career. Many graduates hoping to gain work as an actor or a playwright don’t do it full-time (or at least not to start out with) – most will do what they can and supplement their income with some part-time work, while others may go on and apply for acting schools such as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (again, though, these schools are incredibly competitive and hard to get in to).

Of course, you don’t have to go into the performing arts. Many theatre and drama grads use their communication and writing skills to enter careers in marketing, PR, publicity, events, publishing, or journalism.

Theology & Religion

Theology & Religion isall about the different religions found across the world and how they influence societies and cultures. Religion obviously has an enormous impact on both our day-to-day lives and major world events, so gaining an understanding of the role it plays – including how it’s evolved over time and the way it intersects with politics and different thought structures – is crucial to our understanding of the world.

Religious studies as a subject will cover all the major religions – Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism – including their origins, their evolution, their belief systems and their specific cultures and traditions.

What are your study options?

You can take a degree in theology (which will focus on Christian teachings) or religious studies (which will cover a mixture of different religions), or even – at some universities – a combination of the two. As theology and religious studies frequently cross over with other subjects such as history and philosophy, you can also find a number of joint/combined honours courses (mixing religious studies with philosophy is a particularly popular choice, for instance, as the two regularly overlap).

Theology and religious studies courses will typically last for three years and, although your contact hours won’t be particularly high, you’ll be expected to carry out plenty of research outside of your weekly lectures and seminars. You’ll probably find you do have a few exams, but the majority of your assessment will be essay-based.

Why study theology and religious studies?

You don’t have to be religious to want to take a religious studies course – far from it, in fact. Whether you’re a devout Sikh, an atheist or a born again Christian, any religious studies degree will require you to objectively analyse a number of different faiths and belief systems.

And, regardless of your background and personal beliefs, it’s hard to deny that religion is a fascinating subject. If you’re interested in different behaviour patterns and cultures, and you enjoy learning about history and human interaction, then you could be well-suited to a degree in this area.

The degree will equip you with plenty of transferable skills, too – from being able to clearly communicate your ideas to being able to write in a well-structured and thought-out manner – all of which will come in handy when you’re looking for a graduate job.

“Religion is a phenomenon of global significance, and it encompasses every aspect of human existence from the personal to the political,” says Robert Song, Professor in the Department of Theology & Religion at Durham University. “Degrees in theology and religion enable students to explore the meaning of religion in a variety of social and historical contexts, and to investigate the validity of religious approaches to the questions of human existence. Most courses do not require a Religious Studies A-Level, and students of all beliefs and none will be found on courses in theology and religion.”

What kind of skills will you learn on the course?

“The Durham course is fairly typical of degrees in Theology and Religion, in that it provides an excellent all-round training in many key skills: linguistic, textual, philosophical, historical and social scientific. Students will develop the ability to read texts closely and analyse them critically, to learn about the importance of historical and cultural context, to develop intellectual and conceptual clarity, to engage with alternative perspectives on the world, and to articulate their thoughts with elegance and precision.”

What key modules can you expect to cover in your first year?

Our department is divided into three main subject areas:
1) Theology – in its historical, philosophical, and cultural forms;
2) The Study of Religion; and
3) Biblical Studies – which includes languages. In the first year students are asked to undertake five compulsory modules which cover these areas: Introduction to Christian Theology, Christianity in Context, The Study of Religion, Introduction to the Old Testament, and Introduction to the New Testament. Students may also undertake an optional module from within or outside the department. The aim is to provide a broad foundation for the following years in which students can freely choose from a range of options, with a view to progressive specialisation.

Key Skills

Many of the skills you will acquire from a philosophy degree will be similar to those you gain from any other humanities subject. That said, there are also some more unique benefits to be gained from philosophy, due to its nature as a subject founded on pure thought.

The skills you will acquire from a philosophy degree include:

Critical thinking
The ability to form and present a clear and well reasoned argument
The capacity to deal with multiple viewpoints and to discern which is most valid
Being able to discern what it is at the core of a matter, and what is important
Being able to differentiate between what’s valid and what’s not
The ability to concentrate and think deeply about a difficult issue
The capacity to deal with new and challenging ideas
Wide subject-specific knowledge
An ability to interpret events through philosophy
A deeper understanding of art

After your degree

While a degree in theology will set you up well for a career in the ministry or a voluntary organisation, religious studies and theology will open up plenty of other doors, too; your writing and communication skills will make you well suited for a career in the media, publishing or PR, for instance, and that’s before you even start thinking about large graduate employers and HR and finance roles (all of which are a fit for graduates who can express their ideas clearly and who can argue a strong case).

If you decide you want to go into teaching or law – both of which are also popular options – you can go on to study either a PGCE or a law conversion course after you graduate.

“Any career which is open to someone with an Arts or Humanities degree is open to someone with a Theology and Religion degree – in other words any career which doesn’t require specialist vocational training,” says Robert Song, Professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. “Students go into finance, law, teaching, the civil service, social work, retail, the third sector, and a huge variety of other careers; a minority will go into the church or other faith-based organisations

Overview

Politics is about relationships that involve power, authority, influence, conflict, co-operation, selfishness and altruism. Politics is not just what politicians do, although governments provide a large part of it. One of the basic questions we ask is “who gets what, when and how?” Instruments of politics include discussion, propaganda, persuasion, legislation, administration, threats, bribes and use of armed force.

Sometimes referred to as international studies you do not have to look too far to find examples of how international relations impact our everyday lives. From international conventions on human rights; how environmental issues shape domestic legislation; or why the prospect of local military interventions can have an adverse impact on a global economy

Politics degree explores theories and practices of power and governance, from local up to international level. Politics degrees at university are likely to include examination of past and current political conflicts; different models and mechanisms of government; concepts such as freedom, equality and human rights; and ideologies including communism, anarchism and liberalism.

Sounds like a lot to take on, doesn’t it! But after all, politics affects every aspect of human life, from the mundane (how often your rubbish is collected) to the philosophical (individual freedom versus ‘greater good’).

As a politics undergraduate student, you’re likely to study the work of influential historical figures in the field, such as Confucius, Plato and Machiavelli, and more recent theorists such as Karl Marx and John Rawls.

You’ll also look at the more practical side of politics – how different systems work (or don’t work...), the impact of developments such as technology and mass media, and the role of organizations like NATO.

Politics degrees at university are often available as joint courses, commonly paired with history, philosophy, international relations or economics.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course is no walk in the park. You’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Most politics courses will be the typical three years in length, although some unis will offer the option to study abroad for a year (which could be particularly relevant if you’ve chosen to focus on international relations or global politics).

In your first year, you’ll probably find you have a selection of core modules to take (which will give you a broad overview of the different areas of politics); you’ll then get the chance to focus on the areas you’re most interested in as you progress on to your second and final years. The final part of your degree will usually involve writing a dissertation (a long, in-depth essay) on a topic of your own choosing. This – alongside other essays and exams spread over your last two years – will make up your final grade.

Why study politics?

Most politics courses will be the typical three years in length, although some unis will offer the option to study abroad for a year (which could be particularly relevant if you’ve chosen to focus on international relations or global politics).

In your first year, you’ll probably find you have a selection of core modules to take (which will give you a broad overview of the different areas of politics); you’ll then get the chance to focus on the areas you’re most interested in as you progress on to your second and final years. The final part of your degree will usually involve writing a dissertation (a long, in-depth essay) on a topic of your own choosing. This – alongside other essays and exams spread over your last two years – will make up your final grade.

Why study politics ?

If you want to gain a deeper insight into how our country is run (and not just ours, but countries all across the world), a degree in politics is a pretty good place to start. Political issues obviously crop up all the time, and the government is always in the media and public spotlight to a certain extent – if you’re hungry for a real understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes, though, then studying on a politics course should give you a greater perspective on why our politicians act the way they do.

As politics is so critical to everything that goes on in society, it’s as much a useful subject as it is an interesting one. Your degree will also equip you with a range of handy transferable skills – you’ll be a proficient writer and analyst, as well as a thorough researcher, by the time you graduate – all of which will be valued by any employer.

“Studying politics allows students to learn about political systems at home and abroad, widening their knowledge of how political systems work and the effectiveness of government policy at local, regional and global levels,” says Dr William Sheward, Programme Leader for Politics and Global Studies at the University of Winchester. “It encourages them to think critically and knowledgably about contemporary issues and their historical contexts, which in turn allows them to be able to think for themselves as informed citizens.”

What you will learn

In Politics and International Relations you can learn about power, governance and political relationships around the world.

You can analyse what was, what is and consider what ought to be - from many different viewpoints. You can learn about the issues and problems that affect everyday life by studying globalisation, democracy, foreign and security policies, public policy, identity politics, multiculturalism, and politics and the media.

Areas of study

Undergraduate courses cover the five main strands in Politics and International Relations

Comparative politics: Understanding the politics of one country can be a good introduction to comparative politics. Comparative politics attempts to generalise across political systems and examines topics such as electoral systems and forms of government.

Politics and the media: You can analyse how politics is presented in television, radio, press and the internet. There are excellent audiovisual and print archives available.

International relations: The actors include states, international organisations (eg, the United Nations) and trans-national corporations. We look at human rights, global justice and inequality, foreign and trade policies, security, international political economy, international law and the development of a global civil society.

Public policy: This introduces you to the institutions and ideas you need to understand public policy. We study the design, analysis and evaluation of policy as well as the actors and institutions that influence the policy agenda and policy outcomes. There are also courses that focus on specific policy areas.

Political theory: Political theory runs through all aspects of Political Studies as well as being a specific study in itself. We study the history of political thought and discuss theoretical issues still alive today. Political theory analyses language such as "rights" and "sovereignty" and asks questions such as "Should people have a right to welfare or to vote?"

Specializations

Politics degrees may vary considerably between universities, with different modules and specializations available. Topics may be also covered under a different title, or there may be some scope to pursue individual interests in a dissertation or other independent project.

International politics: This is the focus on politics at global level, looking at diplomatic, trade and other relationships between nations, and the role of official organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations and the European Union.

National and regional politics: Often it’s possible to take modules focusing on the politics of a particular country or region – for example the politics of France or the politics of the Asia-Pacific area. This may involve examining the historical development of government in that region, and the current electoral and legislative procedures.

Development politics: This refers to the role of politics in social development, encompassing issues such as human rights, gender equality, and post colonialism. You’ll examine various meanings of the term ‘development’, and look at case studies from different countries.

Peace and conflict studies: As you’d expect, this is the study of politics in relation to national and international conflicts, and strategies for avoiding or resolving conflict. Again, this is likely to involve elements of theory as well as critical examination of recent and ongoing conflicts.

What key modules can you expect to cover in your first year?

“We cover broad areas of International Relations theory, International Political Economy, International Institutions, Political Philosophy and Ideology including conservatism, socialism, liberalism, Marxism, environmentalism, feminism etc, etc, theories of government, US politics and society, Human rights, contemporary History, corporate social responsibility and business ethics.”

Key Skills

The broad spread of transferable skills you gain from a politics degree should include:

Ability to analyse different types of data, and identify patterns and implications
Understanding of academic publications and how to use them
Excellent written and spoken communication
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives
Ability to compose and defend an argument, using appropriate evidence and sources
Understanding of key issues and challenges in contemporary politics

After your degree

Studying politics, you don’t necessarily have to become a politician! Of course, your degree will make you well-suited to a job as a political researcher or work in the civil service, but your options are much more varied than that. Your writing skills will mean you can go into the likes of publishing, PR, and marketing, while your research and communications skills mean you’d likely fair just as well in the business and finance world, or the charity sector.

You’ll have plenty of options, to put it simply. And if you decide you’re not quite ready for the world of work, you can also consider staying on at uni to do a postgraduate course. Law conversion courses and PGCEs that give you qualified teaching status are both popular options, as is staying on to get your master’s qualification (if you have an area of politics you’re keen to continue researching, a masters is the perfect opportunity to do just that).

“In our experience there are no 'typical' [job] areas, but many have gone into public service in areas such as charities, non-profit organisations, and NGOs, as well as in research organisations (both independent think tanks as well as political lobbying),” says Dr William Sheward. “Others have gone into banking, travel, government (local and national), management etc.”

Career Opportunities

Politics can give you the tools to be successful in both the public and private sectors. A degree in politics could, of course, lead to a career in politics – in an elected position, as an assistant or advisor, or in the civil service. The latter, particularly if you speak more than one language fluently, could include diplomatic positions in other countries.

Other options include political journalism, contributing to policy decisions as part of a think tank (research group), or working for a non-profit agency, human rights organization or pressure group.

Politics degrees provide many transferable skills, including strong research and analysis skills, and excellent written and spoken communication. As a result, politics graduates are often able to find work in a wide range of sectors, including finance, IT and law. . Graduates have become public servants, politicians, diplomats, entrepreneurs, business and marketing executives, consultants, policy analysts, journalists and members of international and non-governmental organisations.

Overview

Philosophy degrees are all about asking big questions - the value of life, the basis of morality, the nature of the world around us.

It’s a broad subject area that goes back centuries and tackles the big, meaning-of-life-style questions relating to our existence and what is real. As you might expect it’s all pretty complicated, and you’ll be dealing with weighty issues like morality, logic, knowledge and – of course – thought itself.

Thanks to the ever accelerating advancements made in the ‘hard’ sciences over the past 200 years, human knowledge has advanced to a point that once would have been inconceivable.

However, such disciplines can only really deal with ‘how’ – ‘why’ is a different matter altogether. Science cannot explain the purpose of human existence or fully get to grips with the complexity of human relationships; it can’t explain the value of life, or why something is right or wrong; and it cannot explore the ideas we use to make sense of the phenomenal world around us.

This, instead, is the remit of philosophy.

Philosophy as we know it can be traced back to the time of the Ancient Greeks – the word itself is derived from the Greek for ‘love of knowledge’. Its nature as a study of humanity means that it is less prone to going out of date than some subjects, so to study philosophy is to immerse yourself in an absolutely huge continuum of ideas and debates both past and present.

