Careers

Career planning

What can I do after graduation?

A research degree offers options in a variety of fields both in the UK and overseas, in academia and research, or sectors of business, industry and commerce.  Early planning can be very useful in helping you to find the right job and make the move from study to employment as smooth and simple as possible. 

The University’s Career Service is available at any stage of progression for a researcher, offering a service for all students – past and present. You may also find the following sites useful for general information:  The Saltire Foundation (Scotland) and Prospects (UK Graduate Careers).

The university online library also has a number of books designed to help postgraduates find the right career.

A career in research or academia

There are also specialist websites aimed at postgraduate students and those considering a career in research or academia such as Jobs.ac.uk and Vitae. Vitae is an organisation dedicated to enhancing the careers of postdoctoral researchers and the website includes information about job shadowing, placements and voluntary work experience and other training to enhance your skills and CV.

If you are interested in a career in research, you should discuss this with your supervisors as soon as you can. Attending conferences and research networking activities are great ways to make contacts and develop collaborations for the future.  Your supervisors will be able to help identify appropriate funding opportunities for your discipline and develop grant proposals to apply.

Employment in industry

Employers want graduates with strong academic abilities, but having a good balance of additional transferable skills will make you much more attractive to a wide range of employers.   A research degree builds skills such as: time management; organisation; analytical thinking; report and presentation writing; communications and entrepreneurship.

Never say goodbye to UHI

From the moment you graduate, from any college or learning centre, you automatically become part of our University of the Highlands and Islands Alumni – find out more about Alumni activities.