Careers from physics
• How A-level physics keep your options open
• Earnings: How physics compares to other degrees
• What physics students do after graduating
• Skills that studying physics develops
Careers from physics: How A-level physics keeps your options open
A-levels considered “essential” for studying different degrees
25
(Informed Choices: a Russell group guide to making decisions about
Post-16 education)
15
10
5
http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/media/informed-choices/InformedChoices-latest.pdf
Music
Latin
Art
Ancient Greek
Design Technology
History
Italian
English Literature
English
Spanish
Geography
German
French
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
0
Mathematics
Number of degrees
20
Earnings: How physics compares to other degrees
Percentage increased hourly earnings by degree subject
50
45
40
35
30
Average for all degrees = 23 %
25
20
15
10
5
(21-60 year olds, compared to those holding 2 or more A-levels: Labour Force Surveys 2000-2004 pooled)
http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/archive/page_52049.html
History
English
Biological
Sciences
Psychology
Social
sciences
Management
European
Languages
Chemistry
Physics
Engineering
Law
Medicine
0
Careers from physics: What physics students do after graduating
7%
Studying
Masters
4%
Teacher training
40 %
employed
45%
Studying
PhD
3%
Other
6%
unemployed
http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2012
/page_55925.html
Careers from physics: What physics students do after graduating
56 % went on to further study
• 4 % Teacher training
• 52 % Masters or PhD in for example:
Astrophysics
Space technology
Nanotechnology
Laser technology
Particle physics
Low temperature physics
Semiconductor physics
Medical Physics
Biophysics
Engineering….
http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2012/page_55925.html
Careers from physics: What physics students do after graduating
40 % employed
http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2012/page_55925.html
Careers from physics: What physics students do after graduating
% unemployed 1 year after graduation
6 % unemployed
20
18.7
17.4
16
12
8
All graduates
11.4
11.9
8
8
2008
2009
Physics graduates
5.4
4
0
2006
5.6
2007
http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2012/page_55925.html
Year
Careers from physics: Skills that studying physics develops
Ability to model
complex
situations
Team
Working
Mathematical
ability
Research
skills
Transferable skills
Creative
thinking
Understanding
of technology
Evidencebased decision
making
Analytical
skills
Problem
solving
Ability to
communicate
complex ideas
Ability to
evaluate
risk
Objective
thinking
• Girls in Physics: www.iop.org/girlsinphysics
• Music: www.iop.org/concert
• Medicine:
www.teachingmedicalphysics.org.uk