But that is not to say, however, that new developments are not being made; the past hundred years or so have produced some of the most important and significant philosophical thought there is.

It is, of course, a subject which tends to creep into other disciplines, particularly social sciences and humanities subjects like literature, politics, and the history of art, but also the ‘hard’ sciences – for instance when it comes to analyzing the ethical implications of a research project.

As such, philosophy at undergraduate level is often read in tandem with another subject –philosophy, politics and economics is a famous combination, but the options vary widely.

But, for the purist, there is the rather intense option of reading philosophy on its own. Not a subject for everyone, but if you have a passion for thinking, above else, and seeking to answer the unanswerable, then perhaps philosophy is for you.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Philosophy itself can be broken down into a number of sub-categories, many of which you’ll cover over the course of your three-year degree. You’ve got ethics (or moral philosophy), which deals with questions of right and wrong; there’s aesthetics, which focuses on beauty and expression; political philosophy concerns itself with justice and freedom; and the history of philosophy explores how different theories have changed and developed over time (with plenty of focus on the Greeks, who just couldn’t get enough of their philosophising). Chances are you’ll dip in to most of these areas in your first year, before getting the chance to narrow your focus in years two and three.

Philosophy also combines well with other subjects, meaning many unis will offer it as part of a combined/joint honours course with the likes of history, English, law or art. In terms of assessment, it’ll be mainly essays (plus the occasional exam), culminating in a nice, long dissertation at the end of your three years.

Specializations

With literally thousands of years of previous thinking to contend with, and the whole of human nature to explain, it is safe to say that philosophy is a rather big discipline. Ergo, you would be hard pressed to study all of it.

A degree of specialization is therefore necessary. At undergraduate level, though, this is only likely to involve elective modules and your dissertation.

Some of the philosophical branches on which you might try to focus are:

Logic: Logic is a concept with which you’ll already be familiar – a logical statement simply being one which makes sense, based on what we know to be true. Philosophical logic is an extension of this, systematically discussing the forms of an argument to see in what ways it is legitimate to state that something is true, and which leave a margin for error. This branch of philosophy has a significant bearing on other subjects, such as mathematics and computer science.

Ethics: Again, ethics – the consideration of how one should act towards others – is a concept of which you will already have a grasp. Philosophical ethics deals with how you can determine right or wrong in a social situation, the concepts upon which this judgement may be based, and ways in which an ethically correct outcome can be achieved. It also looks to understand the nature of moral and ethical judgements at a base level.

Political philosophy: This branch of philosophy concerns the best way to organize society, what our collective goals should be, and determining the rules which should be followed to ensure these goals are met. Of course, these are not questions on which everyone can agree; therefore this is one for those who enjoy arguing their corner. Expect to employ other branches of philosophy to justify arguments.

Metaphysics: Metaphysics is one of the more abstract branches of philosophy, dealing with the fundamental nature of being and reality. It largely deals with things that cannot be fully explained by objective facts (though of course, it could be combined with neuroscience). As popular a subject with poets and prose writers as it is with pure philosophers, it has given rise to some of the most conceptually challenging and open-ended debates in the history of philosophy.

Epistemology: This is another more abstract one, which deals with the nature of knowledge, its origin, its forms, its definition, its validity and, importantly, its limits. As with metaphysics, this is one of the branches of philosophy which requires some extremely deep thought; perhaps a good way to work out if you should pursue philosophy academically is whether or not that sounds appealing…

Why study philosophy?

If you have an active mind and you often find yourself mulling over life’s trickier questions, a degree in philosophy could be your perfect means of expression. Although some people may describe philosophy as a bit of a ‘wishy-washy’ subject, it actually equips you with an arsenal of useful (and highly transferable) skills: the course will teach you how to think critically, how to communicate your ideas, and how to write and analyse. All of these abilities will be highly valued by any employer.

Philosophy is also the perfect subject to tackle at university; it’s an area that’s meant to be discussed and debated, and lectures and seminar groups filled with like-minded people are the perfect place to do just that.

Guy Longworth, Director of Teaching and Learning for Philosophy at the University of Warwick, says “I think people are likely to be interested in studying Philosophy if they’re interested in addressing very general questions, for some examples: What am I? What should I do? What should I believe? What can I know, for example, about other people? Other reasons for studying philosophy might be the aim of improving one’s abilities in understanding and assessing claims and arguments in general, in presenting clear, compelling claims and arguments of one’s own, and in thinking and speaking clearly and systematically.”

After your degree

Although philosophy doesn’t lead on to any specific careers, it also won’t limit your options. Your ability to analyse and think critically will make you well suited to careers in marketing, data analysis and finance, while your well-honed writing skills will mean you’re just as suited to a job in publishing, PR and journalism.

And, if you feel you haven’t exhausted those big questions enough, you always have the option of staying on at uni and working towards a master’s degree (and maybe, if you decide academia and research is your bag, you could even stay on and get your PhD). Alternatively you could take a PGCE and go into a career in teaching, or do another vocational postgraduate qualification to give your CV an added edge.

“Studying philosophy provides people with a range of skills that employers particularly value,” says Guy Longworth. “Graduates go on to do a very wide variety of things, including further study in Philosophy and other subjects. The destinations of our graduates include law, business consultancy, the charity sector, administration, and teaching.”

Career Options

Philosophy degrees arm you with an arsenal of skills which will serve you well in the world of work. The breadth of professions into which you can gain entry is perhaps well demonstrated with a brief list of people who have studied the subject, which includes such diverse characters as Martin Luther King, Bruce Lee, Harrison Ford, T S Eliot, George Soros, Woody Allen and Bill Clinton.

Perhaps martial artist, acclaimed film director, or president of a world’s largest economy are rather far-flung careers, but they highlight the potential of a philosophy graduate.

More commonly, though, you’ll find graduates working as journalists, lawyers, teachers, and civil servants, diplomats, in the media or for NGOs.

Their success in these vocations can be attributed to their ability to judge between a sound and unsound argument, and draw reasoned views from difficult situations, derived from the exposure to challenging arguments philosophy students ‘enjoy’ (in a manner of speaking) over the course of their studies.

This helps them to navigate a clear and logical approach which takes into account the various permutations of a given situation, and to anticipate potential counterarguments.

Any profession which involves ideas, then – be it coming up with them or explaining them – would be well suited to a philosophy graduate

Overview

You can study a Bachelor of Music at the School of Music, which offers a range of classical, contemporary and theoretical study options. You will learn from accomplished teachers, practising performers, composers, musicologists and visiting artists.

Alternatively, you can complete a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music.

How often do you go through a whole day without hearing any music at all? Probably not all that often. Although we often take it for granted, music is everywhere: blasting out your car radio on the drive to college or making up the soundtrack to your favourite film or TV show. The simple fact is, music goes hand in hand with the digital age, and since the arrival of smart phones and sites like YouTube, it’s more widespread and accessible than ever before.

Music also comes in all shapes and sizes. Good old Wiki Answers reveals an estimate of between 1500 and 2000 instruments world-wide, and that’s before you even get into all the different sound combinations those thousands of instruments can make.

A degree in music will reflect the scope and variety of the subject itself, covering everything from the history of music to musical theory.

What are your study options?

Although you can do a straight degree in music, many universities also offer it as part of a combined/joint honours course with the likes of performance or dance. There are also courses in music technology, which focus more on recording and studio techniques.

The majority of courses will last for three years, although some universities may give you the option of doing a year in industry (this will fall between your second and final year, and will give you the chance of gaining some valuable work experience for your CV). Doing this type of sandwich course will bring your degree up to a total of four years.

In terms of assessment, most courses will involve a mixture of coursework and practical assessments (such as a recital or performance). This blend of theory and practice will be reflected throughout your course (you’ll get plenty of studio/rehearsal time as well as lecture time).

Classical Performance: This major offers you the opportunity to specialise in performance of classical music on your chosen instrument:

Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone
Guitar, harp
Percussion
Piano, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ
Trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, euphonium
Violin, viola, cello, double bass
Voice
Early music
You will be encouraged to extend your practical performance experience through participation in chamber music and other ensembles, such as choirs and orchestras.

Composition: This major offers you a chance to interact with leading New Zealand composers who teach at the School of Music. Learn the theory and skills you will need to become a composer, arranger, recording supervisor, sound artist, critic, editor or radio producer.

Jazz Performance: This major offers you the chance to be taught by some of New Zealand’s leading jazz exponents and receive training in performance techniques. Courses cover all aspects of the genre, including musicianship, technology, history and theory, composition and arranging, improvisation and ensemble.

Musicology: This major enables you to undertake courses designed to develop your music understanding, writing and music analysis skills. Through coursework, you can develop a high-level skill base that will help to prepare you for teaching, journalism and other roles involving writing and speaking about music.

Popular Music: This major offers you the chance to learn from some of New Zealand’s leading professionals in the music industry. It will provide you with the fundamental skills required for writing, arranging and performingpopular music, as well as an understanding of the workings of the popular music industry. You will develop your performance skills while you cover diverse topics such as music technology and production, arranging (strings), musicianship, theory and popular music analysis, and the history of popular music.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music is for students intending to focus on the study of music as a part of Western culture and as a particular activity within the humanities.

Areas of study include
Musical skills and analysis
The history of music
Music as part of Western culture and popular music

Why study music?

The Bachelor of Music (BMus) focuses on developing a range of competencies to broaden your employment possibilities. You choose courses to suit your interests and career aspirations. Your choice may be by musical genre – classical, popular or jazz; or by discipline – performance, composition or musicology.

Through studying Music as part of your Bachelor of Arts you can gain a broad knowledge and understanding of Western musical techniques and styles. You can study the fundamental skills of harmony, counterpoint, aural and keyboard skills and analysis. You also have opportunities to participate in the choir or orchestra. You may be able to take these courses as part of the non-arts points permitted in the BA.

If you’re already passionate about music and you want to develop and hone your skills, a three year degree could provide you with the perfect opportunity to do just that. You’ll also be studying alongside plenty of like-minded people who’ll have a range of different musical skills and talents, which means there’ll be a great opportunity to meet people and network.

Hoping to get a band together, or work with a writer to compose an opera? You’ll have every chance over the course of your degree.

After your degree

Don’t be thinking that just because you studied music, your only choice is to go into the music business. Music grads actually have all sorts of doors open to them, largely due to the transferable skills they learn on their degrees (working both individually and as part of a team, managing deadlines, and thinking creatively, to name just a few).

If you are set on a career in music, though, there are a variety of different options available to you (although it’s worth noting that many of these are extremely competitive). Some students find work composing for TV and film, for instance, while others start their own bands or work in the theatre and gig industry as members of sound and production teams (which can also provide a great opportunity to travel).

Working in events or for a music venue is also a possibility, as is going into music teaching (although for the latter you’ll need to study for a PGCE course in order to achieve qualified teacher status).

Career opportunities

As a music graduate with a BMus you will have the relevant professional expertise for an extensive range of career opportunities, both at home and overseas. These may include composing, arranging, performing, conducting, teaching, music journalism, working in radio/TV and the recording industry.

A BA with a major in Music could lead to a career in education, music libraries, broadcasting, sales and music journalism.

Overview

What does a modern language degree cover?

A modern language degree is not just about learning a new language – though of course attaining a high level of fluency is one of the goals. Many programs will require students to study courses which develop their understanding of past and present cultures relating to the country (or countries) in which the language of study is spoken. This learning often requires the study of literary texts, film and media, as well as learning about the historical and political contexts of a certain region. Professionally focused courses may also be available, covering topics such as translation, international relations, business processes in different regions, or media and communication studies.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Entry requirements and course structure

Although entry requirements for modern language degrees vary, students will certainly need to demonstrate a strong interest in other languages and cultures. Having gained a prior qualification (such as an A-level) in a foreign language will no doubt aid your application, but this is not typically a requirement.

It’s possible to study modern languages either as a single honors degree or alongside another subject as a joint honors degree. Common joint honors choices often remain within the humanities, including subjects such as politics, history and literature, but modern languages can also be combined with subjects such as chemistry or mathematics, for those wishing to keep their options as broad as possible.

Modern language specializations

Different modern language degrees will have a different emphasis, some perhaps more focused on the study of literary texts, others more on contemporary contexts or on vocational training. Among the course options and specializations you might consider are:

Linguistics

Linguistics is widely offered as a stand-alone degree subject, but some modern language degrees may also offer linguistics courses. This will involve a deeper look into the way language works and its origins, within a scientific framework. Linguistics is a multidisciplinary field which draws on various social sciences, for example allowing students to study language within the contexts of sociology and psychology. As a modern language degree student, you may have the chance to apply linguistics to original or translated texts in your language of study.

Film studies

Film studies as a modern language specialization will most likely be focused on exploring, analyzing and understanding a selection of foreign films in the language of study. This will not only help students to develop a firmer grasp of the language, but should also develop the analytical skills involved in discussing artistic representations, and discussing the various cultural issues, lifestyles, politics and history reflected in the works.

Translation

Translation, the act of converting written material into another language, is already a key aspect of modern language degrees, but some universities offer the chance to study the profession in more detail. This will involve the study of two or more modern languages (usually your own first language and language of study), with a close look at linguistics, the theory and practices of translation, and the many different contexts within which translators are in demand.

Overview

The heart of Linguistics is the study of the structure of human languages. Linguistics also examines their history and the ways in which they change the acquisition of language and the role language plays in human interaction. Linguistics is connected to any discipline concerned with human communication, languages and literature, as well as anthropology, artificial intelligence, human biology, philosophy, psychology and sociology.

Language is a complex thing though – think about how difficult it would be to design a new language which was as complex as the one you currently speak from scratch. Think about how difficult it is to learn a new language, even if it’s not so different from your first.

