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