Sick of working hard and still being broke? These degrees are changing lives.

What’s the reason most of us get degrees? So, it can help us in our careers, right?

 But what happens when you spend three (or more) years earning a degree only to end up in a low-paying job (or no job at all)? Not ideal.

Like everyone else, you want the most employable degree, one that leads to a real career. One that pays your bills, gives you options, and doesn’t leave you drowning in regret. Or worse, student debt with no ROI!

But it’s not all bad; there are some degrees out there that are doing exactly that. These are the ones employers want, industries need, and graduates are using to build solid futures.

It can be difficult to figure out where to start, so we’ve put together a list of the UK’s most employable degrees to help you out. Let’s take a look!

1.   Education (Teacher Training)

Starting out with an underdog, this is definitely not a choice anyone expects. But it’s a good one nevertheless. What education degrees and teacher training lack in glamour, they make up for in stability.

Teacher vacancies in the UK rose by 20% in a year and more than doubled since 2020, highlighting a growing demand for educators.
The starting salary of teachers: £31650 (in some areas).

If you train to teach, especially in subjects like math, science, or computing, you’ll have schools fighting over you. The UK is currently facing teaching shortages across the board, and bursaries or salary incentives are often available.

It’s hard work, but the impact (and job security) is worth it.

2.    Medicine & Dentistry

This one is expected. Medicine and dentistry degrees, not to mention other allied health degrees like nursing, etc, are some of the most employable degrees in all of the UK. The reason is simple. The world is never going to run out of patients. And as long as there are patients, there will be a need for people to tend to them.

The employment rate for this degree is over 95% within 6 months.

The starting salary of doctors and dentists: £30,000–£40,000+

Remember, the salary goes higher with experience.

No surprises here. Doctors and dentists are always in demand, and the NHS will never run out of patients. Although the path to becoming a doctor is long and intense, if you’re passionate about healthcare, you’ll never be short of work, security, or respect.

If you want absolute job security and a strong salary from day one, medicine and dentistry are hard to beat. Not only are these degrees highly structured, but they also come with guaranteed clinical placements. Not only that, the NHS actively recruits graduates before they even finish. This means once you get accepted, your future is more or less secured. This is one of those degrees that hands you a job on graduation day.

3.   Engineering (All Disciplines)

This one may sound a little basic and boring, but it is anything but! There is especially a very strong demand in the energy, sustainability, and infrastructure sectors.

The employment rate of this degree is: 90–96%

The starting salary of this degree is: £28,000–£40,000

Mechanical, electrical, civil, aerospace, and chemical engineering degrees are all respected across the board. Make no mistake, they’re tough, yes, but the reward is clear: you graduate with practical, transferable skills that employers love.

Many engineering courses are accredited by the Engineering Council UK and include placement years. This not only boosts your CV, but often leads directly to job offers.

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4. Veterinary Science

It’s not just doctors and dentists who have the most employable degrees; vets are also always needed.

Veterinary science focuses on animal health and welfare. Practical training includes surgery, medicine, and advanced imaging technologies.

Veterinary medicine courses study the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses in animals. However, similar to medicine, there are very limited places available at the eight veterinary schools in the UK, meaning it can be competitive to get in. But like medicine, once you’re in, you’re IN.

The expected starting salary of this degree is £35000.

The employment rate of this degree is: 95.9%

5. Allied Health Professions (AHPs)

Speaking of medicine, it’s not just doctors who make a good living in the NHS! Medicine is a broad field that encompasses a wide range of employable degrees and attracts a diverse range of professionals needed to run healthcare services smoothly. They are known as Allied Health Professions (AHPs) and include physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Students learn to assist healthcare professionals in diagnostics and patient care.

Similarly, the theater technicians, pharmacists, and medical researchers who work together are all helping save lives. Along with having a stable and rewarding career.

The starting salary of this degree is £34,137.

The employment rate of this degree is: 95.3%

If you’re interested in learning more about Allied Health Professions (AHPs) subjects, check out the NHS website.

6.    Computer Science & Software Engineering

Tech jobs are no longer niche. It is one of the most employable degrees in the UK. They’re everywhere and can be very easy to get into. From app development to cybersecurity, AI to big data, businesses across all sectors are crying out for coders and digital problem-solvers. Really, there’s something for everyone here.

The employment rate for this degree is: high (especially for students with coding portfolios or internships)

The starting salary for this degree is: £40,000+

But here’s the catch: employers don’t just care about your degree. They want to see practical experience. So in order to get a stable, well-paying job after graduation, you’ll have to take a few extra steps. Such as building a portfolio, contributing to open-source projects, or getting an internship during uni.  Once you’ve done that, you’re golden!

Conclusion

Listen, there’s no shame in wanting a degree that leads to a well-paid job. Some people might call it “selling out,” but it’s not. It’s just smart.

University is expensive, and your time is worth a lot. Which is why we’ve put together a list of degrees that offer a mixture of high employment rates, solid starting salaries, and clear career paths. They’re not always easy, but they’re 100% worth it.

So if you’re tired of working hard and still struggling to pay rent? Choose a degree that works as hard as you do.