The study of linguistics at undergraduate level exists in order to help us understand, in a scientific way, the abstract noises and shapes which we use to communicate with each other, the differences between them and what they mean, the rules which govern them, and how we understand them.

The vast scope of undergraduate linguistics means that it calls on a wide range of diverse disciplines, through which we can attempt to understand language. This can involve using laboratory equipment and scientific methods in order to understand how we physically make sounds and to understand how the brain processes language.

Or calling on humanities disciplines such as modern languages to analyze differences and relations between related and unrelated languages, history to map out the evolution of language over time or philosophy to get to grips with the concepts of meaning.

Social sciences also come into play, with subjects like psychology and sociology exploring how we actually put language to its main use of interacting with each other.

So, is linguistics the university subject for you? As we’ve explained, you need to have a multidisciplinary brain and be open to learning new things in new ways.

However, manage to get your head around it, and you’ll find undergraduate linguistics a fascinating and rewarding subject, which can lead to a wide range of specialized careers.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What you will learn

Linguistics gives you an understanding of the structural and cognitive aspects of language, the use and functions of language in society and language change. You can also study the structure of English and the languages of the Pacific.

Specializations

Linguistics, as you may know, is a broad subject, and if you choose to study it you will have to gain a basic grounding which will see you cover the spectrum of the subject.

However, this broadness means that –especially if you want to enter a linguistics-specific field – you will have to choose a field in which you are particularly interested at some point of your academic career.

Some specific areas in which someone studying linguistics at university may specialize in include:

Applied linguistics: As the name suggests, applied linguistics refers to the use of linguistics to solve problems related to language. The initial focus of applied linguistics was the teaching of second languages, and helping people to communicate across linguistics boundaries still remains the backbone of the subject. It is, though, much wider in scope, and is known for a being a particularly multidisciplinary branch of linguistics.

Cognitive linguistics: Cognitive linguistics looks to explain the mental processes behind language. One of its central tenets is that linguistic knowledge is not different to other types of knowledge, as opposed to some other branches of linguistics which consider the linguistic portion of the brain as being distinct from other mental processes. Cognitive linguistics is a relatively new branch of linguistics.

Comparative linguistics: The goal of comparative linguistics is to compare and contrast different languages in order to identify similarities and differences between them, with the ultimate aim of finding a common root and systematically explaining the differences. This can sometimes involve the reconstruction of a dead common ancestor of two languages.

Semiotics: Semiotics is the study of signs (something that can be said to mean something), their meaning, and the processes that govern the relationship between the two. It is not necessarily limited to words, and can include anything that has some sort of cultural, societal or other type of significance – think about a green traffic light, or an offensive hand gesture for instance.

Lexicography: The compilation of a record of the words we use is the objective of lexicography As well as writing dictionaries, lexicographers seek to improve the methods that are used to do this by evaluating current compendiums of words. Theoretical lexicography also looks to analyze the vocabulary of a language, looking to investigate what links certain words in terms of their physical make up and their meaning.

Key Skills

The specific expertise you will gain from a linguistics degree will hinge on what sub-branch of the subject you choose to focus on. However, whichever branch of the subject is your area of expertise, you’ll be sure to gain some general skills from studying linguistics. These include:

Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary skills
Analytical skills, and the ability to turn raw data into hard findings
Team working skills
Critical and lateral thinking
Understanding of the subject specific lexicon
Problem solving skills
A wider and deeper understanding of language which can be applied to other areas
Comfort with new theories
A framework for keeping with developments in a rapidly evolving
Communication skills and the ability to present information to both laymen and experts

Career opportunities

Linguistics can prepare you for a career in language education (curriculum design, foreign language teaching, teaching English as a second or foreign language and bilingual education). Other career possibilities include: speech and language therapy, journalism, broadcasting, advertising, marketing, artificial intelligence, machine translation, speech synthesis and recognition and forensic linguistics.

University linguistics graduates have a number of career pathways from which they can choose. Many opt to continue to graduate level study which will be necessary for entering into a specialized linguistics career.

Think speech and language therapist or a lexicographer (someone who documents the use of language, for the purposes of compiling dictionaries for example). Perhaps even something a bit more leftfield which involves language – how about voice coach for example?

The academic path is also an option. There are also number of linguistics careers which you will be able to go into straightaway (or with a little job specific or on-the-job training) with the skills and knowledge you acquire from a linguistics degree.

These include teaching a language to speakers of other languages, copy-editing and proofreading, and becoming a language consultant, helping corporations to use appropriate language in sensitive situations or to sell products.

The bilingual may consider working in translation, with their added knowledge of linguistics helping to avoid miscommunication and helping to convey specific and implied meanings.

Then there are of course the various non-linguistics based graduate level jobs out there, for which linguistics graduates are well equipped, having studied a subject which combines the critical, abstract thinking of humanities disciplines with the analytical skills and precision which come from the scientific side of things.

Subjects such as teaching, PR and work in the NGO sector are options which the university linguistics graduate might consider, as are banking, administration and information or archive management.

Overview

Law, or legal studies, comes into contact with almost every area of human life, touching upon issues relating to business, economics, politics, the environment, human rights, international relations and trade. It is telling that the first academic degrees developed were all related to law. As a law student, you can expect to learn how to tackle some of the most problematic – indeed, often seemingly irresolvable – conflicts and issues in modern society and morality. In providing a framework through which to examine and understand different societies and cultures, law degrees are a useful way to prepare not only for specific legal careers, but for a broad range of professional roles – and indeed, for life in general.

Law plays an important part in all areas of life. The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) offers an education that can lead to a wide range of careers both inside and outside the legal profession. Through the study of law, you will gain a skill set that meets the high demands of any legal career, including analytical and research skills, knowledge of the law and its implications, social appreciation, public responsibility and communication skills.

The rules that help distinguish between right and wrong. Essentially, the law is a set of regulations which aim to instil order and justice and which, when broken, may attract penalty or punishment.

Law is broadly divided into two categories: Civil Law and Criminal Law. Civil Law refers to non-criminal law; family, property, wills contracts and torts. Criminal law covers – you’ve guessed it – crime

Law provides the framework for modern society impacting on all our live. Studying for an LLB is an intellectually demanding and thought-provoking experience.

This programme will help you develop an enquiring and critical attitude to law, learn to think logically and communicate clearly. The skills you will acquire throughout the degree are transferable and as a result you will enjoy excellent employment prospects in both law and non-law careers.

Law degrees have always been among the most sought-after and widely respected courses to study at university. For many, a law degree is the first step along the path to a career in the legal sector, often followed by the further study and training needed to become a practicing solicitor or barrister. However, this is certainly not the only reason to study law at university. Law degrees are notoriously challenging, and for many students, the attraction lies in the unique combination of human interest and intellectual stimulation provided.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course is no walk in the park. You’ll need to have chemistry and biology (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Types of law degrees

There are lots of different types of law degrees available, varying according to where you study. In most countries, law degrees take the form of an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) which allows you to go on to take the national Bar or Law Society qualifying examinations, in order to becoming a practicing lawyer. In some countries, a BA in Law (BL) or a BSc in Law is in place instead. Often, these alternative names are used interchangeably. However, some universities differentiate between LLB and BA Law programs, with the former focusing exclusively on law and the latter allowing students to take course modules in other subjects, with a focus on humanities.

The US and Japan offer a Juris Doctor (JD), which is also offered in Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. In such countries, legal studies are focused at graduate level (after completion of a bachelor’s degree in a different discipline) with students earning their JD in order to practice. The JD will typically take three years to complete. There is also an option to earn a one year Master of Laws (LLM) degree in area of specialization (such as tax law) after earning a JD. Foreign lawyers can also study to receive an LLM in order to practice in countries which require a JD. In order to qualify for a postgraduate degree in law, undergraduate students in the US must take and pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

While most LLM and JD programs are primarily aimed at preparing students for legal careers, it’s also possible to take graduate-level law degrees with a greater focus on academic research. These may be referred to either as a PhD in Law, Doctor of Laws, or Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD). It is also possible to do an intensive two-year law course, or vocational courses of varying length.

What to expect from law degrees

Like most academic degrees, law programs start with compulsory core courses, and more opportunities to choose law topics tailored to a particular career path later on. Teaching is through a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, presentations, class debates and ‘mooting sessions’ – practical law training in a courtroom setting to help students master important legal skills such as research and analysis, public speaking and argument formation.

Some institutions allow law students to spend a year studying abroad, particularly if they are combining law with a foreign language. Some may also provide students with the chance to work pro bono (voluntarily) with real-life clients, as a way to gain invaluable experience and gaining legal skills that will help when applying for positions later on.

Why study law?

Law is a respected ‘hard’ subject that will stand you in good stead amongst graduate employers and admissions tutors for postgraduate courses (depending on the subject, of course). As law is the backbone of democratic society and a constant in many industries and professions, knowledge of the law is considered to be an asset for many different career directions.

As well as legal knowledge, you will also acquire and improve many valuable skills, such as the ability to critically analyse information, the ability to write well, and the ability to find and use relevant case studies and arguments – all of which will prove valuable in a range of different professions.

What are your study options?

Most unis will offer an LLB (Bachelor of Laws), and it’s this type of degree that will lead to part two of the Law Society or Bar qualifying exams. However, some unis also offer BA or BSc qualifications in law, and most of these won’t lead to the same level. Your best bet is to do some thorough research before you make your choice, just to ensure you know exactly what you’re applying for.

An LLB course will last for three years, and this will increase to four years if you combine it with a language, spend a year abroad, or study in Scotland. Most (if not all) law courses will cover the likes of criminal law, contract law, tort law, property law, equity, and trusts, and you’ll also be given the chance to develop your debating and problem solving skills as your degree progresses.

It’s also worth remembering that some unis will offer degrees that focus on specific areas of law (such as international law or criminal law); if you already have an area you know you want to focus on, this could be a good option to consider.

Areas of study

The LLB
degree is studied in four parts (Parts I – IV) and includes law compulsory courses, law elective courses, non-law courses from another degree programme and General Education courses. There is a wide range of law elective courses available, including commercial, public, criminal, international, family, human rights, intellectual property, health care and environmental law. Unlike other degrees, the LLB degree does not have a major attached to it. Everyone who ears an LLB degree gains a broad background in the law. However, in the latter part of your degree, you can choose law electives according to one or two specialisations.

LLB(Hons)
If you achieve a B+ average over all of your law courses at the completion of Part II, you will be invited to transfer to the Bachelor of Law (Honours) programme. The LLB(Hons) involves an additional semester of enrolment for the completion of an extra semester course and a dissertation.

Specializations

Law topics
Core, compulsory modules you may encounter in law degrees include: introduction to legal techniques, introduction to the legal system, introduction to legal research, reasoning and literacy skills. Other law topics likely to be on offer include: constitutional law, criminal law, criminology, business law equity and trusts, human rights, international law (public or private), jurisprudence, labor law, land law, law and government, law and society, law and the individual, law of contract, law of Tort, legal methods, maritime law and tax law.

As you might expect, law degrees cover a diverse range of subjects with the aim of providing a generalized understanding of human society and its laws. Having gained a strong foundation in the main principles and concerns of law, you can then tailor your degree to suit your particular interests. This could mean choosing to specialize in a particular field of law or in a particular culture or society, or indeed branch outwards into a related field of interest such as business or politics. Some popular law topics chosen for specialization include:

Criminal law
Sometimes available as an entire degree in its own right, criminal law looks at different aspects of law relating to crime. You’ll learn about the theory of criminal law, and examine issues such as crime and gender, restorative justice, criminal justice, global crime problems, human rights, and socio-legal methods and theory. You’ll also study more specific aspects of criminal law such as homicide, mentally disordered offenders, European criminal law, the death penalty in law, legal responses to terrorism, sentencing, and victimization and victim policy.

Property law
Also known as land law, property law is the area of law concerned with real property (land, distinct from personal or moveable possessions) and personal property (movable property). You’ll study the concept of ‘interest in land’ – the term used to describe various categories of rights held by one person to use land that is in possession of another. Depending on the module, you may learn how and when to create these interests (through a contract, agreement or order of a court) and when these interests are valid in law. You’ll also learn about issues such as mortgages, tenancy rights and obligations, commercial property law, ownership, stocks, site acquisition, property management and construction law.

Intellectual property law
Also dealing with property, but of a different kind, intellectual property law is popularly offered as a dedicated degree. This field deals with intangible assets such as creations of the mind (musical, literary and artistic works), discoveries and inventions, words and phrases, and symbols and designs. You’ll learn about the economic, social and theoretical issues surrounding intellectual property (IP) and technology law. You’ll address issues such as policies affecting IP laws, trademark protection, patents and patent law and copyright. You’ll also look at IP in global and regional contexts, for example concentrating on European integration of IP laws, as well as undertaking in-depth exploration of what intellectual property constitutes.

Commercial law
Also known as business law, commercial law is the body of law that relates to the rights, contracts and conduct of people and businesses engaged in commerce and industry. Often considered to be a branch of civil law (non-criminal law), commercial law is again a large enough section of law to merit full dedicated degree programs. Incorporating elements of economics, business, management and finance, commercial law involves learning about all the legal issues involved in operating a business. This covers law topics such as small business law, regulation of corporate contracts, tax classifications, personnel hiring and firing, zoning and licensing issues and wider-ranging business issues such as securities law, intellectual property, secured transactions, pensions and benefits, trusts and estates , immigration and labor laws, and bankruptcy. A related field is corporate law, which deals with the financial and structural situation(s) encountered by an established company, and the legal advice surrounding the day-to-day dealings of such a company.

Environmental law
The body of law concerning the protection, maintenance, regulation and enhancement of the environment, environmental law regulates the interaction of humanity and the natural environment. As agencies, businesses and corporations seek to reduce the environmental impact of their practices, environmental law has become an increasingly popular specialization. Environmental law is an interdisciplinary field merging law, politics and human rights to cover a huge variety of issues pertaining to the environment. You’ll learn about global environmental laws in areas such as climate control, resource conservation, environmental protection, natural resources and climate change policies, along with gaining an understanding of local or national environmental laws such as noise control, remediation and energy regulation and policy.

