Opportunities with different degrees

A quick look at the UCAS website will give an idea of the hundreds of degrees available for young people to choose from. The choice is baffling and, although similar degrees tend to have similar titles and the same reference number, there are exceptions. There are also a number of degrees that combine subjects. For some you study both subjects equally in a joint honours degree (e.g. chemistry and French), in others the second subject is a subsidiary (e.g. chemistry with French). Even within degrees with the same title and reference, the choice of modules will vary – for this level of detail students will have to access the websites of the various universities they might be interested in.

To work as a research and development scientist the choice of degree should be made with reference to the amount of the science studied and opportunities offered for gaining additional skills, for example through an industrial placement year. Single honours degrees in traditional science subjects will permit the subject chosen to be studied in depth. A Joint Honours degree may be appropriate, especially if the second subject is closely related (such as maths).

Many degrees are now 4 year courses and lead to a masters qualification. These often allow a student to work in industry for a year or part of a year. These courses will enable the student to develop many of the skills required by industry, particularly practical skills, and will give him/her an advantage over others when applying for jobs in industry. Many companies only recruit new graduates who have completed 4 year MChem or MSci courses into their research and development areas.

A quick look at some of the many profiles of people working in the pharmaceutical sector, will indicate the range of qualifications people have and the various routes they have taken to get into their current role.