Physics Graduate Career Path
Content
The Career Paths of
Physics Graduates
A longitudinal study
2006–2010
1
Acknowledgments
The Institute would like to thank the research team at the Centre for Education and Industry (CEI)
at the University of Warwick who ran the surveys and produced the interim reports.
All of the students and graduates who participated in this study are thanked for their time and effort.
Thanks also go to the staff within physics departments for their help in distributing the questionnaires.
Designed and produced by Cavendish Design & Advertising.
preface............................................................................................ 2
key findings.................................................................................... 3
Destinations and career paths of graduates.......................... 4-9
2.1 Longitudinal data on destinations of graduates.......................................4
2.2 Destinations by gender...........................................................................6
2.3 Destinations by gender and degree class.................................................7
2.4 Destination by degree type and gender....................................................8
Graduates entering employment.......................................... 10-15
3.1 Salary levels for graduates one year after graduation............................10
3.2 Salary levels for graduates by number
of years after graduation and gender....................................................11
3.3 Relevance of physics for graduates in employment................................12
3.4 Employment sectors for graduates in employment.................................12
3.5 Unemployment rates for graduates........................................................14
Destinations of graduates with disabilities............................. 16
Destinations of graduates from Black
and ethnic minority backgrounds............................................. 17
Destinations of graduates by
socio-economic status........................................................... 18-19
Destinations of graduates by institution............................ 20-23
7.1 Destinations of graduates from different institutions.............................20
7.2 Destinations of graduates from different institutions by degree class.....22
Appendix – Demographics of the sample................................... 24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
preface
» What do physics graduates do when they finish their degree?
» How much do they earn?
» What sectors do they work in?
» Are they more employable than other graduates?
» Are there differences between men and women?
At the Institute of Physics, we are frequently asked to help answer these questions. While
there are various sources of information that give us a partial understanding of where
physics graduates find themselves, we have lacked the robust data to see the whole picture
of the paths graduates take as they start their careers.
In 2005, the Institute of Physics commissioned a five-year longitudinal study of physics
graduates to identify and track the career development of physicists over the first four years
following graduation.
Between 2006 and 2010, final-year physics students were asked to complete a survey on
their intentions after graduation. Graduates were then re-contacted on an annual basis by
e-mail and invited to edit and augment the information to allow us to chart the paths they
had taken.
We have gathered information from 5737 final year undergraduates from 55 institutions,
46 in the UK and nine in Ireland. We estimate this represents a response rate of 35–40%
of all physics graduates in this period. Through the study we have had the opportunity of
examining the career development of graduates from non-traditional groups, including
women, ethnic minorities, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those
with a disability – information vital to form the basis of projects aimed at encouraging
participation in physics from a wider, more diverse community.
In this report we present a summary of the data on the destinations of respondents.
Alongside this report, we have produced a more in-depth analysis, available to download
from www.iop.org/diversity.
It is gratifying to see that the data back-up our experiences – many physics graduates go
on to further study, while those that enter employment work in a wide range of professions
and earn more than average. They are also less likely to be unemployed than the overall
graduate population.
Work of this nature is crucial to ensure that potential students are given reliable information
as the basis for the choices they make about their future. It also reassures current physics
undergraduates of the value of their physics degree and highlights the many and varied
places it can take them.
Prof. Peter Main
Director, Education and Science
May 2012
2
key findings
» Overall, 52.4% of respondents were continuing education one year after graduation, with PhD
study as the most popular option, followed by a Masters qualification. 39.2% of respondents
were in employment one year after graduation, 6.5% were unemployed and 3.7% were
undertaking teacher-training courses.
» There are small differences by gender for destinations of respondents one year after
graduation, with women slightly more likely to be taking Masters or teacher-training courses
and men more likely to be studying for a PhD.
» Respondents with first- or upper-second class degrees were most likely to proceed to further
study, and PhDs in particular, but only a very small proportion entered teacher training.
» Gender differences in destination are more apparent for graduates with BSc than MPhys/
MSci degrees. Women with BSc degrees were the most likely group to go into teacher training
with 9.3% choosing this route, compared to 4.4% of men with a BSc degree, 1.4% of women
with a MPhys/MSci degree and 1.9% men with a MPhys/MSci degree.
» Respondents in employment earned an average salary of £22,500, 14% higher than the
average graduate salary of £19,700 for all subjects (2008 figure). There was a 4.3% gender
pay gap.
» Respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees had an average salary of £23,300, 8.7% higher than
the average with BSc degrees. The gender pay gap was lower, at 3.3%, for respondents with
MPhys/MSci degrees.
» Respondents with first-class degrees earned higher salaries. However, women with first-class
degrees had the same distribution of salaries as men with upper-seconds.
» Respondents with first-class degrees were more likely to be working in the finance sector
and less likely to be in the education sector.
» Women with BSc degrees were the least likely to report that their occupation was related
to physics and the least likely to report that their physics background was useful for their
occupation.
» The increase in the proportion of unemployed respondents between 2006 and 2009 was
much lower than the increase for graduates from all subjects in this period.
» Respondents from higher socio-economic groups were more likely to be employed and less
likely to be continuing education than respondents from lower groups.
» Degree class was a more significant factor than attending a Russell Group institution
in determining destination, salary and employment sector. The exception to this was for
respondents entering finance, who were more likely to have first-class degrees from Russell
Group institutions.
3
2.1 Longitudinal data on destinations of graduates
Figure 2.1 charts the career paths of individuals who have taken part in the longitudinal study.
The central disc represents the destinations of all respondents one year after graduation and each
subsequent ring represents the destinations of the respondents the study has tracked a further year on.
To understand the development of the career paths of individuals, it is helpful to split the diagram
into segments along the lines defined by the central disc representing the destinations one year after
graduation. For example, from the red segment of the central disc 15% of respondents in all cohorts
were taking a Masters course one year after graduation. In the second ring which shows those tracked
for at least two years, 21% were studying for a PhD, 50% were continuing with a Masters course, 27%
were employed and 1% (one person) was unemployed.
» The majority of respondents going into
employment or on to PhD study have continued
on these paths over the first few years after
graduation. Respondents who studied for a
Masters qualifications either continued
Masters study, progressed to PhDs or went
into employment, with only one respondent
becoming unemployed or no respondents
taking other routes after Masters courses.
» There is a group of respondents who entered
employment in the year after graduation but at
later stages decided to return to further study,
at either PhD and Masters level, or chose
other paths. For the individuals tracked
for four years after graduation this group
is approximately one quarter of those
who entered employment initially.
» The proportion of respondents who were
unemployed after one year is small
(6.4%) and of these the majority have
secured employment or entered a PhD
course two years after graduation. There
are a small number that have remained
unemployed for two (9 out of 594
respondents), and in some cases three
years after graduation (2 out of 319
respondents).
» When analysed by year of graduation,
there were no significant differences
in the distribution of destinations.
The exception to this was the proportion
of unemployed respondents which slightly
increased between 2006 and 2009
(see section 3.5) and a decrease in
the proportion choosing Other routes.
PhD
Gaps in the rings appear where we do not have
information for any of the individuals from the
segment of the previous ring. This occurs when
people have not completed a follow-up survey or are
in a cohort not tracked for the full number of years.