Family law
As you might deduce, family law is an area of law pertaining to family-related matters. You’ll learn about a range of family law issues regarding parents, children and child protection, marriage, civil partnership, cohabitation, divorce, human rights, adoption and surrogacy among others. You’ll learn how to use the law to resolve disputes within families, including the termination of relationships and subsequent matters, child abuse and child abduction, paternity testing and juvenile adjudication . You may also learn about international family law, including transnational and interstate issues, along with specific subjects such as international child law which examines how children are protected through both public and private international law. You may also explore contemporary issues such as commercial surrogacy, paternity laws, corporal punishment, press reporting of the family courts and child soldiers.

Other possible law topics you might choose to specialize in include: chancery law (estates and trusts), civil law, corporate law, entertainment law, immigration law, maritime law, media law, mental health law, social law, sports law, tax law and many others.

Further options

Employment law – addressing contracts, employment claims such as unfair dismissal, redundancy and discrimination;
Healthcare law – concerning laws and regulations in regards to public health;
Insurance law – concerning the regulation of insurance, insurance policies and claims;
Patent law – focusing on patent grants for inventions and new technologies;
International law – regarding the sets of rules accepted as binding in relations between states and nations rather than between individual citizens.
You may also specialize in legal studies within particular cultures or regions; possible law topics of this kind include:

Islamic law
Addressing the moral code and religious law of Islam called Sharia, Islamic law encompasses many topics both addressed in secular law and present in contemporary society, including crime, politics, economics, property, family matters, marriage and children. You’ll learn about the history and development of Islamic law, its application to contemporary jurisdiction and the various applications of Islamic law in different regions, such as the Middle East and South Asia. You’ll also look at the relationship between sacred texts and human reason in developing Islamic law, and explore criticisms and dissents surrounding Islamic law.

European Union law
The study of European Union law concerns the treaties and legislation that have a direct or indirect effect on the laws of European Union (EU) member states. The EU is entirely based on the rule of law – assuming every action taken by the group as a whole is founded on treaties that have been approved voluntarily and democratically by all member states – and EU law has equal force with national law within each member state. In this specialization you’ll learn about the founding and development of the EU, its structure and institutional functioning and the processes underlying the creation of EU law. You will examine how EU law impacts on the lives of EU citizens, companies and service providers, and investigate and analyze relevant contemporary crises and conflicts.

US law
Focusing on the United States Constitution, which sets out the boundaries of federal law, treaties, regulations and case law (precedents) in the US, US law explores the US legal system and its foundations, the importance of the US constitution (regarded as the supreme law of the land) and the role of the constitution in modern US society. You’ll gain an insight into all aspects of US law, including intellectual property, international business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, alternative dispute resolution and so forth. You’ll also learn about how the US constitution affects the role of practicing lawyers in the US, and analyze and address contemporary legal questions in the US.

Legal skills
As well the specific legal skills, knowledge and expertise required to begin a professional career in law, law degrees should also provide transferable skills that can be used in many different career paths. Some institutions run special legal skills development programs and sessions to ensure their students graduate with as many useful, practical and transferable skills as possible. Law students should expect to graduate with the following key legal skills:

Knowledge of legal matters, policy, theories and case studies
Understanding of contemporary business, politics, sociology and ethics/morality
Professional expertise in law, including command of technical language
Experience and skills in mooting
Ability to draft legal documents
Ability to understand complex issues from multiple perspectives in order to “see the bigger picture”
Ability to construct and defend an argument persuasively
Excellent professional communication skills, spoken and written, including presentation skills
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
General IT skills
General research skills
General numerical skills
Interpersonal and teamwork skills
Analytical and reasoning skills
Legal research skills
Problem solving skills
Foreign language skills (if taking a degree with a foreign language component)

Career Options

Legal training
In order to advance further in the legal sector, many graduates opt to continue their legal training beyond undergraduate level. The specific type of legal training required varies depending on the country of study/legal practice, and also the type of legal career aspired to. Often it involved a combination of further study and examinations, as well as a set period of practical legal training provided by completing formal work placements.

In England and Wales, for instance, legal training for aspiring solicitors comprises the one-year Legal Practice Course (LPC) followed by a two-year placement as a trainee solicitor. While some jurisdictions grant a ‘diploma privilege’ to certain institutions which allow students who earn a degree or credential from those institutions to go directly into practicing law, Germany, Canada and Australia all require law graduates to complete vocational legal education before they are accepted as practicing lawyers; this can take the form of a formal apprenticeship with an experienced practitioner. Meanwhile some countries, such as Mexico, allow anyone with a law degree to practice law immediately.

Legal careers

Unsurprisingly, many law graduates go on to pursue careers within the legal sector. As explained above, prominent legal careers usually require further study and training. You may find the legal systems of different countries use different words to describe certain legal careers. Indeed when it comes to the titles of ‘barrister’ and ‘solicitor’, lawyers may hold either title but still be able to practice as both. Some law graduates may even start off as one and then decide to become the other. A lawyer will usually hold one of the two titles. Some countries also fuse the two titles together, simply calling practitioners ‘lawyers’. Some popular careers chosen by law graduates include:

Barrister
A barrister (or advocate in places such as Scotland, Belgium, South Africa, Israel, the Isle of Man and Brazil) specializes in representing clients (individuals or organizations) in court. As a barrister, you will generally be hired by solicitors to represent a case at court, only becoming involved when advocacy before a court is needed. You will provide legal advice for your client and plead the case on behalf of your client and your client’s solicitor. Members of the public can also go directly to a barrister to ask for advice and representation in court, rather than via a solicitor. As a barrister, you’ll likely be specialized in a particular area of law, such as criminal, common or entertainment law. Most barristers work on a self-employed basis, but as part of a ‘chambers’ which allows them to share administrative expenses, while others are employed permanently by government departments, agencies, charities, corporations or solicitors firms. Although historically barristers were called counselors in the US, there is now no distinction between barristers (lawyers who plead cases) and solicitors (laws who act as agents for their client). Both are now called attorneys.

Barrister’s clerk
Working for a barrister or group of barristers, a barrister’s clerk (or advocate’s clerk in places such as Scotland) runs the administrative and business activities involved. From diary and fees management to business development and marketing, a barrister’s clerk makes sure all the barrister’s affairs are in order, both as a legal practice and as a business. Not only will you be familiar with court procedures and etiquette, you will also need to be aware of the standards that a barrister’s chambers will have to adhere to, including maintaining appropriate accreditation. You will also develop an expertise in the type of law undertaken by the barrister(s) you are assisting.

Solicitor
A solicitor (or attorney in South Africa) provides legal advice on a wide range of subjects (both personal and business affairs) and is often tasked with explaining the law to clients, who can include individuals, groups, public sector organizations and private companies. You may act on behalf of your client in court (or instruct a barrister to do so) and throughout all legal negotiations in issues such as property transactions, wills, divorce and child custody, compensation claims and business contracts. You’ll need to prepare and research documents, letters and other paperwork in order to represent your client to the best of your ability. You may be working for a private law firm, or be employed by central or local government agencies, banks or other commercial organizations. Many solicitors also use some of their time on a pro bono basis (voluntarily and without pay), for those unable to pay for access to legal services.

Company secretaries
Employed by a business or organization, company secretaries ensure the company complies with relevant legislation, on a local, national or global basis. In countries such as India, private companies with a certain amount of share capital are required by law to appoint a company secretary, usually a senior board member. Using a thorough understanding of laws that affect the company’s area of interest, and through monitoring changes in relevant legislation, a company secretary will be responsible for ensuring the efficient administration of your company in regards to legal and statutory requirements. Also known as a chartered secretary, or simply ‘secretary’, a company secretary acts as the point of communication between the board of directors and company shareholders, organizing and taking minutes during board meetings, maintaining statutory books, dealing with correspondence and advising members of the legal, governance, accounting and tax implications of proposed policies when required.

Paralegal
While a paralegal cannot provide legal advice to clients, they do provide experienced and skilled services to lawyers and their clients. However, in Ontario, Canada, they are considered a formal part of the legal system. You will need to have experience and knowledge in the area of law in which you are working, whether you are handling small claims or supporting property conveyance. You will be handling client caseloads, filing case documents, and researching cases and legal information for your employer, as well as drafting documents and letters. Duties for more experienced paralegals include taking statements from and interviewing clients and witnesses, providing legal information and attending court or presenting applications to judges. Most paralegals are employed by law firms, in the legal department of private companies, in the public or not-for-profit sector, in civil and criminal courts or in the police, enforcement or defense forces. They are known as a judicial scrivener in Japan and South Korea.

Other careers for law graduates
While law graduates are well-suited for specific legal careers, studying a law degree does not limit you to roles specifically in this field. Like other social science subjects, the academic challenges provided by law degrees can be good preparation for a broad range of different career paths. Other sectors you might consider as a law graduate include: accountancy, banking, business and management, commerce, finance, government, HR and recruitment, journalism, marketing and PR, media, politics, publishing, teaching, the civil service, not-for-profit and NGOs, or think tanks and policy development.

After your degree
If you want to go on to become a solicitor or a barrister, you’ll first need to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). However, your options are not limited to these paths by any means, especially seeing as they are highly competitive routes. Law graduates end up working in a variety of professions and industries, as their knowledge and transferable skills can be applied to a vast number of areas.

The LLB degree will provide career opportunities across a wide range of jobs and organisations. These include: barrister, solicitor, judge’s clerk, research counsel, policy analyst (public or private sector), foreign policy clerk, tax adviser, auditor, revenue assessment officer, financial adviser, strategic policy planner, mediator, resource management officer, property consultant, public prosecutor, law lecturer or journalist.

Law graduates have great career potential both within and outside of the legal profession. Graduates develop a variety of transferable skills through their studies, such as oral and written communication, analysis and evaluation, problem solving, independent working and research skills. Combined with a strong academic background, these skills are highly valued by employers.

Many of our students go on to the Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course to become solicitors and barristers or work in public administration, industry and other professional areas. Students who choose to pursue further study to enhance their employability often continue on to one of the LLM programmes

Links to the Legal Profession
Law students are encouraged to get involved in activities to develop their skills and professional insight, and there are numerous opportunities to do so. The Law School offers a unique combination of schemes to students, including a First Year Placement Scheme and a “Law in the City” event for second years. Many students who have participated in these schemes during their degrees have gone on to secure training contracts at major law firms

The Law School also organises “Law in Practice” seminars, in which practitioners explain to students how the area of law relevant to a specific module works in practice. These are invaluable opportunities for students to enhance their studies, and enable them to improve their commercial awareness.

Overview

Language is a complex thing though – think about how difficult it would be to design a new language which was as complex as the one you currently speak from scratch. Think about how difficult it is to learn a new language, even if it’s not so different from your first.

The study of linguistics at undergraduate level exists in order to help us understand, in a scientific way, the abstract noises and shapes which we use to communicate with each other, the differences between them and what they mean, the rules which govern them, and how we understand them.

The vast scope of undergraduate linguistics means that it calls on a wide range of diverse disciplines, through which we can attempt to understand language.

This can involve using laboratory equipment and scientific methods in order to understand how we physically make sounds and to understand how the brain processes language.

Or calling on humanities disciplines such as modern languages to analyze differences and relations between related and unrelated languages, history to map out the evolution of language over time or philosophy to get to grips with the concepts of meaning.

Social sciences also come into play, with subjects like psychology and sociology exploring how we actually put language to its main use of interacting with each other.

So, is linguistics the university subject for you? As we’ve explained, you need to have a multidisciplinary brain and be open to learning new things in new ways.

However, manage to get your head around it, and you’ll find undergraduate linguistics a fascinating and rewarding subject, which can lead to a wide range of specialized careers.

Language isn’t just about becoming fluent (although that’s obviously a part of it) – it’s also about immersing yourself in another culture. You’ll be finding out more about the society, politics and literature of the country whose language you’re studying, all while improving your written and verbal skills.

Communication is the key to understanding the world around us, and building strong international relationships is dependent upon our ability to engage in verbal discussion with other countries.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Studying a language degree offers you the best of both worlds – teaching of structure, grammar, etymology, culture and literature will take place within lectures, and this knowledge is then reinforced through tutorials and seminars, where topics covered in lectures can be debated and discussed in further depth.

Although language courses differ depending on the university, most will last for four years as opposed to the conventional three. This is because your third year will usually be spent abroad, with the option of either working or studying at a foreign university (which will look great on your CV, as well as allowing you to further develop your spoken language skills). In terms of assessment methods, these will vary between modules. However, all courses will expect you to be able to read, write, listen and speak your chosen language to a high standard, as well as to have an overall understanding of the history and culture of its main speakers (meaning you’ll be assessed through a mixture of written assignments, exams and oral presentations).

Specializations

Linguistics, as you may know, is a broad subject, and if you choose to study it you will have to gain a basic grounding which will see you cover the spectrum of the subject.

However, this broadness means that –especially if you want to enter a linguistics-specific field – you will have to choose a field in which you are particularly interested at some point of your academic career.

Some specific areas in which someone studying linguistics at university may specialize in include:

Applied linguistics: As the name suggests, applied linguistics refers to the use of linguistics to solve problems related to language. The initial focus of applied linguistics was the teaching of second languages, and helping people to communicate across linguistics boundaries still remains the backbone of the subject. It is, though, much wider in scope, and is known for a being a particularly multidisciplinary branch of linguistics.

Cognitive linguistics: Cognitive linguistics looks to explain the mental processes behind language. One of its central tenets is that linguistic knowledge is not different to other types of knowledge, as opposed to some other branches of linguistics which consider the linguistic portion of the brain as being distinct from other mental processes. Cognitive linguistics is a relatively new branch of linguistics.

