There are many reasons why you may be considering postgraduate study. You might want to augment your academic qualifications to advance your career, or may be keen to contribute to your favoured field of study. Making a decision about exactly what to study, however, is likely to require a significant amount of research and deliberation. For that, we can help. Here, we take a look at some of the top postgraduate degrees for international students and where they could take you.
Health and medicine
Studying a postgraduate degree means delving deeper into a subject and developing expertise within it. For some careers, this can be essential. That may well be one reason why many of the most searched postgraduate programmes are in health and medicine. In order to practice as a medical professional – be it as a doctor or dentist – you’ll need an advanced qualification.
Once you get one, your employment prospects will be extremely positive. It is estimated that 93 per cent of health and medicine postgraduate degree holders are in work or further study after graduation. Qualifications in the subject area also tend to lead to good salaries, with medicine topping the graduate earners list.
Business and management
If you think of yourself as an entrepreneur or have an affinity for commerce, then the second most popular postgraduate field might be right for you. Subjects in the area of business and management are highly desired.
Whether they have gained accreditation as an accountant, enhanced crucial management skills or sharpened their financial acumen, graduates from business-related subjects have a very good chance of securing work. Rates of employment and additional study stand at an impressive 90 per cent. If your course is in the field, then chances are you’ll also have positive earning potential – it ranks second among the top postgraduate degree areas for graduate pay.
Engineering
With a wide variety of specialisations, and the prospect of working in many different industries, postgraduate qualifications in engineering regularly come close to the top of the list for prospective students.
Often, getting one will require you to have studied engineering at undergraduate level, or a very closely related subject. Fortunately, this encompasses more areas than you may imagine. As engineering degrees span civil, mechanical, chemical, biomedical, aeronautical and more, there are quite a few connected topics.
It is understandable that the sector is highly sought by students. A postgraduate engineering qualification undoubtedly enhances employability, with 89 per cent of graduates finding work or going on to more study. Moreover, the field is also one of the best paid.
Social studies and media
Another area that has piqued the interest of people looking to further their studies is the field of social studies and media. Ranging from traditional social sciences such as sociology and linguistics through to development and social work, this sector allows you to get to grips with some of society's most important issues, and will develop your critical thinking skills.
Qualifications in the field can open the door to a variety of careers. You could study a vocational subject such as counselling, and have a line of work ready for when you graduate. Alternatively, your qualification could lead you down a wide range of paths: marketing, research and politics are just some examples. The multifaceted nature of social studies is one of its major benefits. With a degree in the area, you will never be limited to a single industry in your working life.
Want to know which are the top postgraduate degrees for your prospects? The table below shows the ten subject areas with the highest rates of graduates in employment or further study 15 months after they receive their postgraduate qualification in the UK.
| Postgraduate subject areas | Rate of employment/further study |
| Veterinary sciences | 95% |
| Education and teaching | 94% |
| Medicine and dentistry | 93% |
| Subjects allied to medicine | 93% |
| Architecture, building and planning | 93% |
| Physical sciences | 92% |
| Mathematical sciences | 92% |
| Biological and sport sciences | 92% |
| Agriculture, food and related studies | 92% |
| Combined and general studies | 92% |
Source: HESA, 2022.
Applied and pure sciences
International student interest in postgraduate applied and pure science courses is also extremely strong. These include programmes in biology, environmental sciences, mathematics and physics. The excellent career prospects they offer, as well as the chance they provide to specialise in a particular area, prove highly appealing.
There is also a multidisciplinary element to many courses in the field, making the knowledge you will gain from them applicable in a number of contexts. Unsurprisingly, then, graduate outcomes for postgraduate degrees in applied and pure sciences are very good. Veterinary science sees 95 per cent of graduates employed or in further study, while impressive figures are also found among those who studied biological science or agriculture (92 per cent each).
Making your choice
There are a number of things that may influence what subject you choose to study at postgraduate level. First and foremost, it should be something for which you have both an interest and an aptitude. Often – but not always – you’ll need to have an undergraduate qualification in a compatible area of study. For example, specialising in architecture as a postgraduate will require you to have already studied a subject such as town planning or engineering as a minimum.
A further motivation to pursue a postgraduate degree may be the desire to enhance your employability or further your career. In that case, make sure to do your research and work out how likely that outcome is before making the financial and time investments needed.
Once you are sure, the path ahead is yours. Postgraduate study offers you a great opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge, while laying the foundations for your future. Find the right programme for you today with our simple Course Matcher tool.
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