In the analysis the ‘Other’ category encompasses
routes such as career breaks, voluntary work or
other further study options.
» 52.4% of respondents were continuing
education one year after graduation, with PhD
study as the most popular option, followed by
undertaking a Masters qualification. 39.2% of
respondents were in employment, 6.5% were
unemployed and 3.7% were undertaking
teacher-training courses.
2
Destinations and career paths
of physics graduates
Figure 2.1
Temporal representation of the development of physicists’ career paths
Data are presented as totals over all cohorts in the following manner:
» Central disc: one year after graduation for cohorts graduating in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (n=1448)
» Second ring: two years after graduation for cohorts graduating in 2006, 2007 and 2008 (n=594)
» Third ring: three years after graduation for cohorts graduating in 2006 and 2007 (n=319)
» Fourth ring: four years after graduation for cohort graduating in 2006 (n=114)
4
s
r
e
t
Mas
PGC
E
PhD
Masters
PGCE
Employed
Unemployed
Other
Employ
ed
Unemployed
5
Othe
r
2
Destinations and career paths
of physics graduates
2.2 Destinations by gender
» T he same proportions of male and female
respondents were continuing education one year
after graduation. However, female respondents
were more likely to be studying for Masters or
on teacher-training courses, whereas their male
peers were more likely to go on to PhD study.
» Similar proportions of male and female
respondents entered employment, were
unemployed or chose other routes one
year after graduation.
Figure 2.2a
Destinations of female respondents one year after graduation for all cohorts (n=481)
6%
5%
38%
%
18
7%
2
6%
Figure 2.2b
Destinations of male respondents one year after graduation for all cohorts (n=956)
7%
5%
14
39 %
%
32
%
3%
Masters
PhD
Employed
6
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
2.3 Destinations by gender and degree class
» The distributions of destinations for males and
females with first- and upper-second class
degrees are similar. Respondents with first-class
degrees were the most likely to be continuing
education and studying for a PhD in particular.
» Gender differences can be seen, in particular,
for respondents with lower-second class degrees,
where females were more likely than males to
be studying for Masters qualifications and less
likely to be in employment.
» Respondents with third-class degrees were
more likely to go in to teacher training or be in
employment one year after graduation. However,
this group also had the highest proportion of
respondents who are unemployed one year after
graduation (15% of female and 18% for male
graduates respectively).
There was only a very small proportion of
respondents with first- or upper-second
class degrees choosing to enter teachertraining courses.
Figure 2.3a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by degree class and gender
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
199
t
Firs
r
ppe
177
ond
Sec
U
75
nd
eco
er S
Low
Female
Masters
PhD
Employed
13
rd
Thi
394
t
Firs
U
r
ppe
319
ond
Sec
174
nd
eco
er S
Low
40
rd
Thi
Male
593
t
Firs
U
r
ppe
496
ond
Sec
249
nd
eco
er S
Low
53
rd
Thi
Overall
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
7
2
Destinations and career paths
of physics graduates
2.4 Destinations by degree type and gender
»W
omen with BSc degrees were more likely than
men with BSc degrees to continue education
(49.2% compared to 44.3%), with a larger
proportion of men entering employment (figures
2.4a and 2.4b).
education and 33.8% of women and 35.4% of
men in employment (figures 2.4c and 2.4d).
» The most notable difference between men and
women with MPhys/MSci degrees was seen in
the proportion of respondents who were studying
for a further Masters qualification, with almost
twice the percentage of women as men choosing
this option: 11.3% compared to 6.3% (figures
2.4c and 2.4d).
» Unlike the BSc, the distribution of destinations
for male and female respondents with MPhys/
MSci degrees is very similar with 58.3% of men
and 58.2% of women choosing to continue
Figure 2.4a
Destinations of female respondents with BSc degrees one year after graduation (n=193)
6.2%
4.7%
43.5%
.4%
25
10
.9%
9 .3 %
Figure 2.4b
Destinations of male respondents with BSc degrees one year after graduation (n=343)
8.5%
4. 4 %
Masters
PhD
Employed
8
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
12
.5 %
45.2%
4%
22 .
Men with BSc
degrees were the
most likely group to
be unemployed one
year after graduation.
7%
» When considering the proportions of respondents
studying for a PhD, 44.6% of women and 48.1%
of men with MPhys/MSci degrees chose this
option compared to only 10.9% of women and
12.5% of men with BSc degrees. This indicates
that the MPhys/MSci is being maintained as the
primary route into PhD study.
» Females with BSc degrees were the most likely
of the four groups to go on to teacher-training
courses, with 9.3% of respondents choosing
this route compared to 4.4% of men with BSc
degrees, 1.4% of women with MPhys/MSci
degrees and 1.9% of men with MPhys/MSci
degrees.
Figure 2.4c
Destinations of female respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees one year after graduation (n=213)
5.2%
3.8%
11
. 3%
33.8%
6%
1.
44
4%
.
Figure 2.4d
Destinations of male respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees one year after graduation (n=432)
5.1
3.2%
6.3%
35.4%
48
.1 %
1. 9
Masters
PhD
Employed
%
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
9
3
Graduates entering
employment
3.1 Salary levels for graduates one year after graduation
» The median salary for respondents in
employment one year after completing their
degree was £22,500. This is higher than the
estimated salaries for graduates in 2008 across
all degrees of £19,667* (figure 3.1a).
» T he median salary for female respondents was
£21,800, 4.3% lower than their male peers.
A higher proportion of women were earning less
than £20,000 and a small number of men were
earning more than £50,000 (10 men and one
woman were in this group) (figure 3.1a).
»S
ignificantly more respondents with MPhys/MSci
degrees were earning over £20,000 compared
with respondents with BSc degrees. The median
salary for respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees
was £23,300, 8.7% higher than the median
salary for respondents with BSc degrees of
£21,500 (figure 3.1a).
» The gender pay gap for respondents with
MPhys/MSci degrees was lower than for
respondents with BSc degrees: at 3.3% for
those with an MPhys/MSci compared to 6.4%
for those with a BSc (figure 3.1a).
» There is a clear connection between the salary
of respondents and the degree class, with
a higher proportion of male and female
respondents with first-class degrees earning
over £25,000 (figure 3.1b).
Figure 3.1a
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by degree type and gender
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
84
ale
Fem
149
233
le
tal
Ma
BSc
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
*HESA
To
66
ale
147
213
le
tal
Ma
Fem
MPhys/MSci
To
178
ale
Fem
365
le
Ma
543
l
a
Tot
Overall
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100.000
Destination of leavers survey for graduates of known destination in full-time employment six months after
graduation. The 2008 figure is used as the most appropriate comparison to the data presented here that represents
the average across respondents graduating between 2006-2009.
10
The gap in pay levels for male and female
respondents is evident in this figure considering
that the distribution of salaries for women with
first-class degrees is very similar to men with
upper-second class degrees.