Comparative linguistics: The goal of comparative linguistics is to compare and contrast different languages in order to identify similarities and differences between them, with the ultimate aim of finding a common root and systematically explaining the differences. This can sometimes involve the reconstruction of a dead common ancestor of two languages.

Semiotics: Semiotics is the study of signs (something that can be said to mean something), their meaning, and the processes that govern the relationship between the two. It is not necessarily limited to words, and can include anything that has some sort of cultural, societal or other type of significance – think about a green traffic light, or an offensive hand gesture for instance.

Lexicography: The compilation of a record of the words we use is the objective of lexicography As well as writing dictionaries, lexicographers seek to improve the methods that are used to do this by evaluating current compendiums of words. Theoretical lexicography also looks to analyze the vocabulary of a language, looking to investigate what links certain words in terms of their physical make up and their meaning.

Why study a language Degree?

Studying a language gives you a glimpse of an entirely different culture and perspective, as well as equipping you with a skill that is both incredibly useful and very well valued by a large number of employers.

Your course – whether it’s Spanish or French or German – will provide you with the unique opportunity of living in another country for a year, where you’ll be able to meet a whole group of new people and experience a different way of life.

Key Skills

The specific expertise you will gain from a linguistics degree will hinge on what sub-branch of the subject you choose to focus on. However, whichever branch of the subject is your area of expertise, you’ll be sure to gain some general skills from studying linguistics. These include:

Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary skills
Analytical skills, and the ability to turn raw data into hard findings
Team working skills
Critical and lateral thinking
Understanding of the subject specific lexicon
Problem solving skills
A wider and deeper understanding of language which can be applied to other areas
Comfort with new theories
A framework for keeping with developments in a rapidly evolving field
Communication skills, and the ability to present information to both laymen and experts

After your degree

Having a second language under your belt will open up all sorts of opportunities, job-wise. One of the great things about having a qualification in a language – particularly one that is spoken globally – is that it provides you with career opportunities on an international scale. Many graduates decide to study for a TEFL qualification and teach abroad after graduation, and some even choose to settle down and find work outside the UK.

Large companies that run on a global scale also look for graduates with more than one language to ensure that they can complete tasks for both national and international departments. Having staff that can work within multiple departments’ aids smooth communication and helps the company run efficiently.

At the end of the day, if you have a language degree your options are pretty varied. Many students go on to find work in the business and finance sector, while some work as translators or go into the marketing and communications industry. Others take a postgraduate qualification in order to re-train for a specific career (doing a PGCE will allow you to work as a teacher, for instance, while a GDL will prepare you for a career in law).

Linguistics Careers

University linguistics graduates have a number of career pathways from which they can choose. Many opt to continue to graduate level study which will be necessary for entering into a specialized linguistics career.

Think speech and language therapist or a lexicographer (someone who documents the use of language, for the purposes of compiling dictionaries for example). Perhaps even something a bit more leftfield which involves language – how about voice coach for example?

The academic path is also an option. There are also number of linguistics careers which you will be able to go into straightaway (or with a little job specific or on-the-job training) with the skills and knowledge you acquire from a linguistics degree.

These include teaching a language to speakers of other languages, copy-editing and proofreading, and becoming a language consultant, helping corporations to use appropriate language in sensitive situations or to sell products.

The bilingual may consider working in translation, with their added knowledge of linguistics helping to avoid miscommunication and helping to convey specific and implied meanings.

Then there are of course the various non-linguistics based graduate level jobs out there, for which linguistics graduates are well equipped, having studied a subject which combines the critical, abstract thinking of humanities disciplines with the analytical skills and precision which come from the scientific side of things.

Subjects such as teaching, PR and work in the NGO sector are options which the university linguistics graduate might consider, as are banking, administration and information or archive management.

Overview

It’s all about the past – what happened, why these things happened, and how they affected other events in the big old timeline of the human race. History involves the analysis of significant world events such as revolutions, wars and political shifts, and includes the study of various sources (these could be anything from articles and texts to images and objects), with the idea being to build up a clearer picture of an event, and the mood of society around the time it took place. Historians often apply their findings to the wider history of an area or a group of areas, making links between events and shaping an overall idea of how and why a country, society, or culture has changed over time.

Studying History gives you an insight into the forces that have shaped our world and us. You can study different cultures, regions, themes and time periods to gain an appreciation of the lives and experiences of people in the past. You can also understand how societies have changed over time.

A specialization in history as a modern language student will allow you to explore different periods and historic themes in relation to in the country (or countries) that speak your language of study. Often a specialization in history will combine aspects of historical literature and politics, allowing students to gain in-depth cultural and historical knowledge of a particular country and its language throughout history.

Why study history?

Our present attitudes and social structure are defined by past events and beliefs, and having a thorough understanding of these events can give us an insight into things that are taking place in the present (you’ve probably heard that quote about the need to understand history in order to avoid repeating it, right?)

Studying history not only allows you to delve into a variety of different cultures and eras, but it also equips you with a range of handy (and transferable) skills. You’ll learn how to analyse and interpret information, how to formulate a solid argument, and how to communicate your views both verbally and through a well-constructed essay.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course. You’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What you will learn

Studying history opens up a vast array of human experiences. You can investigate the events and circumstances that led to the French Revolution or the American Civil War, explore the world of the samurai or the courts of kings and queens, follow the struggles of individuals, communities or nations, see technologies change, continents transform and social movements arise.

You are expected and encouraged to learn both historical content and historical skills: critical and creative thinking, and the ability to research, assess, interpret and present historical information.

What are your study options?

Most history courses will offer a wide range of modules, so you will be able to tailor your course to suit your specific area of interest (although you’ll probably find you study a broad range of areas in your first year, in order to give you an overview of the subject).

History courses will usually be the standard three years in length, and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to take a sandwich year (although there may be the possibility of doing a year abroad, especially if you’re studying history combined with a language). In fact if you’re interested in joint or combined honours courses, it’s worth noting that history overlaps with a number of other subjects, meaning some unis will offer the option of studying it alongside the likes of politics, philosophy or English.

As a subject, history is not only about memorising facts, but also interpreting information to understand its overall impact. As such, as well as attending lectures you will also be required to go along to seminars and tutorials to engage in discussion with staff members and peers. Your analytical skills will then be honed through the submission of written essays and, in your final year, an in-depth dissertation that focuses on one particular area.

Media studies

Media studies specializations within modern language degrees are not overly common, but some universities do offer this option. A media specialization will involve looking at both theoretical and practical aspects of the media world, potentially covering design, film, audio and multimedia knowledge. Depending on the course, students may focus on media representations and practices in specific relation to their language of study.

Literature

A common specialization, literature with a modern language will involve in-depth study of a number of literary texts written in the language of study. Depending on the course, these texts may or may not be limited to a particular time period, but more often than not will be established as influential, canonical texts that present key cultural, social and political issues relating to the country (or countries) where the language of study is used.

Depending on your university, there may be opportunities to take courses in other subjects, such as business studies, international relations, marketing or creative writing.

Careers with a modern language degree

It’s amazing how far an additional language can get you, especially in a world in which global relationships are often a necessity for businesses and organizations to thrive. Because of this, graduates of modern language degrees have long been in demand across many sectors of business and industry, in roles that extend well beyond interpretation and translation to encompass all elements of business transaction, international cooperation and politics.

Among the most popular roles available to modern language graduates are those in translating (written word), interpreting (spoken word) and teaching (particularly secondary school level or above).

For translating and interpretation roles, language graduates will often need to gain a professional qualification from an accredited body (such as from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting in the UK or the American Translators Association in the US).

A modern language degree will also open up opportunities in a wide range of potential employment sectors, including commerce and social services. Other routes include working in the diplomatic or civil service, maybe even in your government’s Foreign Office. Language graduates are also highly valued in research jobs or development work within international organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations – though these highly competitive roles may require proficiency in at least three languages. Meanwhile graduates in languages such as Mandarin or Arabic are likely to find themselves in high demand among all kinds of international employers, due to the rapid growth of these markets.

Although many translators and interpreters work as self-employed freelancers, some choose to use their language skills within an organization; for example, within a company which needs people to communicate with international clients to help build strong relationships.

Education careers

Education is a much more varied sector than many think. Career opportunities for modern language graduates are not only within secondary and tertiary education, but also in adult and lifelong learning, cultural and heritage education, private education and special needs education. These roles require great communication and leadership skills, and often an ability to work well under pressure. Additional teaching qualifications are often a prerequisite.

Media and publishing careers

Media careers are a very popular career choice, encompassing online, print and multimedia journalism. The publishing world encompasses book publishing, newspapers and magazines, online publishing and specialized journals. All of these sectors look for graduates with a keen eye for detail, sound reading and writing ability, and often knowledge of current affairs and culture, or expertise in a particular field. Modern language graduates may be sought-after as translators, for example of popular novels being prepared for international distribution (often translators will only translate into their mother tongue, not the other way around).

Business, consulting and management careers

Also known as the professional services industry, the business, consulting and management sector is all about improving business performance. Although many workers in this sector will have attained specialized business degrees, modern language graduates are also highly valued by many professional services organizations, thanks to their ability to work with international clients and help manage global business connections.

Marketing, advertising and PR careers

The communications skills that modern language students will gain are particularly valuable for marketing, advertising and PR careers. For these roles you will be required to work closely with people, both colleagues and clients, focusing on the needs of a target audience. After a period of time in the industry you may be able to take on account management responsibilities, becoming an expert in how to market a product, service, organization or individual to the world. For roles in international companies selling products or services overseas, language degree graduates may enjoy opportunities to travel.

Public service careers

The public sector covers everything from work within central government, to roles in non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) which work for, yet are independent of, government. Departments within the public sector include education, media, environment, work and pensions, health, and transport. Language graduates’ skills can be applied across many of these, but multilingual proficiency may be especially useful in sectors such as business and trade, tourism, culture and the home office (immigration, border control, national security and police). To work in the public service as a translator or interpreter, you will likely need an additional diploma.

Modern language degree skills

Modern language degrees should challenge students in a variety of ways, resulting in a broad set of transferable skills. These should include:

• The ability to communicate clearly in a foreign language, both verbally and in writing
• Professional communication, spoken and written
• Sensitivity to different cultural contexts
• The ability to work independently
• General research skills, including use of academic literature
• General IT skills
• Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
• Analyzing written and visual sources
• Constructing and defending a coherent argument
• Approaching issues from multiple perspectives
• Self-reflection and critical judgment
• Adaptability and flexibility

The transferable key skills provided by history degrees include:
Professional communication, spoken and written
General IT skills
General research skills
Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
Analytical thinking and critical evaluation
Sensitivity to different cultural and historical contexts

After your history degree

All employers’ value good writing, analytical and communication skills, so studying history should also stand you in good stead when it comes to looking for a graduate job.

Like most humanities and social sciences subjects, jobs for history majors include a wide range of possible career paths.

Strong analytical and communications skills could lead to roles in marketing, advertising, public relations or journalism.

Those who are keen to continue making use of their subject-specialist knowledge may go into educational, research or heritage roles – for example in museums, public archives or galleries.

Other sectors where you’ll find graduates of history degrees include law, politics, business and finance, and academic research.

Graduates looking for a job that’s particularly relevant to what you’ve studied, you could also consider finding work in a museum, or even going in to research and academia (you’d need to get your master’s degree and your PhD first, though).

Although the skills you’ll learn on your degree will make you especially well suited to careers in the likes of journalism, marketing, PR, advertising, and publishing, you could also just as easily go into business and finance.

Overview

Geography is a pretty massive (and complicated) subject. Put very broadly, it refers to the study of the earth in terms of its physical make-up, its structure and the people that populate it. Geography as a subject can be divided into two quite distinct strands: physical geography, which involves the science of the earth (incorporating the study of the environment and geology) and human geography, which revolves around people and their movements (including population trends and migration).

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English and Geography (both at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

While physical geography overlaps with other areas of science (such as meteorology and ecology), human geography intersects with politics and sociology, as you’ll not just be studying the trends in human movement, but also why these trends are taking place. The School of Environment is a lively friendly environment that can provide you with intellectual challenge along with a great social and collegial atmosphere. We offer a diverse array of courses, degrees and qualifications across both the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science and host many groups and maintain and support a number of close professional affiliations, all of which contributes to the life of the school.

Why study geography?

Issues like climate change and natural disasters have been getting a huge amount of attention in recent years, which mean there’s always a demand for graduates with knowledge in these areas.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the earth and how and why it’s changing, then a degree in geography will allow you to get up close and personal with some of the planet’s most pressing issues.

You’ll gain valuable skills such as spatial data analysis and geographical information systems, landform and hydrological interpretation, introduction to population and economic statistics, computing skills, field skills and ethics. Geography teaches good analytical and reporting skills, and you can apply your training in real world situations. You will take part in field camps, which are a popular feature of studies in geography

What are your study options?

The two areas of study are physical and human geography. Our physical geography courses introduce you to instrumentation for monitoring the environment and laboratory analysis of earth and organic materials. Our human geography courses introduce you to a range of social science techniques. Practical and field sessions in our courses consolidate the theory learned in lectures and extend the application of techniques, and in all areas of geography, computer applications are an important part of our practical approach.

Chances are you’ll cover both human geography and physical geography in your first year (just so you get a broad overview of the subject as a whole), and you’ll then have the chance to specialise in the topics you find most interesting in your second and final years.

One of the great things about a geography degree is that you won’t be cooped up in a lecture theatre the whole time – far from it, in fact. Many of your projects will require you to go out on field trips and carry out actual research, which means you’ll get a healthy balance of both theoretical and practical learning (and you never know – you might even get the chance to carry out research abroad, depending on where your projects take you).

Human geography is concerned with the study of human societies – how they operate, develop, and the challenges they face. So you could look at issues such as population change, cultural and religious practices, or globalization.

