The Student Room Group

What careers can you do with science qualifications?

I am thinking of getting a science based career in the future, and just wondering, what sort of jobs(apart from the obvious ones stated) can you do with the following degrees(at say, a first, or 2:1)?

Medicine(obviously being a doctor, but what else?)
Physics (apart from being a physician?)
Computer science
Engineering
-biomedical engineering
Physiological science
Human science
Biochemistry(apart from being a biochemist and a biotechnologist?)
Chemistry
Biological science

Thanks.:biggrin:
Reply 1
Physics: Stunt driver or stunt co-ordinator (:biggrin:). You get to work in big movies and do lot's of cool stuff! Although it would be better money if you move to America (which I plan to do).
Reply 2
Physics - anything from an astronomer to a medical physicist in a hospital
Biology - anything from an environmentalist to a medical researcher
Chemistry - drug research
Biomedical engineering - working in a prosthetics lab?
Computer science - my dad has a PhD in this and he's a teacher, other paths could be robotics, computer game design, software engineering etc
Medicine - Could go into medical journalism I suppose but would still need to train and specialise after leaving med school
God... this kinda sucks. I put a post up ages ago about not wanting a job in a lab after getting my Biological Sciences degree. I've settled with teacher. And not even secondary school - primary school! But its something I've been thinking of for a while
Reply 4
You can use any of them as just evidence of a degree for jobs that require a qualification of that level, without specifying which exactly e.g. things like investment banking, consultancy (management/strategic/industrial), fast track civil service scheme... or for professional conversion courses e.g. law or medicine.

Try universities prospectuses for ideas of what graduates do from their specific courses.

E.g. mine for Biological sciences:


http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/biol.shtml
Careers
Over 90% of Oxford biologists find employment within six months of graduating. Having spent three years exposed directly to original ideas and being encouraged to develop their own, Oxford graduates very often go on to become top scientists themselves, or successful professionals in other fields. About a third go on studying biology either by doing research towards a doctorate or by postgraduate training in applied fields such as plant protection, forestry, epidemiology, applied entomology or marine and terrestrial ecology.

Many take up careers in industry or commerce, where a broad understanding of scientific processes and expertise at analysis of complex systems are excellent training for confronting the complexities of professions such as law, accountancy and medicine. Others opt for school teaching with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and yet others make careers in biological film-making, publishing and scientific journalism.



I'm studying Medicine - it's a vocational course so the plan should be becoming a doctor really! :wink:
But obviously there are other things closely related to healthcare & using relevant knowledge and experiences e.g. managerial, political, legal, entrepeneurial, journalism, publishing, education...
Or you can use it as 'just a degree' again & go off & become a teacher/banker/accountant.
Well, my degree is in Natural Sciences (specialising in chemistry), and I've been working in accountancy (corporate tax) for a little over 4 months now, on a training contract towards a professional qualification. You're definitely not confined to science-related careers with a science degree - a very large number of jobs don't care what subject you study - you just need *a* degree (with a 'good' classification, of course). :smile:
yg110uk

Physics (apart from being a physician?)


Erm, you can't be a physician with a physics degree, you need a medical degree to do that.

Science graduates have access to all the usual graduate careers and specialised technical ones too. Being a 'chemist' or a 'physicist' means a wide range of actual jobs from working at a nuclear reactor or oil rig to sitting in front of a computer coding simulations and everything between - there is a wealth of diversity in jobs staying within your 'field' as a 'scientist' anyway.
Reply 7
do you study at oxford or nottingham chemist?
Reply 8
but but chemist is at nottingham!
v2006
but but chemist is at nottingham!


In this reality, yes. Although I don't study at the university anymore, I work for it now.
Reply 10
Oh ok, might see you at Notts then if you are at the university park campus :smile:
Reply 11
As Elles mentioned above, you can use any of the suggested degrees as 'general degrees' as a stepping stone to investment banking, accountancy etc...however these sort of routes also request good A-Levels amongst other attributes.

For the biology/physiology routes you go into:
Further research (masters/PhD) and do lab research (bench scientist)
Assess grant applications (i.e scientist apply for grants from MRC, BBSRC etc)
Medical communications: Medical Writer, Editor etc..
NHS biomedical scientist: routinely test blood or tissue samples
NHS role: physiologist testing lung function, heart function etc

I'm sure there are more...
Hi sorry to put a downer on you guys but I got a 2.2 in biomedical sciences at the university of east london last year, I’ve been on a gap year racking up cash to do another course as I believe there is no potential for a good job with what I have currently, I fluffed up my A levels big time getting two Es in bio and chemistry overall. In September 08 applied to St georges for the grad medicine course and got a conditional offer, however I also applied to the Kingston school of pharmacy for the 4 year Mpharm course for which I got accepted. The problem now is that I can do the pharmacy course but it will cost me over £10,000 a year to study as I already have an undergraduate degree and the government is not providing any support for any second degree courses apart from graduate medicine, dentistry and teaching. I have until 20th of October to decide whether or not to leave the pharmacy course without having to pay. What options do I have and what would be the best thing for me to do, would kindly appreciate any help,

Kev.