Figure 3.1b
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by gender and degree class
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
58
74
33
t
Firs
nd
nd
eco
eco
S
S
r
r
e
pe
Low
Up
8
rd
Thi
114
127
94
t
d
d
s
n
r
n
i
o
o
F
ec
ec
S
S
r
r
e
pe
Up
Low
Male
Female
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
19
rd
Thi
172
irst
201
127
nd
nd
F
eco
eco
S
S
r
r
e
pe
Low
Up
28
rd
Thi
Overall
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100.000
3.2 Salary levels for graduates by number of years after graduation and gender
» Of respondents in employment two years after
graduation, over 40% were earning more than
£25,000, with a higher proportion of men than
women earning more than £30,000.
» From tracking the salaries of the respondents
who entered and remained in employment, the
distribution of salaries have consistently moved
towards higher salary bands for additional
years in employment.
11
3
Graduates entering
employment
3.3 Relevance of physics for graduates in employment
Respondents in employment were asked to rate how closely related their occupation was to physics and how useful
they thought their physics degree was for their occupation.
»R
espondents with MPhys/MSci degrees were
» Overall, two thirds reported that their physics
more likely to report that their occupation was
background was useful or very useful for their
related to physics than respondents with BSc
occupation, with similar patterns for men and
degrees. There were similar patterns for male and
women and respondents with MPhys/MSci and
female respondents with both types of degrees,
BSc degrees. The exception to this was again
although a higher proportion of women with BSc
women with BSc degrees who were the least
degrees reported that their occupation is not at
likely to report that their physics background is
all related to physics.
useful for their occupation.
3.4 Employment sectors for graduates in employment
» Respondents in employment one year after
graduation were working in a wide range of
employment sectors with the largest numbers
choosing jobs in education, finance or scientific
and technical industries* (figure 3.4a).
» Respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees are
more likely than those with BSc degrees to go
into scientific and technical industries, energy
and environment or government research. This
was particularly true for female respondents
with MPhys/MSci degrees (figure 3.4b).
» Women were more likely than men to work in
education and less likely to work in electronics/
IT/software. There were similar proportions of
men and women with both BSc and MPhys/
MSci degrees working in finance (figure 3.4b).
» Respondents with first-class degrees were the
most likely group to be working in finance and
those with lower-second or third-class degrees
were the most likely to be working in education.
» There are comparable salary distributions
for female and male respondents working in
education and finance, with the exception of
a group of men in finance earning very high
salaries (figure 3.4c).
» The most notable salary difference for men and
women are in media and communications and
electronics/IT/software, where men are more likely
to be earning the highest salaries (figure 3.4c).
» Respondents with BSc degrees were more
likely than those with MPhys/MSci degrees to
be working in media and communications and
retail sectors.
» Scientific and technical industries and
energy and environment show similar salary
distributions for men and women.
Figure 3.4a
Numbers of respondents in employment one year after graduation by employment sector
0
10
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
n=
92
ion
cat
Edu
91
44
40
37
32
32
26
17
e
e
re
nt
d
T/
ch
car
and
and
isu
anc fic an s
me
s/I
ear
rgy ment tronic ware edia tions tail/le Health
res
ti strie overn
e
t
n
n
t
n
e
M
a
E iron lec sof
G
e
c Re
Sci l indu
E
uni
rnm
env
ica
mm
ove
n
o
G
h
c
c
Fin
te
12
78
6
al
Leg
21
er
Oth
Figure 3.4b
Employment sectors for respondents in employment one year after graduation by degree type and gender
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
79
145
Fe
224
69
al
Tot
le
Ma
le
ma
137
206
Fe
c
BS
172
al
Tot
le
Ma
le
ma
344
Fe
rall
ci
MS
s/
Phy
Ove
M
Scientific and technical industries
Energy and environment
Government research
Electronics / IT / software
516
al
Tot
le
Ma
le
ma
Healthcare
Government
Education
Finance
Legal
Media and communications
Retail/leisure
Other
Figure 3.4c
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by selected employment sector
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
12
le
ma
Fe
27
ale
28
ale
M
Fem
and
rgy ment
e
n
E iron
env
45
M
and
ific tries
t
n
s
e
Sci l indu
ca
i
n
ech
t
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
ale
41
49
ale
ale
M
Fem
ion
cat
Edu
25
62
ale
5
M
Fem
ale
M
Fem
e
anc
Fin
37
ale
ale
8
are
M
nd
ia a
com
11
16
ale
le
Ma
Fem
s
ion
cat
ni
mu
/
ics
ron
ct
Ele
ale
Fem
ftw
so
IT/
22
ale
ure
leis
il/
eta
R
d
Me
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
*Science
and technical industries encompasses individuals working in aerospace/space, defence, instrumentation,
manufacturing/construction, transport, or other science/technical sectors.
13
3
Graduates entering
employment
3.5 Unemployment rates for graduates
» T he average proportion of respondents who
were unemployed one year after graduation
was 6.4%. The rate of unemployment increased
slightly for graduates in 2008 and 2009,
but this increase was significantly less than
the national graduate unemployment figures
and more closely in line with the UK average
unemployment rate in this period.*
Figure 3.5a
Unemployment rates for respondents one year after graduation compared to estimated national figures
18.7
.0
20
.0
17.4
18
.0
16
.0
% Unemployed
14
11.4
.0
12
11.9
.0
10
8.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
5.8
6.0
5.4
5.6
8.0
6.3
2.0
0.0
06
20
08
07
20
20
09
20
Year of graduation
All graduates 0-1 year
UK workforce aged 16-64
Respondents to survey one year after graduation
*National
14
unemployment figures taken from Office for national Statistics release Labour Market Statistics, August 2011
» Not only is there a smaller proportion of
unemployed respondents one year after
graduation, but also the proportion of
unemployed respondents decreases for two,
three and four years following graduation.
Figure 3.5b
Average unemployment rates for respondents by time after graduation
7%
6.4%
6%
5%
4.1%
4%
3%
2.0%
2%
2.0%
1%
0%
ion
uat
O
r
yea
ne
aft
rad
er g
ion
ft
sa
r
yea
Two
ion
ft
sa
Thr
e
ear
ey
rad
er g
ion
uat
uat
uat
rad
er g
ars
ye
our
rad
er g
aft
F
15
4
Destinations of graduates
WITH DISABILITIES
The number of respondents who declared a disability was small (around 7% of all respondents),
therefore, the results presented here are sensitive to changes of one or two people. They are
useful as indications of circumstances, but not necessarily representative of destinations for
all disabled graduates.
» For those in employment, respondents declaring
a disability were more likely to be earning less
than £25,000 than all respondents (79%
compared to 67%) (figure 4.1b).
» When respondents declaring a disability who
were in employment one year after graduation
are analysed by employment sector, a similar
distribution is seen as for all respondents, with
the exception of a higher proportion of disabled
respondents working in education and a smaller
proportion working in finance.
» Respondents declaring a disability were slightly
more likely to be continuing education one
year after graduation than all respondents and
correspondingly less likely to be in employment
(figure 4.1a).