Physical geography, on the other hand, is about understanding the earth’s physical processes – from climates and weather systems, to earthquakes and rock formations, right down to what’s happening on the ocean floor.

Some universities will offer a choice between a Bachelor of Arts (more of a human geography focus) or Bachelor of Science (physical geography). But even so, it’s usual to start by taking some introductory modules in both sides of the subject.

Specializations

It should be clear by now that geography at university-level is a huge subject, drawing on many other disciplines. Some possible areas of focus have already been mentioned above, including climatology (study of climates), oceanography (ocean systems) and meteorology (atmosphere and weather).

Here are just a few examples of other possible specializations:

Glaciers and glaciations: Geography degrees specializing in glaciers and glaciations, as you’d expect, are the study of glaciers and glacial systems, including effects on land formation and the impact of climate change. You could expect to learn about glacier erosion and deposition, mapping and analysis techniques, and glacial environments and ecosystems – and a field trip to a real-life glacier is also a possibility.

Hydrology: Geography degrees specializing in hydrology are all about water: water quality, movement, transportation, uses and resources. Areas of focus could include agricultural water use, drainage management, hydropower, water supply and sanitation, and flood forecasting and safeguarding.

Political geography: Political geography is the study of relationships between politics and physical spaces. For example, you could examine relationships between physical landforms and state boundaries, analyse government responses to environmental issues, or consider the role of formal and informal country groupings – such as the European Union or ‘the Middle East’.

Cultural geography: Cultural geography rather loosely refers to the study of cultural norms, customs, traditions, changes and clashes. This could have an international focus, looking at the effects of globalization and issues connected to cultural exchange, integration or dominance. Or it may be possible to focus on a particular region, and/or a particular aspect of culture – such as religion, language, sexuality or personal identity.

Key Skills

Ability to analyse different types of data, and identify patterns and implications
Understanding of academic publications and how to use them
Field work skills, including mapping and sample analysis
Data-collection, including survey design and interpretation
Lab-based and technical skills, including mathematical modelling
Excellent written and spoken communication
Ability to approach issues from multiple perspectives (including ethical, social, economic, and scientific)
Understanding of key issues in contemporary human and/or physical geography

After your Geography degree

Luckily for you, a degree in geography will equip you with a good set of analytical and research skills, which are the kinds of skill any employer will hold in high regard. You will apply your learning to real world situations and consolidate theory with practical skills. Human Geography introduces you to a range of social science techniques, such as social and economic statistics and data analysis. Physical Geography introduces you to instrumentation for monitoring the environment and laboratory analysis of earth and organic materials.

Geography graduates tend to go into a range of different careers – from the directly-related (careers in conservation, tourism or town planning) to the less-directly related, but still very relevant (careers in law, chartered surveying, teaching, or marketing). One of the great things about a geography degree is that although it won’t channel you into a specific job, it doesn’t really limit your options either (due to your ability to interpret data, for instance, you could even move into a career in finance or accounting).

The key is to understand the skills your degree has equipped you with, and to make sure these come across in your CV and when you go for interviews.
Geography careers offer opportunities to develop solutions to some of the most pressing problems for modern society: climate change, natural disasters, overpopulation, urban expansion, multicultural integration.
Geography graduates may provide research and advice to help governments, charities or other organizations – either working directly for a particular organization, or as part of an independent research group, think tank or university faculty.
Other types of geography careers nclude cartography (producing maps), transportation management, town planning and environmental and conservation work.
Geography degrees also provide many transferable skills – including data analysis, report writing and computer modelling – which could support careers in a wide range of sectors.

Career opportunities

Geographers can find work in government agencies, regional authorities, city councils, Crown Research Institutes, engineering firms, education institutions, consulting firms and large companies. Many geography graduates are hired for their GIS training. Employers include forestry companies, environmental engineers and government agencies. Specific careers may include: demographic, statistical, marketing, industry or policy analyst, secondary school teacher, business manager, market researcher, climate analysts, environmental monitoring and consultancy, hydrographic, geographic science officer or manager, resource consent manager.

Overview

While we might not be able to tell you what’s fashionable, though, we can tell you that the fashion and textiles industry is one of the largest sectors in the UK, and contributes a significant amount of money to the UK economy. From Prada to Primark there a wide variety of stores and styles available, both nationally and internationally, for consumers to purchase.

Why study fashion and textiles?

Although the entry salaries aren’t particularly high (and many graduates have to spend months working on an unpaid basis), fashion can be a lucrative profession for those with a natural flair and passion for the subject. If you have strong creative vision and skills in design as well as an interest in apparel, trends and textiles then this may be the perfect area of study for you.

The other great thing about fashion is that it allows you to really unleash your creative side. There’s no right and wrong in the fashion world and people are constantly trying out new and different things, so no matter how wacky your ideas are you should feel free to give them a go. (You never know – you might even start off the next big trend).

What are your study options?

There are a number of different fashion and textiles courses available across the UK, and these tend to vary widely in terms of their focus. Certain textiles courses will be more practical in nature (focusing on different design skills and techniques), while many other courses will take a more theoretical approach. The University of Hertfordshire’s Fashion BA teaches everything from brand awareness and retail to fashion design and pattern cutting.

Most degrees will be three years in length, although many courses offer also offer a sandwich year. This will allow you to spend a year working in industry in between your second and final years, and (as fashion is such an incredibly competitive field) it’s a great way of gaining valuable experience and building your CV.

In terms of assessment, for the more theoretical courses you can expect a mixture of exams and coursework, while more practical degrees will be most likely to assess you on the strength of a portfolio.

After your degree

A word of warning: finding a career in the fashion industry is not easy. Fashion designer jobs are notoriously competitive, and many graduates find themselves working for months as interns before they land a permanent – or, indeed, a paid – role. That being said, there are jobs out there – whether it’s in retail, distribution or, indeed, designing – and if you manage to work your way up the ladder your salary can increase dramatically.

If you’re dead-set on a career in fashion, your best bet will be to gather as much experience as possible over the course of your degree (you could start your own niche fashion blog and apply for work experience placements in your holidays, for example). The more you have to talk about on your CV, you better your chances will be of finding work after you graduate.

Overview

English literature is the study of prose, plays and poetry, spanning centuries and continents and involving plenty of reading and analysis. It’s an incredibly varied and diverse subject and one which overlaps with history, language and the social sciences to create a picture of how literature influences, and is influenced by, major changes in society and the world as we know it.

Although some people might think English literature is just about ‘reading stories’, there’s a heck of a lot more to it than that – although reading is obviously a big part of it, you’ll also find yourself discussing, analysing and exploring the texts you read, as well as linking them to related works and drawing a deeper meaning from them. English Writing will help you develop the skills you need to produce good academic writing. You will need good academic writing skills to succeed with Faculty of Arts study. English Writing will give you a head start with essays and other written work.

Why study this course

Getting onto an accredited this course is no walk in the park. You’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

What are your study options?

Most degrees will be the standard three years in length, although some unis may offer you the chance to study abroad for a year (it’s unlikely you’ll have the option of doing a year in industry, but you’ll probably be encouraged to go on work placements in the holidays in order to boost your career prospects).

Most universities will offer a limited choice of modules in your first year (you’ll probably cover core topics such as the progression of the novel, poetry, and medieval literature), but you’ll find you get more flexibility in your second and final years.

In terms of assessment, the vast majority of your course will be essay-based (you won’t have much in the way of exams), and you’ll probably finish your final year by handing in a dissertation (a longer essay in which you cover one topic in greater depth).

It’s also worth remembering that many unis will offer English literature as part of a joint/combined honours course (you could study it alongside creative writing or a language, for instance), which is an option worth considering if you have two subjects you’re equally keen to study.

Why study English literature?

If you’ve always been something of a book-worm and you enjoy discussing and analysing novels after you’ve read them, English literature could be the ideal course for you. It will give you the chance to develop your writing and communication skills (as well as your debating skills), and get to know a range of like-minded people who share your passion for a good, old-fashioned paperback.

As the subject of literature is so all-encompassing, you’ll have plenty of different module options to choose from, meaning the course will cater for a variety of different interests (and even if they don’t offer a module in the topic you’re most keen on, chances are you’ll still be able to focus on it for your dissertation).

English Writing is designed for students who are already competent in English as a language. This subject will help you develop the skills you need to produce good academic writing.

What key modules can you expect to cover in your first year?

Students can expect to gain some sense of the larger literary field either through survey or period courses; to be introduced to new kinds of critical thinking; and to cover some new authors. Typical modules include: Introduction to the Novel; Shakespeare and the Renaissance; Reading and Identity; Beowulf; Romantic Poetry; Postcolonial texts and theory. – Professor Martin Coyle, Cardiff University

Key skills developed in English language and literature degrees

Aside from gaining knowledge in specialized modules, studying an English language and literature degree will help hone many transferrable applied skills, valued by employers in a whole range of career paths. These key skills include:

Ability to critique and analyze a broad range of materials
Ability to communicate ideas and theories
Awareness of different theoretical schools and approaches to literary criticism
Leading and participating in discussions
Ability to work within a team to develop and present ideas
Excellent written communication skills
Correct use of academic citations and referencing
Ability to develop independent understanding of texts, concepts and theories
Academic research skills
Ability to work to independently
Time management and organization skills
Creative skills
Essay planning and writing skills
Basic IT skills
Knowledge of how language and literature has evolved and trends that have emerged through time

Careers with an English degree

As with other arts and humanities subjects, graduates with an English degree go on to pursue careers in a diverse range of roles and sectors. Often English graduates will choose to utilize their strong communication skills, along with their detailed knowledge of the written word. Popular career options for graduates with an English degree include:

Journalism and media careers

Within this wide-ranging and fast-changing industry, journalism and media career opportunities are extremely varied. English graduates are able to use their skills to work within editorial or production within print, online or broadcast media. Editorial roles require a strong attention to detail and good editing skills, while production requires a good eye for design and organization along with great communication skills.

Becoming a journalist is a highly sought-after and competitive career path, and those wishing to pursue a journalism career often invest in further study (such as a Masters in Journalism). With or without postgraduate study, those pursuing the journalism career path should make sure to build a strong portfolio before graduation, either through personal writing, paid work, or substantial contributions to university publications.

Teaching careers

Teaching careers are consistently open to English graduates due to the constant need for teachers around the world, and the high priority given to the subject at primary and secondary levels. However, this usually requires further study in order to gain a teaching qualification.

In the US, although some states require a specific graduate license teach, those who have graduated from a bachelor’s degree fit the minimum requirements so long as practical field experience, such as student teaching, has been undertaken. In countries such as the UK, you’ll need to take a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education) after your bachelor’s degree. When applying for teaching courses and placements, it will help if you have gained experience of working with children, adolescents or adult learners.

Marketing, advertising and PR careers

As an English degree graduate, you’ll have gained the great communication skills required for marketing, advertising and PR careers. Roles in each of these sectors involve working closely with people, both colleagues and clients, with a strong focus on your target audience. Once you gain some experience in the industry, you’ll have the opportunity to take on account management responsibilities, becoming an expert in how to market a particular product (which could be a sellable item, an individual person, a service or an organization).

Publishing careers

Publishing careers are again wide and varied, spanning book publishing, online publishing, scientific and medical journals, business to business (B2B) and commercial magazine publishing. Within these, common roles for English graduates include writing, researching, editing, sub-editing and copy proofing. A good first step within publishing would be an editorial or production assistant role, which typically involves both daily admin as well as editing and proof reading.

Civil service careers

Again your communication skills and attention to detail will come in handy for civil service careers. These roles are diverse but often will task you with researching and analyzing policy options, drafting material to be used as the basis for new legislation, liaising with external organizations, supporting ministers in government work and helping to manage their departments.

Other careers for English graduates

Other careers you may consider with an English degree include retail management (experience needed), politics, law or law enforcement (further qualifications needed), finance (as long as you have proven numeracy skills), sales, recruitment, library and museum work, academia (further study often required), and even teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) somewhere far away from home.

After your degree

Although English literature won’t train you for any specific career, it is a very well-respected degree that will equip you with a range of useful skills (all employers value good communication and writing skills, for instance).

Plenty of English literature grads go into the likes of journalism, PR, teaching, and publishing, although there really aren’t that many limitations when it comes to your career possibilities – you might decide to go into events, or even politics, or you may want to apply for a graduate scheme with a top recruiter like Ernst & Young or PWC.

If you don’t want to give up your study of literature after your degree is over, you can also consider staying on at uni to do a Master’s course, which could set you up for a career in research and academia

Overview

Wherever you go in the world, education is considered to be one of the central roles of society - and teaching is considered almost universally to be one of the most noble and respectable professions.

BA Education (Hons) It combines the academic study of childhood and education with a practical focus on career development in related areas.

This degree is interdisciplinary and combines ideas and research from areas such as education, psychology, sociology, philosophy, social policy and history.

Like all such professions, it is a big job, for which practitioners must be trained to a high level using the latest techniques. Whether it’s the all-round skills needed to teach younger children or the subject-specific expertise necessary to train students at more advanced levels, it is crucial that teachers get it right.

Add on the pressures of dealing with young people facing the challenges of growing up, and you have a profession which is not for the faint-hearted. Ergo, neither are education degrees.

The BA (Hons) Education aims to equip students with the academic knowledge, as well as relevant practical skills and experiences, which aid progression to professional training and to careers working with children and young people in a diverse range of settings and geographical locations.

Most modules explore how people, and especially children, develop and learn, identifying and evaluate different ways of knowing about and understanding children and young people and their behaviour; with how educational policy can promote, or frustrate, attempts to develop justice; and with the skills and competencies necessary to develop graduate careers.

What A-levels do you need?

Getting onto an accredited this course, you’ll need to have English (at grade A), and the chances are you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well (your future lecturers will want to know about what you’ve done previously and your reasons for choosing this course, so you should make sure you have some work experience to talk about.

