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How valuable is a NatSci degree for employment?

Hello, I'm looking to study Natural Sciences, in fact I'll be at university in a couple of months! Was wondering if anybody could give me any information on just how employable NatSci graduates are?
I'm HOPING to do a PhD and then go into research, but, I understand that situation is currently pretty grim, in terms of actually getting a job.

This is the course I'm going to be studying (IF I get my grades :elefant:

): http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/natural-sciences/part1a

Any ideas which modules are most employable? I really would love to take them all, and I'm currently eyeing up Physics + Materials + Chemistry OR Computing, but would appreciate if somebody could yell at me and shake me out of it now if any of those sound like a dead end in the future! Cheers! :smile:

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 1

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

Of course a Natural Sciences degree from Cambridge is going to be employable, it doesn't matter what modules you take. Study what interests you and you will be fine.

Reply 2

WhisperingTide

Original post by Snufkin

Of course a Natural Sciences degree from Cambridge is going to be employable, it doesn't matter what modules you take. Study what interests you and you will be fine.

Okay, thanks, it's just that I've been hearing some horror stories about NatSci not getting people really far due to teaching people to be book smart but not work smart, wondered if I was digging myself a hole with it. >.>

Reply 3

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by WhisperingTide

I wouldn't worry if I were you, go to uni and enjoy your degree - getting into Cambridge is a big achievement, savour it. Leave worrying about careers for your third year.

You could do some LinkedIn stalking to see where NatSci students end up?

Reply 4

username738914

Original post by WhisperingTide

That's literally all degrees, ever (apart from Medicine or the other healthcare degrees). If you want to be work smart, work part time, (during the holidays at Cam) develop skills outside of uni (be involved at a high level in a society at uni), network and socialise..

Uni is an academic pursuit that equips you with a transferrable general skills but you have to supplement them if you want to be 'employable'.

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