» A higher proportion of respondents declaring
a disability were unemployed one year after
graduation (14%) compared to all respondents
(6%) (figure 4.1a).
ts
den
g
arin
ecl bility
d
s
a
ent a dis
ond
p
Res
72
r
n=
All
on
esp
1444
Figure 4.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by disability status
0%
%
%
%
20
10
30
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
%
40
%
50
%
60
%
70
%
80
%
90
0%
10
Employed
Unemployed
Other
All respondents
19n=1444
Figure 4.1b
Salaries for respondents in employment one year after graduation by disability status
g
arin
ecl ibility
d
s
ent ons
ond a resp
p
s
e
ts
den
r
n=
All
on
esp
540
R
0%
%
10
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
16
%
20
%
30
%
40
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
%
50
%
60
%
70
%
80
%
90
0%
10
5
Destinations of graduates
from black and ethnic-minority
backgrounds
The number of black and ethnic minority (BME) respondents was small (around 12% of the sample). Therefore
a shift of one or two people between categories could have a large effect. As for disabled graduates, the
results presented here offer indications, but are not necessarily representative of all BME graduates.
» Respondents from BME backgrounds were slightly
more likely than their white peers to be continuing
further study one year after graduation, with 52%
of BME respondents choosing this path compared
to 49% of white respondents (figure 5.1a).
» Of respondents who were continuing education
one year after graduation, there is a very similar
distribution of further-study options for white and
BME respondents (figure 5.1a).
» T here was a higher proportion of BME respondents
working in education (31% of BME compared
to 17% of white respondents) and a greater
proportion of white respondents working in
scientific and technical industries, energy
and environment and government research.
Conversely, BME respondents were more likely to
be in electrical/IT/software industries than white
respondents (12% compared to 7%).
» For those in employment, BME respondents were
slightly more likely to be earning over £25,000
than white respondents (37% compared to 32%)
(figure 5.1b).
ite
ite
WBhME
127
1294
E
127n=
Wh
1294
Figure 5.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by ethnicity
BM
n=
0%
%
10
%
20
Masters
PhD %
%
0%
20
10
PGCE/Teacher
Training
%
30
%
40
Employed
Unemployed
%
%
30
40
Other
%
70
%
70
%
60
%
60
50
50
%
80
%
80
%
%
90
%
90
%
90
%
90
%
0%
10
0%
10
E
BM
43
490
ite
WBhME
43n=
ite
Wh
490
Figure 5.1b
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by ethnicity
n=
0%
0%
10
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
467
ite
Wh
30
20
%
%
30
20
%
%
10
%
40
%
40
%
50
%
70
60
70
%
%
60
50
%
%
%
80
%
80
%
%
0%
10
0%
10
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
17
6
Destinations of graduates
by socio-economic status
Respondents were classified into socio-economic groups Major 1 to 9 based on their parental
occupation, or in the case of mature students, their current/most recent or their partner’s
occupation. Major 1 and Major 2 correspond respectively to higher and lower professional and
managerial backgrounds, Major 3 corresponds to associate professional/technical occupations,
whereas Major 4–9 encompass occupations in administration, skilled and unskilled trades, caring,
customer service and plant/machine operation.
Figure 6.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by socio-economic status
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
291
r1
ajo
M
0%
10
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
641
or 2
j
j
Ma
148
or 3
Ma
jor
Ma
241
4-9
76
r
the
O
Employed
Unemployed
Other
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
18
30
%
Office for National Statistics, Standard Occupational Classifications 2000 (major groups 1 to 9).
1 » Managers and senior officials
2 » Professional occupations
3 » Associate professional and technical
occupations
4 » Administrative and secretarial occupations
5 » Skilled trades occupations
6 » Personal service occupations
7 » Sales and customer service occupations
8 » Process, plant and machine operatives
9 » Elementary occupations
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
» Respondents from Major 1 were less likely than
those
from Major 2–9 to go on to further study
%
50
and more likely to be employed (figure 6.1a).
%
» 4T0here
was a very similar proportion taking
teacher-training courses across all groups
(figure
6.1a).
%
30
» Respondents from Major 1 were more likely to
be earning over £25,000 and average salaries
decrease for the lower socio-economic groups
(figure 6.1a).
» Analysis of employment sectors for respondents
in employment by socio-economic group show a
similar distribution of sectors across all groups.
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
291
641
148
241
Figure 6.1b or 1
3
2
4-9
jor
j
jor
jor
Ma graduation by socio-economic
Ma
Ma
Salaries for respondents
in employment
one year after
status
Ma
76
r
e
Oth
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
134
r1
ajo
M
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
232
M
r2
ajo
53
M
r3
ajo
77
Ma
j
-9
or 4
30
r
e
Oth
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
19
7
Destinations of graduates
by institution
7.1 Destinations of graduates from different institutions
» Respondents from Russell Group* institutions
show a very similar proportion going on to
further study as those from non-Russell Group
institutions but Russell Group respondents were
more likely to go on to PhD study and less likely
to go on to Masters qualifications (figure 7.1a).
»R
espondents from Russell Group institutions
earned slightly higher salaries, with a higher
proportion of respondents earning over
£25,000 than those from non-Russell Group
institutions (figure 7.1b).
» Respondents from Russell Group institutions
were more likely to go into finance and
education, compared to those from non-Russell
Group institutions who were more likely to
take up positions in scientific and technical
industries, energy and environment
or government research (figure 7.1c).
Figure 7.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation from different institutions
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
759
619
oup
ll Gr
e
Russ
0%
10
%
90
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
oup
ll Gr
sse
n-Ru
1378
all
Over
No
Employed
Unemployed
Other
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
* The
definition of Russell Group institutions does not include the universities of Durham, York, Exeter and
%
20 Queen Mary who joined the Russell Group in March 2012.
20
%
10
%
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
759
ll
619
p
Grou
ll
1378
0%
all
Over
p
Grou
se
Figure 7.1bRusse
-Rus
Non
Salaries for respondents in employment one year after graduation from different institutions
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
286
ell
Russ
238
p
Grou
sell
-Rus
Non
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
524
all
Over
p
Grou
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
Figure 7.1c
Employment sectors of respondents in employment one year after graduation from different institutions
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
262
ell
Russ
235
p
Grou
Scientific and technical industries
Energy and environment
Government research
Electronics/IT/software
sell
-Rus
Non
497
all
Over
p
Grou
Healthcare
Government
Education
Finance
Legal
Media and communications
Retail/leisure
Other
21
n
7
Destinations of graduates
by institution
7.2 Destinations of graduates from different institutions by degree class
» Considering the destinations of respondents
from Russell Group institutions by degree class,
the differences identified in section 7.1 for the
destinations from Russell Group and nonRussell Group institutions are not apparent for
respondents with first- or upper-second class
degrees (figure 7.2a).
» Respondents with lower-second or third-class
degrees from Russell Group institutions were
less likely to go on to further study and more
likely to be employed than those with lowersecond or third-class degrees from non-Russell
Group institutions (figure 7.2a).
» When degree class is taken into account, there
are smaller differences between the distribution
of salaries for respondents from Russell Group
or non-Russell Group institutions. This may
indicate that, for physics graduates, degree
class is a more significant factor in determining
salary for those in employment than the
institution attended (figure 7.2b).
» The main difference between those with first
or upper-second class degrees from Russell
Group and non-Russell Group institutions is
in the choice of employment sector. Those
from non-Russell Group institutions were more
likely to stay in science sectors, whereas those
from the Russell Group have a wider spread
across all employment sectors, including a
larger proportion working in finance (25.1%
compared to 17.4%) (figure 7.2c).