Types of education degrees

While most education degrees are designed to prepare students for work in various educator roles, some are more theory based. The latter types of education degrees focus on analyzing current and past education systems and debating their strengths and flaws.

The goal of these courses is ultimately about improving education, drawing on research looking at everything from the way children learn to the best governmental structure for schools and how to keep the teachers themselves motivated.

While education is almost universally acknowledged to be of key importance for individuals and societies, education systems themselves are fairly diverse. For this reason, it’s usually beneficial to study your education degree, and complete your teacher training, in the same country where you intend to work.

Primary education

Primary school is a crucial stage in a young person’s mental and social development, and therefore being a primary school teacher is a big responsibly. However, it can also be very rewarding.

As well as studying the professional aspects of being a teacher, a degree in primary education will give you a basic grounding in the subjects you will be teaching your precocious charges. Courses will feature placements, so you’ll get a hands-on taste of the working world too.

Secondary education

Unlike the more general requirements of primary school teaching, secondary school teachers need to be fairly expert in their particular subject area. Therefore, secondary school teacher training will need to take place alongside studies in another subject.

Alternatively, you might complete a bachelor’s degree in the subject which you want to teach, and then do a graduate qualification in secondary education afterwards. Placements will also form a key part of your training.

Education Studies

As the name suggests, education studies is the study of education itself. This is an interdisciplinary subject, looking at things like the psychology of learning, the role played by societal and sociological factors, and the history of education.

Study this if you want to understand the bigger picture of education, and perhaps work towards changing education systems for the better – be it in an administrative, managerial or research capacity.

Transferable skills include:

Written communication developed through writing essays;
Oral communication skills gained through reasoned debates during seminars and presentations;
Ability to work as part of a team, through collaborative group work;
Research and analytical skills with the ability to judge and evaluate information;
Organisational and time management skills by prioritising tasks to ensure academic, social and work commitments are completed on time;
Negotiation, informally with peers and formally with staff;
Problem solving and IT skills.

Why study education?

Providers of education are always in demand. Teachers and educational specialists offer an essential service to a wide range of people all looking to further their own knowledge. For a sharp individual with strong communication skills and a passion for working with others, education could be the perfect area.

Assessment methods

Studying at degree-level is likely to be very different from your previous experience of learning and teaching. You will be expected to think, discuss and engage critically with the subject and find things out for yourself. We will enable you to make this transition to a new style of learning, and the way that you are assessed during your studies.

Students are not only the basis of the knowledge they gained, but also the skills that they have acquired. You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations and formal exams. Students also prepare portfolios of experiences and activities which enhances their employability on graduation –

This programme seeks to widen horizons and to promote self-valued for their leadership and problem solving capabilities.

Key Skills

As well as preparing you to enter the teaching profession or a related role, education degrees should furnish you a range of useful transferrable skills, including:

People skills
Excellent spoken and written communication
A framework for keeping up with an ever-evolving profession
The ability to deal with sensitive issues in an informed manner
Expertise in a single subject or across a spectrum
Firsthand experience of the field you’re about to enter
Organization and planning skills
An ability to think creatively and present ideas in new ways
Flexibility and adaptability

Employability

Employers target students who can demonstrate the ability to drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness many graduates go onto successful careers that are open to any graduate with an excellent Honours degree, such as banking, accountancy, public services etc

However, if you’re looking to diversify your knowledge – or even shift careers completely – there are a number of other postgraduate courses you can take. Many students looking for a change may study for a postgraduate study as a means of opting out of the teaching industry altogether.

Educational psychology, social work, government work and even journalism are all popular

programmes for those with a background in education Most students studying BA Education (Hons) programme go onto work or undertake further study

Education careers

No matter what the economic climate, teachers will always be in demand. Training as a teacher, therefore, will render you eminently employable.

In addition, many countries worldwide are reportage a shortage of teachers – particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. So if you’re looking to shore-up your career prospects, you could do a lot worse than to enter the teaching profession.

The same applies for those working in the education sector but not as teachers. Where there is mass teaching, a strong all-round education infrastructure will be required.

Beyond the classroom, education careers are also available in management, administration, research and advisory roles. All of these fields offer scope to contribute to the improvement of education systems and techniques, and help education providers adapt to changing contexts and new challenges.

A background in education can also be useful for those who work in any sort of position which involves working with young people, or generally sharing knowledge. Examples include exhibition curators, community youth workers and social workers.

Overview

Art itself is notoriously difficult to define, and the fact that the notion of art is forever changing and developing makes it even trickier to pin down. One popular definition of a ‘piece of art’ is something that is produced as a direct result of human creativity. While art has traditionally been concerned with beauty and aesthetics, it can also be used as a means of challenging social and moral conventions, and plays a key role in reflecting upon culture and society within any given era.

What are you study options?

Most courses will be three years in length, although some unis offer four year courses that give students both a BA and a Master’s qualification.

Many art courses will have a predominantly practical focus and will teach you to use a wide range of artistic mediums such as sculpting, painting and even electronics. You’ll also acquire an overview of art history and how different artists used their work to reflect the social and cultural attitudes of the times in which they were produced.

While you’ll be expected to attend lectures as part of your degree, you’ll also need to carry out your own work and independent research in your spare time (as the course itself will likely have less contact hours than some subjects). Assessment will vary depending on the nature of your course, but most practical-based art degrees will assess you on the strength of your portfolio.

Why study art and design?

Art is a fascinating subject to study – not only from a creative perspective but also from a historical one. As part of your course you will learn a range of practical skills that will allow you to develop your own artistic style and gain an understanding of different approaches towards art, from surrealism to the aesthetic movement.

If you’re a creative person, studying a degree in art will not only put you in touch with experts, but also with other like-minded students. This will give you a great opportunity to network and chat to those who share your enthusiasm and interest for the subject.

You will gain an excellent understanding of fine arts and design through which you will develop your own personal ideas and style and build your own research-based practice. These skills will lay the foundations for a lifetime of continuous learning and personal development.

Areas of study

You will study a mix of compulsory and elective courses across a range of art forms and media and learn to interpret your ideas through drawing and other media, engage in creative problem-solving, expand your lateral thinking skills and engage in personal research and investigation. As you progress you will develop an in-depth understanding of fine arts practice through interdisciplinary studio-based instruction and engagement with our critical studies programme.

After your degree

Upon graduation there are a wide range of opportunities for those who have an in-depth knowledge of the arts sector. Many students in this particular field will find work as critics, curators or even in arts administration, PR and marketing roles.

However, the majority of art and design students enter their undergraduate programmes with the hope of finding work as artists and designers. While some students do change their mind, many students attempt to find work as artistic practitioners, showcasing their work in galleries and event spaces. Similarly, another popular option for students is to set up their own business selling their work online or on a commission basis. This is a particularly popular option among graduates with day jobs who opt to work freelance in order to subsidise their incomes (a good approach – at least to start with – as finding work as a full time artist is not easy).

Of course, there are a lot of jobs within the arts sector that may require specialist training at postgraduate level. If you’re looking to teach art in a school environment, you may wish to study on a PGCE course, or even a Master’s – and then a PhD – if you’re looking to teach at university level. Similarly, due to the nature of the arts sector, there are a number of postgraduate courses that train students to become experts in the restoration and preservation of artwork.

Career opportunities

Graduates of Elam have the skills required to initiate and sustain a career as an exhibiting artist. Other professional possibilities include graphic designer, secondary school teacher, photojournalist, creative director in an advertising agency, film director, illustrator, commercial photographer, arts writer, art critic, animator, art curator, art gallery director, and set designer.

Overview

When we describe a situation or a person’s behavior as “dramatic,” we usually mean that it is intense, exciting (or excited), striking, or vivid. The works of drama that we study in a classroom share those elements. For example, if you are watching a play in a theatre, feelings of tension and anticipation often arise because you are wondering what will happen between the characters on stage. Will they shoot each other? Will they finally confess their undying love for one another? When you are reading a play, you may have similar questions. Will Oedipus figure out that he was the one who caused the plague by killing his father and sleeping with his mother? Will Hamlet successfully avenge his father’s murder?

For instructors in academic departments—whether their classes are about theatrical literature, theater history, performance studies, acting, or the technical aspects of a production—writing about drama often means explaining what makes the plays we watch or read so exciting. Of course, one particular production of a play may not be as exciting as it’s supposed to be. In fact, it may not be exciting at all. Writing about drama can also involve figuring out why and how a production went wrong.

What’s the difference between plays, productions, and performances?

Talking about plays, productions, and performances can be difficult, especially since there’s so much overlap in the uses of these terms. Although there are some exceptions, usually plays are what’s on the written page. A production of a play is a series of performances, each of which may have its own idiosyncratic features. For example, one production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night might set the play in 1940’s Manhattan, and another might set the play on an Alpaca farm in New Zealand. Furthermore, in a particular performance (say, Tuesday night) of that production, the actor playing Malvolio might get fed up with playing the role as an Alpaca herder, shout about the indignity of the whole thing, curse Shakespeare for ever writing the play, and stomp off the stage. See how that works?

Be aware that the above terms are sometimes used interchangeably—but the overlapping elements of each are often the most exciting things to talk about. For example, a series of particularly bad performances might distract from excellent production values: If the actor playing Falstaff repeatedly trips over a lance and falls off the stage, the audience may not notice the spectacular set design behind him. In the same way, a particularly dynamic and inventive script (play) may so bedazzle an audience that they never notice the inept lighting scheme.

Analyzable elements of plays

Plays have many different elements or aspects, which means that you should have lots of different options for focusing your analysis. Playwrights—writers of plays—are called “wrights” because this word means “builder.” Just as shipwrights build ships, playwrights build plays. A playwright’s raw materials are words, but to create a successful play, he or she must also think about the performance—about what will be happening on stage with sets, sounds, actors, etc. To put it another way: the words of a play have their meanings within a larger context—the context of the production. When you watch or read a play, think about how all of the parts work (or could work) together.

Important contexts to consider

The time period in which the play was written
The playwright’s biography and his/her other writing
Contemporaneous works of theater (plays written or produced by other artists at roughly the same time)
The language of the play
Setting
Plot
Themes
Characters

Depending on your assignment, you may want to focus on one of these elements exclusively or compare and contrast two or more of them. Keep in mind that any one of these elements may be more than enough for a dissertation, let alone a short reaction paper. Also remember that in most cases, your assignment will ask you to provide some kind of analysis, not simply a plot summary—so don’t think that you can write a paper about A Doll’s House that simply describes the events leading up to Nora’s fateful decision.

Since a number of academic assignments ask you to pay attention to the language of the play and since it might be the most complicated thing to work with, it’s worth looking at a few of the ways you might be asked to deal with it in more detail.

Language

There are countless ways that you can talk about how language works in a play, a production, or a particular performance. Given a choice, you should probably focus on words, phrases, lines, or scenes that really struck you, things that you still remember weeks after reading the play or seeing the performance. You’ll have a much easier time writing about a bit of language that you feel strongly about (love it or hate it).

Productions and performances

Productions

For productions as a whole, some important elements to consider are:

Venue: How big is the theatre? Is this a professional or amateur acting company? What kind of resources do they have? How does this affect the show?
Costumes: What is everyone wearing? Is it appropriate to the historical period? Modern? Trendy? Old-fashioned? Does it fit the character? What does his/her costume make you think about each character? How does this affect the show?
Set design: What does the set look like? Does it try to create a sense of “realism”? Does it set the play in a particular historical period? What impressions does the set create? Does the set change, and if so, when and why? How does this affect the show?
Lighting design: Are characters ever in the dark? Are there spotlights? Does light come through windows? From above? From below? Is any tinted or colored light projected? How does this affect the show?
Idea or concept: Do the set and lighting designs seem to work together to produce a certain interpretation? Do costumes and other elements seem coordinated? How does this affect the show?

You’ve probably noticed that each of these ends with the question, “How does this affect the show?” That’s because you should be connecting every detail that you analyze back to this question. If a particularly weird costume (like King Henry in scuba gear) suggests something about the character (King Henry has gone off the deep end, literally and figuratively), then you can ask yourself, “Does this add or detract from the show?” (King Henry having an interest in aquatic mammals may not have been what Shakespeare had in mind.)

Performances

For individual performances, you can analyze all the items considered above in light of how they might have been different the night before. For example, some important elements to consider are:

Individual acting performances: What did the actor playing the part bring to the performance? Was there anything particularly moving about the performance that night that surprised you, that you didn’t imagine from reading the play beforehand (if you did so)?
Mishaps, flubs, and fire alarms: Did the actors mess up? Did the performance grind to a halt or did it continue?
Audience reactions: Was there applause? At inappropriate points? Did someone fall asleep and snore loudly in the second act? Did anyone cry? Did anyone walk out in utter outrage?

Overview

Writing an analysis of a piece of fiction can be a mystifying process. First, literary analyses (or papers that offer an interpretation of a story) rely on the assumption that stories must mean something. How does a story mean something? Isn’t a story just an arrangement of characters and events? And if the author wanted to convey a meaning, wouldn’t he or she be much better off writing an essay just telling us what he or she meant?

It’s pretty easy to see how at least some stories convey clear meanings or morals. Just think about a parable like the prodigal son or a nursery tale about “crying wolf.” Stories like these are reduced down to the bare elements, giving us just enough detail to lead us to their main points, and because they are relatively easy to understand and tend to stick in our memories, they’re often used in some kinds of education.

But if the meanings were always as clear as they are in parables, who would really need to write a paper analyzing them? Interpretations of fiction would not be interesting if the meanings of the stories were clear to everyone who reads them. Thankfully (or perhaps regrettably, depending on your perspective) the stories we’re asked to interpret in our classes are a good bit more complicated than most parables. They use characters, settings, and actions to illustrate issues that have no easy resolution. They show different sides of a problem, and they can raise new questions. In short, the stories we read in class have meanings that are arguable and complicated, and it’s our job to sort them out.

