Careers that build on what you're already studying.
Pick your degree
Choose a degree subject to see the careers it can lead to.
28 careers
Finance & risk
Accountant
Manages financial reporting, audit, or tax, a structured, chartered path that trains science graduates from scratch.
Any degree
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£24,000–£32,000 (while training)
Research & laboratory science
Biochemist
Studies the chemistry of living organisms, from enzymes to metabolism, in research, pharma or diagnostics.
BiochemistryChemistryBiomedical Science
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£26,000–£32,000
Operations, quality & compliance
Clinical coding specialist
Translates medical records into standardised codes used for billing, funding and national statistics.
Any degreeLife SciencesComputer Science
Route in
No specific degree needed. Entry is via NHS trainee coder posts and the National Clinical Coding Qualification.
Starting salary (UK)
£24,000–£30,000
Pharma & life sciences
Clinical trial coordinator
Runs the day-to-day logistics of clinical studies, ensuring patient safety, data quality and regulatory compliance.
Any science degreeBiomedical SciencePharmacy
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£24,000–£30,000
Science & society
Cosmetic / formulation scientist
Formulates skincare, makeup and personal care products, a chemistry-heavy industry that rarely gets talked about at school.
Cosmetic ScienceChemistryBiology
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£24,000–£30,000
Data, tech & analytics
Digital health product manager
Leads development of health apps, wearables, or diagnostic software, sitting between tech and clinical need.
Any science degreeComputer ScienceBusiness
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£32,000–£42,000
Science & society
Environmental consultant
Advises organisations on environmental regulations, impact assessments and pollution control, a practical science career with policy teeth.
Environmental ScienceChemistryBiologyGeography
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£25,000–£32,000
Science & society
Food scientist
Develops and tests food products, ensuring safety, nutrition and shelf life, common in big food brands and retailers.
Food ScienceChemistryBiology
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£24,000–£30,000
Science & society
Forensic scientist
Analyses evidence from crime scenes in labs, often chemistry or biology focused and much more lab work than TV suggests.
Forensic ScienceChemistryBiology
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£22,000–£28,000
Science & society
Forensic toxicologist
Analyses bodily fluids and substances for drugs, alcohol and poisons in criminal, coronial and workplace cases.
Forensic ScienceToxicologyChemistryBiology
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£24,000–£30,000
Communication & education
Grant writer / research funding officer
Writes and manages funding applications for research institutions or health charities.
Any science degreeEnglish
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£25,000–£31,000
Consulting & strategy
Health innovation manager
Helps hospitals or health systems adopt new technologies and treatments, bridging research and real-world use.
Any science degreeComputer ScienceBusiness
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£30,000–£38,000
Commercial
Health tech account manager
Manages relationships between health tech companies and the hospitals/clinics using their products.
Any degreeBusinessLife Sciences
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£28,000–£35,000 (plus commission)
Consulting & strategy
Healthcare consultant
Works with hospitals, pharma and government to solve operational and strategic problems in health systems.
Any science degreeEconomicsBiomedical Science
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£32,000–£45,000
Finance & risk
Investment banking analyst
Advises companies on raising capital and mergers, recruits heavily from science degrees for their analytical rigour.
Any numerate degree, e.g. Economics, Maths, Statistics, Finance
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£50,000–£65,000 (plus bonus)
Consulting & strategy
Management consultant
Solves strategic and operational problems for organisations across every sector, not just healthcare.
Any degree
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£35,000–£50,000
Commercial
Medical device sales specialist
Combines technical product knowledge with client-facing sales, less saturated than pharma sales.
Any science degree
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£28,000–£35,000 (plus commission)
Pharma & life sciences
Packaging & labelling compliance specialist
Ensures medicines are legally and safely labelled across different countries, niche but well paid.
Life SciencesChemistryPharmacology
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£24,000–£30,000
Science & society
Patent attorney
Helps inventors protect new technology and drugs through intellectual property law, a well-paid blend of science and law.
Any science degree
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£30,000–£40,000 (trainee)
Operations, quality & compliance
Process and operations analyst
Uses data and process mapping to improve how organisations, including hospitals, run day to day.
Any numerate degree, e.g. Economics, Maths, Statistics, Finance
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£26,000–£32,000
Commercial
Product manager (general tech)
Leads development of a product from concept to launch, valued for structured problem-solving over a specific degree.
Any degree
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£32,000–£42,000
Communication & education
Public engagement officer
Designs events, exhibitions and campaigns that help the public understand and connect with scientific research.
Any science degreeScience Communication
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£22,000–£28,000
Pharma & life sciences
Quality assurance manager
Ensures pharma/medtech manufacturing meets regulatory standards before products reach patients.
Life SciencesChemistryChemical Engineering
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£30,000–£38,000
Finance & risk
Risk manager
Identifies and manages financial, operational, or regulatory risk for an organisation, a broad, structured path that welcomes analytical science graduates.
Any numerate degree, e.g. Economics, Maths, Statistics, Finance
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£30,000–£38,000
Communication & education
Science communicator / health journalist
Translates complex health research for the public, through outlets, charities, or government bodies.
Any science degreeScience CommunicationJournalism
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£22,000–£28,000
Communication & education
Science journalist / editor
Reports, edits or commissions science stories for newspapers, magazines, broadcasters, websites and publishers.
Any science degreeJournalismScience Communication
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.
Starting salary (UK)
£22,000–£28,000
Communication & education
Science teacher / lecturer
Inspires the next generation of scientists in schools, colleges or universities, a route that keeps you close to the subject.
Any science degreeEducation
Route in
Science degree plus a PGCE or salaried teacher training route; lecturing usually needs a PhD.
Starting salary (UK)
£28,000–£34,000
Science & society
Sustainability consultant
Advises organisations on reducing environmental impact, a growing area for science grads who care about climate.
Environmental ScienceChemistryBiology
Route in
Degree routes listed above; entry paths vary by employer.