Teacher-training courses are most likely to attract
respondents with lower-second or third-class degrees for
both Russell Group and non-Russell Group institutions.
Figure 7.2a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation from different institutions by degree class
0%
0%
10
10
%
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
600
1st+2:1
142
2:2+3rd
445
1st+2:1
Russell Group
0%
10
%
22
90
%
80
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
151
2:2+3rd
Non-Russell Group
Employed
Unemployed
Other
1045
1st+2:1
293
2:2+3rd
Overall
0%
0%
n=
600
1st+2:1
142
2:2+3rd
Russell Group
445
1st+2:1
151
2:2+3rd
1045
1st+2:1
Non-Russell Group
293
2:2+3rd
0%
n=
1
Overall
Figure 7.2b
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation from different institutions by degree class
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
204
1st+2:1
81
2:2+3rd
Russell Group
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
160
1st+2:1
69
2:2+3rd
364
1st+2:1
Non-Russell Group
150
2:2+3rd
Overall
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
Figure 7.2c
Employment sectors for respondents in employment one year after graduation from different
institutions by degree class
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
187
1st+2:1
74
2:2+3rd
Russell Group
Scientific and technical industries
Energy and environment
Government research
Electronics/IT/software
155
1st+2:1
71
2:2+3rd
342
1st+2:1
Non-Russell Group
Healthcare
Government
Education
Finance
145
2:2+3rd
Overall
Legal
Media and communications
Retail/leisure
Other
23
8
Appendix – Demographics
of the sample
Sampling
The study has collected information from 5737
final-year undergraduates taking physics degrees
in the UK and Ireland between 2006 and 2010.
We estimate that this is a response rate of around
40% of the population of all physics graduates
in this period.
There was a drop in the number of responses one
year after graduation, with 34% of those captured
in the initial survey responding to the followup questionnaire. However, there was a better
retention rate for subsequent follow-up surveys.
For example, 83% of the people who responded
to the first follow-up survey also responded to
the second.
Gender
The proportion of female respondents at each
stage of the survey (average 28%) was higher
than the average proportion of female physics
graduates (21%) indicating that women were
more likely than men to complete the first survey
and respond to the follow-up surveys. This oversampling of women has been beneficial for the
analysis by gender to increase the sample sizes
under consideration.
Socio-economic status
Respondents were classified into socioeconomic groups Major 1 to 9 based on their
parental occupation, or in the case of mature
students their current/most recent or their
partner’s occupation. Classification was based
on the Office of National Statistics Standard
Occupational Classifications 2000*. Major 1 and
Major 2 correspond respectively to higher and
lower professional and managerial backgrounds,
Major 3 corresponds to associate professional/
technical occupations and Major 4–9 encompass
occupations in administration, skilled and
unskilled trades, caring, customer service and
plant/machine operation.
* Full
Over 60% of respondents were classified as
Major groups 1 and 2, indicating that the
majority of respondents came from professional
and managerial backgrounds. The proportion of
graduates from Major group 1 (20%) is consistent
with data for undergraduate students in physics
from the Higher Education Statistics Agency
(HESA). However, the proportion of respondents
in Major group 2 (46%) was significantly higher
than the proportion in this group given by HESA
(around 11%) of undergraduate physics students.
Ethnicity
Around 12% of respondents were from nonwhite ethnic backgrounds in each cohort, with
particularly small numbers of graduates from
black backgrounds. This is consistent with
HESA data, which puts the proportion of white
undergraduate students in physics at around 90%.
Therefore, in this sense the survey population is
representative of the pool of physics graduates
that respondents were drawn from.
Disability
There were a small number of respondents
declaring a disability in the initial and follow-up
surveys (6%). This is lower than the proportion of
students declaring a disability within HESA data
(10%). This may be indicative of accessibility
issues for disabled students and graduates
completing the paper or online surveys – an
important consideration for future research of this
nature. For survey respondents who considered
themselves to have a disability, the most prevalent
impairment given was dyslexia.
Degree class
Of respondents to the survey, 41% achieved
a first-class degree, which is 11% higher than
the proportion of graduates gaining a first from
HESA data for this period. Correspondingly, 4% of
survey respondents achieved a third-class degree
compared to 10% from HESA data.
details can be found here http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/archived-standard-classifications/
standard-occupational-classification-2000/index.html
24
The Career Paths of
Physics Graduates
A longitudinal study
2006–2010
For more information please contact:
Frances Ling
IOP Institute of Physics
76 Portland Place
London W1B 1NT
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7470 4842
Fax: +44 (0)20 7470 4848
E-mail: [email protected]
www.iop.org/diversity
Registered charity: 293851
Scottish charity register number: SC040092
This document is also available to download
as a PDF from our website.
The RNIB clear print guidelines have been
considered in the production of this document.
Clear print is a design approach that considers
the needs of people with sight problems.
For more information, visit www.rnib.org.uk.
Physics Graduates
A longitudinal study
2006–2010
1
Acknowledgments
The Institute would like to thank the research team at the Centre for Education and Industry (CEI)
at the University of Warwick who ran the surveys and produced the interim reports.
All of the students and graduates who participated in this study are thanked for their time and effort.
Thanks also go to the staff within physics departments for their help in distributing the questionnaires.
Designed and produced by Cavendish Design & Advertising.
preface............................................................................................ 2
key findings.................................................................................... 3
Destinations and career paths of graduates.......................... 4-9
2.1 Longitudinal data on destinations of graduates.......................................4
2.2 Destinations by gender...........................................................................6
2.3 Destinations by gender and degree class.................................................7
2.4 Destination by degree type and gender....................................................8
Graduates entering employment.......................................... 10-15
3.1 Salary levels for graduates one year after graduation............................10
3.2 Salary levels for graduates by number
of years after graduation and gender....................................................11
3.3 Relevance of physics for graduates in employment................................12
3.4 Employment sectors for graduates in employment.................................12
3.5 Unemployment rates for graduates........................................................14
Destinations of graduates with disabilities............................. 16
Destinations of graduates from Black
and ethnic minority backgrounds............................................. 17
Destinations of graduates by
socio-economic status........................................................... 18-19
Destinations of graduates by institution............................ 20-23
7.1 Destinations of graduates from different institutions.............................20
7.2 Destinations of graduates from different institutions by degree class.....22
Appendix – Demographics of the sample................................... 24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
preface
» What do physics graduates do when they finish their degree?
» How much do they earn?
» What sectors do they work in?
» Are they more employable than other graduates?
» Are there differences between men and women?
At the Institute of Physics, we are frequently asked to help answer these questions. While
there are various sources of information that give us a partial understanding of where
physics graduates find themselves, we have lacked the robust data to see the whole picture
of the paths graduates take as they start their careers.
In 2005, the Institute of Physics commissioned a five-year longitudinal study of physics
graduates to identify and track the career development of physicists over the first four years
following graduation.
Between 2006 and 2010, final-year physics students were asked to complete a survey on
their intentions after graduation. Graduates were then re-contacted on an annual basis by
e-mail and invited to edit and augment the information to allow us to chart the paths they
had taken.