It might seem that the stories do have specific meanings, and the instructor has already decided what those meanings are. Not true. Instructors can be pretty dazzling (or mystifying) with their interpretations, but that’s because they have a lot of practice with stories and have developed a sense of the kinds of things to look for. Even so, the most well-informed professor rarely arrives at conclusions that someone else wouldn’t disagree with. In fact, most professors are aware that their interpretations are debatable and actually love a good argument. But let’s not go to the other extreme. To say that there is no one answer is not to say that anything we decide to say about a novel or short story is valid, interesting, or valuable. Interpretations of fiction are often opinions, but not all opinions are equal.

What makes a valid and interesting opinion?

Avoid the obvious (in other words, it won’t argue a conclusion that most readers could reach on their own from a general knowledge of the story).

Support its main points with strong evidence from the story.

Use careful reasoning to explain how that evidence relates to the main points of the interpretation.

The following steps are intended as a guide through the difficult process of writing an interpretive paper that meets these criteria. Writing tends to be a highly individual task, so adapt these suggestions to fit your own habits and inclinations.

Become familiar with the text

There’s no substitute for a good general knowledge of your story. A good paper inevitably begins with the writer having a solid understanding of the work that he or she interprets. Being able to have the whole book, short story, or play in your head—at least in a general way—when you begin thinking through ideas will be a great help and will actually allow you to write the paper more quickly in the long run. It’s even a good idea to spend some time just thinking about the story. Flip back through the book and consider what interests you about this piece of writing—what seemed strange, new, or important?

Explore potential topics

Perhaps your instructor has given you a list of topics to choose, or perhaps you have been asked to create your own. Either way, you’ll need to generate ideas to use in the paper—even with an assigned topic, you’ll have to develop your own interpretation. Let’s assume for now that you are choosing your own topic. After reading your story, a topic may just jump out at you, or you may have recognized a pattern or identified a problem that you’d like to think about in more detail. What is a pattern or a problem?

A pattern can be the recurrence of certain kinds of imagery or events. Usually, repetition of particular aspects of a story (similar events in the plot, similar descriptions, even repetition of particular words) tends to render those elements more conspicuous. A problem, on the other hand, is something in the story that bugs you or that doesn’t seem to add up. A character might act in some way that’s unaccountable, a narrator may leave out what we think is important information (or may focus on something that seems trivial), or a narrator or character may offer an explanation that doesn’t seem to make sense to us.

Select a topic with a lot of evidence

If you’re selecting from a number of possible topics, narrow down your list by identifying how much evidence or how many specific details you could use to investigate each potential issue. Do this step just off the top of your head. Keep in mind that persuasive papers rely on ample evidence and that having a lot of details to choose from can also make your paper easier to write.

It might be helpful at this point to jot down all the events or elements of the story that have some bearing on the two or three topics that seem most promising. This can give you a more visual sense of how much evidence you will have to work with on each potential topic. It’s during this activity that having a good knowledge of your story will come in handy and save you a lot of time.

Write out a working thesis

Based on the evidence that relates to your topic—and what you anticipate you might say about those pieces of evidence—come up with a working thesis. Don’t spend a lot of time composing this statement at this stage since it will probably change (and a changing thesis statement is a good sign that you’re starting to say more interesting and complex things on your subject).

Make an extended list of evidence

Once you have a working topic in mind, skim back over the story and make a more comprehensive list of the details that relate to your point.

Select your evidence

Once you’ve made your expanded list of evidence, decide which supporting details are the strongest. First, select the facts which bear the closest relation to your thesis statement. Second, choose the pieces of evidence you’ll be able to say the most about. Readers tend to be more dazzled with your interpretations of evidence than with a lot of quotes from the book.

Refine your thesis

Now it’s time to go back to your working thesis and refine it so that it reflects your new understanding of your topic. This step and the previous step (selecting evidence) are actually best done at the same time, since selecting your evidence and defining the focus of your paper depend upon each other. Don’t forget to consider the scope of your project: how long is the paper supposed to be, and what can you reasonably cover in a paper of that length?

Organize your evidence

Once you have a clear thesis you can go back to your list of selected evidence and group all the similar details together. The ideas that tie these clusters of evidence together can then become the claims that you’ll make in your paper. As you begin thinking about what claims you can make (i.e. what kinds of conclusion you can come to) keep in mind that they should not only relate to all the evidence but also clearly support your thesis. Once you’re satisfied with the way you’ve grouped your evidence and with the way that your claims relate to your thesis, you can begin to consider the most logical way to organize each of those claims.

Interpret your evidence

Avoid the temptation to load your paper with evidence from your story. Each time you use a specific reference to your story, be sure to explain the significance of that evidence in your own words. To get your readers’ interest, you need to draw their attention to elements of the story that they wouldn’t necessarily notice or understand on their own. If you’re quoting passages without interpreting them, you’re not demonstrating your reasoning skills or helping the reader. In most cases, interpreting your evidence merely involves putting into your paper what is already in your head. Remember that we, as readers, are lazy—all of us. We don’t want to have to figure out a writer’s reasoning for ourselves; we want all the thinking to be done for us in the paper.

General hints

The previous nine steps are intended to give you a sense of the tasks usually involved in writing a good interpretive paper. What follows are just some additional hints that might help you find an interesting topic and maybe even make the process a little more enjoyable.

Make your thesis relevant to your readers

You’ll be able to keep your readers’ attention more easily if you pick a topic that relates to daily experience. Avoid writing a paper that identifies a pattern in a story but doesn’t quite explain why that pattern leads to an interesting interpretation.

Some categories, like race, gender, and social class, are dependable sources of interest. This is not to say that all good papers necessarily deal with one of these issues. The main idea is that you ask yourself whether the topic you’ve selected connects with a major human concern, and there are a lot of options here (for example, issues that relate to economics, family dynamics, education, religion, law, politics, sexuality, history, and psychology, among others).

Also, don’t assume that as long as you address one of these issues, your paper will be interesting. As mentioned in step 2, you need to address these big topics in a complex way. Doing this requires that you don’t go into a topic with a preconceived notion of what you’ll find. Be prepared to challenge your own ideas about what gender, race, or class mean in a particular text.

Select a topic of interest to you

Though you may feel like you have to select a topic that sounds like something your instructor would be interested in, don’t overlook the fact that you’ll be more invested in your paper and probably get more out of it if you make the topic something pertinent to yourself. Pick a topic that might allow you to learn about yourself and what you find important.

Of course, your topic can’t entirely be of your choosing. We’re always at the mercy of the evidence that’s available to us. For example, your interest may really be in political issues, but if you’re reading Frankenstein, you might face some difficulties in finding enough evidence to make a good paper on that kind of topic. If, on the other hand, you’re interested in ethics, philosophy, science, psychology, religion, or even geography, you’ll probably have more than enough to write about and find yourself in the good position of having to select only the best pieces of evidence.

Make your thesis specific

The effort to be more specific almost always leads to a thesis that will get your reader’s attention, and it also separates you from the crowd as someone who challenges ideas and looks into topics more deeply. A paper about education in general in Frankenstein will probably not get my reader’s attention as much as a more specific topic about the impact of the learning environment on the main character. My readers may have already thought to some extent about ideas of education in the novel, if they have read it, but the chance that they have thought through something more specific like the educational environment is slimmer.

Overview

Religious studies is an interdisciplinary field.
Before starting on your writing assignment, you should know that religious studies is an interdisciplinary field, a fact which will shape how you approach your coursework. The interdisciplinary nature of religious studies is part of what makes the study of religion so interesting. However, it also makes writing in religious studies challenging because your instructors will expect you to use diverse theories and methods. At the same time that religious studies uses many of the same theories and methods as other fields, it is still its own discipline with unique conventions for writing.

What’s the difference between “religion” and “religious studies”?

Writing for religious studies takes place within a secular, academic environment, rather than a faith-oriented community. Religious studies papers, therefore, should not try to demonstrate or refute provocative religious concepts, such as the existence of God or the idea of reincarnation. Such issues are supernatural and/or metaphysical; as such, they cannot be proven with evidence that is available to everyone. Religious studies, in contrast, aims to understand religion from a perspective that can be shared by all.

You may be wondering, “How do I go about investigating religious material without employing a religious perspective?” Remember—religious studies is interdisciplinary, so there are multiple modes of investigation, including literary, historical, cultural, sociological, and anthropological. These approaches tend to contextualize religious phenomena, such as beliefs and rituals. You might, therefore, investigate how Nietzsche questioned the existence of God or a particular Buddhist’s conception of reincarnation. In other words, your reader will likely be more interested in what a particular historical figure, community, or text reveals about these beliefs than in what you actually believe. Every religion arises within a particular context, which affects the development of that religion. When you explore a religion’s context, seemingly mystifying aspects of the tradition can become more comprehensible.

This distinction is especially important when analyzing evidence and making arguments. Don’t let your personal beliefs predetermine your conclusions. Always begin with a fresh evaluation of the evidence. While personal bias is unavoidable, it is critical to be alert to your own preconceptions. If you base your argument on personal beliefs rather than reasoned evidence, then it will not convince readers who do not share your assumptions. Thus, neither faith nor received tradition (such as the lessons you may have been taught in a religious institution) constitutes a valid basis for an argument in academic writing. If you do your best to set aside personal convictions, your final product should be a reasoned argument that gives no indication of your own religious beliefs.

Common writing assignments in religious studies

The interdisciplinary nature of religious studies is reflected in the diversity of writing assignments. If you are not sure about the nature of your assignment, you can consult our handout on understanding assignments or speak with your instructor—you might be working on a project that is not discussed here. Here are some common assignments:

Comparative essays

Comparative essays require that you discuss similarities and differences between the topics you compare, and that your discussion relates to particular theory. In other words, your comparative essay must be more than a list of similarities and differences. Your comparisons should support a theoretical point or issue that is broader than the items under examination.

Critical readings of religious texts

Writing for religious studies may also involve critical analyses of sacred and/or traditionally authoritative texts. While a critical reading of a sacred text might seem irreverent, the point is not to “criticize” the text, but to respectfully “discern” the different aspects of its meaning. The concept of divine inspiration, although often associated with sacred texts, belongs in a faith-oriented environment and, therefore, is not suitable evidence in academic writing. An alternative approach involves treating the texts as literary sources. Literary texts are best understood by assessing the situation surrounding their origin. You can employ methods of literary analysis by evaluating the genre of a particular text to explain how it has been interpreted. Issues related to authorship, source material, and historical context can also be important. You can explore common themes and motifs or undertake a character analysis. A comparative study, utilizing multiple texts, is yet another possibility.

Ethnographic studies

Ethnography is a research method that involves observing religious actions and interviewing participants. Ethnography is useful when you want to know how contemporary religious actors and communities behave and think. Ethnographic writing is challenging for three reasons:

1. Ethnographic writing actually includes different kinds of writing, including fieldnotes, interview notes, scene notes, and the final paper itself.

2. The primary sources for ethnographic writing come from your own experiences, observations, and interviews with subjects in a fieldwork setting.

3. Ethnographic writing demands your ethical commitment to protect the well-being of the people you are studying.

Historical analyses

History is a common component of religious studies, particularly at UNC. Similar theories and methods can be applied, for instance, to the study of American religious history and American political history. The historical study of religion may be further divided into specific sub-fields. You can, for instance, examine the social history of early Christianity or the literary history of Persian religious poetry. Primary sources, which include both documentary texts and material remains, are essential to historical analysis. See our handout on writing in history.

Certain aspects of religious traditions, by their very nature, are not susceptible to historical inquiry. For instance, miracles are by definition inexplicable and thus not open to historical investigation. If you undertake an historical study of Jesus, the question of whether or not Jesus experienced a bodily resurrection (a miracle), though significant from a theological perspective, requires an alternative approach. While the mystery of the miracle remains, the literary evidence reporting the resurrection possesses value for historians. An historian could investigate the manner in which early Christian writers depicted the event and make an historical claim related to the development of early Christian theology. A fruitful historical inquiry could consider how early Christians interpreted the resurrection; such an argument constitutes an historical claim.

Journal entries

You can use academic journal entries to analyze your own thinking as a student by raising questions about course materials and experimenting with potential answers. Journal entries are less formal than a fully developed research paper. They give you the opportunity to sharpen your critical thinking skills by cutting to the core of issues quickly and succinctly. Journal entries don’t need to be finished products; rather, they should reflect your current thinking, even (and especially) when you are still puzzling through questions and possible solutions.

Here are examples of questions that can form the basis of your journal entries:

Questions about individual source materials

• What are the main issues raised by your sources? Are these issues handled adequately by your sources, or are there shortcomings? If so, what are these shortcomings, and what strategies could you use to remedy them? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your remedies?

Comparative questions about your sources

• How do course materials compare with each other? What are the major points of agreement and disagreement? Why do they agree or disagree? Is there a difference or similarity in theory, method, topic, data, or approach? How would you evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of each source’s point of view, and which criteria are you using to evaluate them? How would you use the sources to construct an argument? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your point of view?

Questions about your own thinking

• What are your reactions to the course materials? Why do you find some sources interesting? What do you agree or disagree with? Can you find support for your views, or are your reactions driven primarily by factors beyond the course materials? If the origins of your reactions come from other sources, how will you manage them relative to the core issues raised in your course? Can they be an asset to you as you think through your coursework?

Terminology in Religious Studies

• Writing effectively in religious studies depends on vocabulary. To use key terms appropriately, make sure that you thoroughly understand the specialized vocabulary in your course readings. In addition, you may want to use more general religious terms in your writing. For the definitions of terms such as belief, deity, faith, holy books, ritual, and tradition, you should consult either the Oxford English Dictionary or the Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion.

Arts and Law
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ART AND LAW

ENGINEERING

LIFE & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

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SOCIAL SCIENCES

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & MARKETING

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Overview

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Why study this course?

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Anthropology

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