Graduate Tookit

Types of opportunities

If you haven't figured out what you want to do after university, don't panic. The chances are a lot of your peers haven't either. To help you decide on your next move, take a look at some of your post-graduation options.

There are many different routes you can take after university - and there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach, everyone's journey will be different. You could search for a grad job, enrol on a postgraduate course or set up your own business. If you'd like to gain more experience before making a decision you could volunteer, intern or travel the world on a gap year.

Graduate schemes

A graduate scheme is a structured training programme within an organisation, lasting a set amount of time – normally one to two years. They are often offered by larger organisations and can range from multinational corporations to opportunities in the NHS and Civil Service. Many grad schemes are open to applicants from any degree discipline; they are ‘degree agnostic’. In this case, employers will recruit based on your ability to meet the competencies they’re looking for, rather than technical or specialist knowledge.

Spaces on graduate schemes are often limited, so competition is high and we would recommend that you start preparing your application early with our support. Most graduate scheme applications are made between August – December, with roles commencing the following September.

Browse more information about graduate schemes on the Prospects website

Graduate jobs

Graduate entry level jobs are jobs that require the need for a degree, but are not part of a defined training programme like a graduate scheme and are usually not time limited. Small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are a great place to look for graduate entry level jobs and can provide a great platform to start your career.

We advertise graduate jobs on our online jobs board frequently for both large employers and SMEs locally to Leicester and nationally. These opportunities tend to appear later in the academic year and throughout the spring and summer, and often have a much shorter recruitment process.

You can use the links listed throughout the Graduate Toolkit, to support you in finding your perfect graduate role. For local opportunities, try searching on LinkedIn, job sites and through local recruitment agencies. Some recruiters advertise their vacancies on graduate job sites, but some only post them on their website, so you may need to do more research to find them.

Postgraduate study

Postgraduate study can be the foundation to a great career. It can turn an existing career into something brilliant, help you change careers or help you to pursue your passion. Our postgraduate courses can help take your academic interest to the next level and support your career aspirations.

There are a range of postgraduate courses to choose from at Leicester. Browse our postgraduate courses. 

We offer funding discounts on postgraduate courses for all University of Leicester graduates progressing onto a postgraduate course. Learn more about our 20% Alumni Discount.

If you’re thinking about applying for postgraduate study and need to do some research, see how you can get started:

The Careers and Employability Service can help you consider your options and apply for programmes. You can book an appointment with one of our advisors through your graduate MyCareers account.

Graduate internships

If you’re looking to gain experience after graduation, an internship can help you get your foot in the door and explore whether you enjoy a particular role and sector. Internships can be as short as a week or as long as 12 months. If you’re thinking about continuing your studies, you might want to consider a graduate internship to help you gain experience over the summer months.

Resources

Self-employment

Being enterprising is about putting creativity and innovation into action, showing initiative, finding opportunities and adapting to challenges – skills, behaviours and attributes that every employer wants and new business venture needs. 

If you’re thinking of setting up your own business after university, or working for yourself, browse some resources for great advice on how to get started:

  • Prospects
  • How to become an entrepreneur when you graduate
  • The Prince’s Trust – provides funding and advice to young people aged 18-30 who are interesting in starting their own business
  • Shell LiveWire – this is an entrepreneurial scheme run by Shell, it aims to help young business people between the ages of 18-30
  • Wenta – offers business start-up advice, business training opportunities, education programmes and work placements
  • GOV.UK – provides some useful information on starting your own business

Graduate enterprise support

We have a bold vision at the University of Leicester: to help drive the innovation and skills needed to transform lives through our research, innovation and new technologies. Being enterprising is about putting creativity and innovation into action, showing initiative, finding opportunities and adapting to challenges which sometimes leads to starting a new business. For graduates who are exploring or are underway with an entrepreneurial journey, we invite you to connect with us through:

There are plenty of ways that your business ideas and venture can be supported by the University:

Finding opportunities

Sector-specific resources

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