We have gathered information from 5737 final year undergraduates from 55 institutions,
46 in the UK and nine in Ireland. We estimate this represents a response rate of 35–40%
of all physics graduates in this period. Through the study we have had the opportunity of
examining the career development of graduates from non-traditional groups, including
women, ethnic minorities, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those
with a disability – information vital to form the basis of projects aimed at encouraging
participation in physics from a wider, more diverse community.
In this report we present a summary of the data on the destinations of respondents.
Alongside this report, we have produced a more in-depth analysis, available to download
from www.iop.org/diversity.
It is gratifying to see that the data back-up our experiences – many physics graduates go
on to further study, while those that enter employment work in a wide range of professions
and earn more than average. They are also less likely to be unemployed than the overall
graduate population.
Work of this nature is crucial to ensure that potential students are given reliable information
as the basis for the choices they make about their future. It also reassures current physics
undergraduates of the value of their physics degree and highlights the many and varied
places it can take them.
Prof. Peter Main
Director, Education and Science
May 2012
2
key findings
» Overall, 52.4% of respondents were continuing education one year after graduation, with PhD
study as the most popular option, followed by a Masters qualification. 39.2% of respondents
were in employment one year after graduation, 6.5% were unemployed and 3.7% were
undertaking teacher-training courses.
» There are small differences by gender for destinations of respondents one year after
graduation, with women slightly more likely to be taking Masters or teacher-training courses
and men more likely to be studying for a PhD.
» Respondents with first- or upper-second class degrees were most likely to proceed to further
study, and PhDs in particular, but only a very small proportion entered teacher training.
» Gender differences in destination are more apparent for graduates with BSc than MPhys/
MSci degrees. Women with BSc degrees were the most likely group to go into teacher training
with 9.3% choosing this route, compared to 4.4% of men with a BSc degree, 1.4% of women
with a MPhys/MSci degree and 1.9% men with a MPhys/MSci degree.
» Respondents in employment earned an average salary of £22,500, 14% higher than the
average graduate salary of £19,700 for all subjects (2008 figure). There was a 4.3% gender
pay gap.
» Respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees had an average salary of £23,300, 8.7% higher than
the average with BSc degrees. The gender pay gap was lower, at 3.3%, for respondents with
MPhys/MSci degrees.
» Respondents with first-class degrees earned higher salaries. However, women with first-class
degrees had the same distribution of salaries as men with upper-seconds.
» Respondents with first-class degrees were more likely to be working in the finance sector
and less likely to be in the education sector.
» Women with BSc degrees were the least likely to report that their occupation was related
to physics and the least likely to report that their physics background was useful for their
occupation.
» The increase in the proportion of unemployed respondents between 2006 and 2009 was
much lower than the increase for graduates from all subjects in this period.
» Respondents from higher socio-economic groups were more likely to be employed and less
likely to be continuing education than respondents from lower groups.
» Degree class was a more significant factor than attending a Russell Group institution
in determining destination, salary and employment sector. The exception to this was for
respondents entering finance, who were more likely to have first-class degrees from Russell
Group institutions.
3
2.1 Longitudinal data on destinations of graduates
Figure 2.1 charts the career paths of individuals who have taken part in the longitudinal study.
The central disc represents the destinations of all respondents one year after graduation and each
subsequent ring represents the destinations of the respondents the study has tracked a further year on.
To understand the development of the career paths of individuals, it is helpful to split the diagram
into segments along the lines defined by the central disc representing the destinations one year after
graduation. For example, from the red segment of the central disc 15% of respondents in all cohorts
were taking a Masters course one year after graduation. In the second ring which shows those tracked
for at least two years, 21% were studying for a PhD, 50% were continuing with a Masters course, 27%
were employed and 1% (one person) was unemployed.
» The majority of respondents going into
employment or on to PhD study have continued
on these paths over the first few years after
graduation. Respondents who studied for a
Masters qualifications either continued
Masters study, progressed to PhDs or went
into employment, with only one respondent
becoming unemployed or no respondents
taking other routes after Masters courses.
» There is a group of respondents who entered
employment in the year after graduation but at
later stages decided to return to further study,
at either PhD and Masters level, or chose
other paths. For the individuals tracked
for four years after graduation this group
is approximately one quarter of those
who entered employment initially.
» The proportion of respondents who were
unemployed after one year is small
(6.4%) and of these the majority have
secured employment or entered a PhD
course two years after graduation. There
are a small number that have remained
unemployed for two (9 out of 594
respondents), and in some cases three
years after graduation (2 out of 319
respondents).
» When analysed by year of graduation,
there were no significant differences
in the distribution of destinations.
The exception to this was the proportion
of unemployed respondents which slightly
increased between 2006 and 2009
(see section 3.5) and a decrease in
the proportion choosing Other routes.
PhD
Gaps in the rings appear where we do not have
information for any of the individuals from the
segment of the previous ring. This occurs when
people have not completed a follow-up survey or are
in a cohort not tracked for the full number of years.
In the analysis the ‘Other’ category encompasses
routes such as career breaks, voluntary work or
other further study options.
» 52.4% of respondents were continuing
education one year after graduation, with PhD
study as the most popular option, followed by
undertaking a Masters qualification. 39.2% of
respondents were in employment, 6.5% were
unemployed and 3.7% were undertaking
teacher-training courses.
2
Destinations and career paths
of physics graduates
Figure 2.1
Temporal representation of the development of physicists’ career paths
Data are presented as totals over all cohorts in the following manner:
» Central disc: one year after graduation for cohorts graduating in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (n=1448)
» Second ring: two years after graduation for cohorts graduating in 2006, 2007 and 2008 (n=594)
» Third ring: three years after graduation for cohorts graduating in 2006 and 2007 (n=319)
» Fourth ring: four years after graduation for cohort graduating in 2006 (n=114)
4
s
r
e
t
Mas
PGC
E
PhD
Masters
PGCE
Employed
Unemployed
Other
Employ
ed
Unemployed
5
Othe
r
2
Destinations and career paths
of physics graduates
2.2 Destinations by gender
» T he same proportions of male and female
respondents were continuing education one year
after graduation. However, female respondents
were more likely to be studying for Masters or
on teacher-training courses, whereas their male
peers were more likely to go on to PhD study.
» Similar proportions of male and female
respondents entered employment, were
unemployed or chose other routes one
year after graduation.
Figure 2.2a
Destinations of female respondents one year after graduation for all cohorts (n=481)
6%
5%
38%
%
18
7%
2
6%
Figure 2.2b
Destinations of male respondents one year after graduation for all cohorts (n=956)
7%
5%
14
39 %
%
32
%
3%
Masters
PhD
Employed
6
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
2.3 Destinations by gender and degree class
» The distributions of destinations for males and
females with first- and upper-second class
degrees are similar. Respondents with first-class
degrees were the most likely to be continuing
education and studying for a PhD in particular.
» Gender differences can be seen, in particular,
for respondents with lower-second class degrees,
where females were more likely than males to
be studying for Masters qualifications and less
likely to be in employment.
» Respondents with third-class degrees were
more likely to go in to teacher training or be in
employment one year after graduation. However,
this group also had the highest proportion of
respondents who are unemployed one year after
graduation (15% of female and 18% for male
graduates respectively).
There was only a very small proportion of
respondents with first- or upper-second
class degrees choosing to enter teachertraining courses.
