Careers

Our degrees provide the knowledge and skills required to launch you into a career of your choice, and will equip you for the challenges ahead.

We have developed a programme of employability training alongside the integration of key industry skills into our teaching programme, where we work with employers to ensure relevant content is delivered and is constantly kept up-to-date.

Graduate career destinations

Our graduate employment record is excellent. 95% of all our 2017 graduates (BSc and MGeol) who were available for work were in employment or further training six months after graduation, with 73% of those in highly-skilled professional roles or graduate-level study (2017 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey).

Typically around a quarter of our graduates go on to further study, with many gaining places on highly-competitive PhD programmes at leading universities in the UK and abroad, and others working towards MSc qualifications or studying for a PGCE to train as a teacher.

Many of our graduates work as geoscientists, involved in the exploration for (and extraction and development of) energy, mineral and water resources. Our graduates are also employed in the environmental sector, addressing issues of climate change, sustainability, waste management, environmental monitoring and remediation. Some graduates have moved directly into other professions (e.g. teaching, banking, the media, management and the police).

Work experience

Gaining relevant work experience during your degree is hugely advantageous when entering the graduate job market. Through our links with industry, we have a large number of students who undertake (often very well-paid!) work experience during their vacations, or through a year out in industry.

Such work experience gives our students a strong competitive edge in securing permanent employment.

Careers support

We organise a Careers Day each year with involvement from a host of companies across the geosciences sector. We work closely with the Careers and Employability Service at the University to encourage our students to take part in the Leicester Award to develop highly marketable transferable skills that lay the foundation for future successful careers.