Figure 2.3a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by degree class and gender
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
199
t
Firs
r
ppe
177
ond
Sec
U
75
nd
eco
er S
Low
Female
Masters
PhD
Employed
13
rd
Thi
394
t
Firs
U
r
ppe
319
ond
Sec
174
nd
eco
er S
Low
40
rd
Thi
Male
593
t
Firs
U
r
ppe
496
ond
Sec
249
nd
eco
er S
Low
53
rd
Thi
Overall
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
7
2
Destinations and career paths
of physics graduates
2.4 Destinations by degree type and gender
»W
omen with BSc degrees were more likely than
men with BSc degrees to continue education
(49.2% compared to 44.3%), with a larger
proportion of men entering employment (figures
2.4a and 2.4b).
education and 33.8% of women and 35.4% of
men in employment (figures 2.4c and 2.4d).
» The most notable difference between men and
women with MPhys/MSci degrees was seen in
the proportion of respondents who were studying
for a further Masters qualification, with almost
twice the percentage of women as men choosing
this option: 11.3% compared to 6.3% (figures
2.4c and 2.4d).
» Unlike the BSc, the distribution of destinations
for male and female respondents with MPhys/
MSci degrees is very similar with 58.3% of men
and 58.2% of women choosing to continue
Figure 2.4a
Destinations of female respondents with BSc degrees one year after graduation (n=193)
6.2%
4.7%
43.5%
.4%
25
10
.9%
9 .3 %
Figure 2.4b
Destinations of male respondents with BSc degrees one year after graduation (n=343)
8.5%
4. 4 %
Masters
PhD
Employed
8
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
12
.5 %
45.2%
4%
22 .
Men with BSc
degrees were the
most likely group to
be unemployed one
year after graduation.
7%
» When considering the proportions of respondents
studying for a PhD, 44.6% of women and 48.1%
of men with MPhys/MSci degrees chose this
option compared to only 10.9% of women and
12.5% of men with BSc degrees. This indicates
that the MPhys/MSci is being maintained as the
primary route into PhD study.
» Females with BSc degrees were the most likely
of the four groups to go on to teacher-training
courses, with 9.3% of respondents choosing
this route compared to 4.4% of men with BSc
degrees, 1.4% of women with MPhys/MSci
degrees and 1.9% of men with MPhys/MSci
degrees.
Figure 2.4c
Destinations of female respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees one year after graduation (n=213)
5.2%
3.8%
11
. 3%
33.8%
6%
1.
44
4%
.
Figure 2.4d
Destinations of male respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees one year after graduation (n=432)
5.1
3.2%
6.3%
35.4%
48
.1 %
1. 9
Masters
PhD
Employed
%
PGCE/Teacher Training
Unemployed
Other
9
3
Graduates entering
employment
3.1 Salary levels for graduates one year after graduation
» The median salary for respondents in
employment one year after completing their
degree was £22,500. This is higher than the
estimated salaries for graduates in 2008 across
all degrees of £19,667* (figure 3.1a).
» T he median salary for female respondents was
£21,800, 4.3% lower than their male peers.
A higher proportion of women were earning less
than £20,000 and a small number of men were
earning more than £50,000 (10 men and one
woman were in this group) (figure 3.1a).
»S
ignificantly more respondents with MPhys/MSci
degrees were earning over £20,000 compared
with respondents with BSc degrees. The median
salary for respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees
was £23,300, 8.7% higher than the median
salary for respondents with BSc degrees of
£21,500 (figure 3.1a).
» The gender pay gap for respondents with
MPhys/MSci degrees was lower than for
respondents with BSc degrees: at 3.3% for
those with an MPhys/MSci compared to 6.4%
for those with a BSc (figure 3.1a).
» There is a clear connection between the salary
of respondents and the degree class, with
a higher proportion of male and female
respondents with first-class degrees earning
over £25,000 (figure 3.1b).
Figure 3.1a
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by degree type and gender
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
84
ale
Fem
149
233
le
tal
Ma
BSc
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
*HESA
To
66
ale
147
213
le
tal
Ma
Fem
MPhys/MSci
To
178
ale
Fem
365
le
Ma
543
l
a
Tot
Overall
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100.000
Destination of leavers survey for graduates of known destination in full-time employment six months after
graduation. The 2008 figure is used as the most appropriate comparison to the data presented here that represents
the average across respondents graduating between 2006-2009.
10
The gap in pay levels for male and female
respondents is evident in this figure considering
that the distribution of salaries for women with
first-class degrees is very similar to men with
upper-second class degrees.
Figure 3.1b
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by gender and degree class
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
58
74
33
t
Firs
nd
nd
eco
eco
S
S
r
r
e
pe
Low
Up
8
rd
Thi
114
127
94
t
d
d
s
n
r
n
i
o
o
F
ec
ec
S
S
r
r
e
pe
Up
Low
Male
Female
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
19
rd
Thi
172
irst
201
127
nd
nd
F
eco
eco
S
S
r
r
e
pe
Low
Up
28
rd
Thi
Overall
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100.000
3.2 Salary levels for graduates by number of years after graduation and gender
» Of respondents in employment two years after
graduation, over 40% were earning more than
£25,000, with a higher proportion of men than
women earning more than £30,000.
» From tracking the salaries of the respondents
who entered and remained in employment, the
distribution of salaries have consistently moved
towards higher salary bands for additional
years in employment.
11
3
Graduates entering
employment
3.3 Relevance of physics for graduates in employment
Respondents in employment were asked to rate how closely related their occupation was to physics and how useful
they thought their physics degree was for their occupation.
»R
espondents with MPhys/MSci degrees were
» Overall, two thirds reported that their physics
more likely to report that their occupation was
background was useful or very useful for their
related to physics than respondents with BSc
occupation, with similar patterns for men and
degrees. There were similar patterns for male and
women and respondents with MPhys/MSci and
female respondents with both types of degrees,
BSc degrees. The exception to this was again
although a higher proportion of women with BSc
women with BSc degrees who were the least
degrees reported that their occupation is not at
likely to report that their physics background is
all related to physics.
useful for their occupation.
3.4 Employment sectors for graduates in employment
» Respondents in employment one year after
graduation were working in a wide range of
employment sectors with the largest numbers
choosing jobs in education, finance or scientific
and technical industries* (figure 3.4a).
» Respondents with MPhys/MSci degrees are
more likely than those with BSc degrees to go
into scientific and technical industries, energy
and environment or government research. This
was particularly true for female respondents
with MPhys/MSci degrees (figure 3.4b).
» Women were more likely than men to work in
education and less likely to work in electronics/
IT/software. There were similar proportions of
men and women with both BSc and MPhys/
MSci degrees working in finance (figure 3.4b).
» Respondents with first-class degrees were the
most likely group to be working in finance and
those with lower-second or third-class degrees
were the most likely to be working in education.
» There are comparable salary distributions
for female and male respondents working in
education and finance, with the exception of
a group of men in finance earning very high
salaries (figure 3.4c).
» The most notable salary difference for men and
women are in media and communications and
electronics/IT/software, where men are more likely
to be earning the highest salaries (figure 3.4c).
» Respondents with BSc degrees were more
likely than those with MPhys/MSci degrees to
be working in media and communications and
retail sectors.
» Scientific and technical industries and
energy and environment show similar salary
distributions for men and women.
Figure 3.4a
Numbers of respondents in employment one year after graduation by employment sector
0
10
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
n=
92
ion
cat
Edu
91
44
40
37
32
32
26
17
e
e
re
nt
d
T/
ch
car
and
and
isu
anc fic an s
me
s/I
ear
rgy ment tronic ware edia tions tail/le Health
res
ti strie overn
e
t
n
n
t
n
e
M
a
E iron lec sof
G
e
c Re
Sci l indu
E
uni
rnm
env
ica
mm
ove
n
o
G
h
c
c
Fin
te
12
78
6
al
Leg
21
er
Oth
Figure 3.4b
Employment sectors for respondents in employment one year after graduation by degree type and gender
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
79
145
Fe
224
69
al
Tot
le
Ma
le
ma
137
206
Fe
c
BS
172
al
Tot
le
Ma
le
ma
344
Fe
rall
ci
MS
s/
Phy
Ove
M
Scientific and technical industries
Energy and environment
Government research
Electronics / IT / software
516
al
Tot
le
Ma
le
ma
Healthcare
Government
Education
Finance
Legal
Media and communications
Retail/leisure
Other
Figure 3.4c
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by selected employment sector
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
12
le
ma
Fe
27
ale
28
ale
M
Fem
and
rgy ment
e
n
E iron
env
45
M
and
ific tries
t
n
s
e
Sci l indu
ca
i
n
ech
t
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
ale
41
49
ale
ale
M
Fem
ion
cat
Edu
25
62
ale
5
M
Fem
ale
M
Fem
e
anc
Fin
37
ale
ale
8
are
M
nd
ia a
com
11
16
ale
le
Ma
Fem
s
ion
cat
ni
mu
/
ics
ron
ct
Ele
ale
Fem
ftw
so
IT/
22
ale
ure
leis
il/
eta
R
d
Me
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
*Science
and technical industries encompasses individuals working in aerospace/space, defence, instrumentation,
manufacturing/construction, transport, or other science/technical sectors.
13
3
Graduates entering
employment
3.5 Unemployment rates for graduates
» T he average proportion of respondents who
were unemployed one year after graduation
was 6.4%. The rate of unemployment increased
slightly for graduates in 2008 and 2009,
but this increase was significantly less than
the national graduate unemployment figures
and more closely in line with the UK average
unemployment rate in this period.*
Figure 3.5a
Unemployment rates for respondents one year after graduation compared to estimated national figures
18.7
.0
20
.0
17.4
18
.0
16
.0
% Unemployed
14
11.4
.0
12
11.9
.0
10
8.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
5.8
6.0
5.4
5.6
8.0
6.3
2.0
0.0
06
20
08
07
20
20
09
20
Year of graduation
All graduates 0-1 year
UK workforce aged 16-64
Respondents to survey one year after graduation
*National
14
unemployment figures taken from Office for national Statistics release Labour Market Statistics, August 2011
» Not only is there a smaller proportion of
unemployed respondents one year after
graduation, but also the proportion of
unemployed respondents decreases for two,
three and four years following graduation.
Figure 3.5b
Average unemployment rates for respondents by time after graduation
7%
6.4%
6%
5%
4.1%
4%
3%
2.0%
2%
2.0%
1%
0%
ion
uat
O
r
yea
ne
aft
rad
er g
ion
ft
sa
r
yea
Two
ion
ft
sa
Thr
e
ear
ey
rad
er g
ion
uat
uat
uat
rad
er g
ars
ye
our
rad
er g
aft
F
15
4
Destinations of graduates
WITH DISABILITIES
The number of respondents who declared a disability was small (around 7% of all respondents),
therefore, the results presented here are sensitive to changes of one or two people. They are
useful as indications of circumstances, but not necessarily representative of destinations for
all disabled graduates.
» For those in employment, respondents declaring
a disability were more likely to be earning less
than £25,000 than all respondents (79%
compared to 67%) (figure 4.1b).
» When respondents declaring a disability who
were in employment one year after graduation
are analysed by employment sector, a similar
distribution is seen as for all respondents, with
the exception of a higher proportion of disabled
respondents working in education and a smaller
proportion working in finance.
» Respondents declaring a disability were slightly
more likely to be continuing education one
year after graduation than all respondents and
correspondingly less likely to be in employment
(figure 4.1a).
» A higher proportion of respondents declaring
a disability were unemployed one year after
graduation (14%) compared to all respondents
(6%) (figure 4.1a).
ts
den
g
arin
ecl bility
d
s
a
ent a dis
ond
p
Res
72
r
n=
All
on
esp
1444
Figure 4.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by disability status
0%
%
%
%
20
10
30
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
%
40
%
50
%
60
%
70
%
80
%
90
0%
10
Employed
Unemployed
Other
All respondents
19n=1444
Figure 4.1b
Salaries for respondents in employment one year after graduation by disability status
g
arin
ecl ibility
d
s
ent ons
ond a resp
p
s
e
ts
den
r
n=
All
on
esp
540
R
0%
%
10
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
16
%
20
%
30
%
40
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
%
50
%
60
%
70
%
80
%
90
0%
10
5
Destinations of graduates
from black and ethnic-minority
backgrounds
The number of black and ethnic minority (BME) respondents was small (around 12% of the sample). Therefore
a shift of one or two people between categories could have a large effect. As for disabled graduates, the
results presented here offer indications, but are not necessarily representative of all BME graduates.
» Respondents from BME backgrounds were slightly
more likely than their white peers to be continuing
further study one year after graduation, with 52%
of BME respondents choosing this path compared
to 49% of white respondents (figure 5.1a).
» Of respondents who were continuing education
one year after graduation, there is a very similar
distribution of further-study options for white and
BME respondents (figure 5.1a).
» T here was a higher proportion of BME respondents
working in education (31% of BME compared
to 17% of white respondents) and a greater
proportion of white respondents working in
scientific and technical industries, energy
and environment and government research.
Conversely, BME respondents were more likely to
be in electrical/IT/software industries than white
respondents (12% compared to 7%).
» For those in employment, BME respondents were
slightly more likely to be earning over £25,000
than white respondents (37% compared to 32%)
(figure 5.1b).
ite
ite
WBhME
127
1294
E
127n=
Wh
1294
Figure 5.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by ethnicity
BM
n=
0%
%
10
%
20
Masters
PhD %
%
0%
20
10
PGCE/Teacher
Training
%
30
%
40
Employed
Unemployed
%
%
30
40
Other
%
70
%
70
%
60
%
60
50
50
%
80
%
80
%
%
90
%
90
%
90
%
90
%
0%
10
0%
10
E
BM
43
490
ite
WBhME
43n=
ite
Wh
490
Figure 5.1b
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation by ethnicity
n=
0%
0%
10
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
467
ite
Wh
30
20
%
%
30
20
%
%
10
%
40
%
40
%
50
%
70
60
70
%
%
60
50
%
%
%
80
%
80
%
%
0%
10
0%
10
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
17
6
Destinations of graduates
by socio-economic status
Respondents were classified into socio-economic groups Major 1 to 9 based on their parental
occupation, or in the case of mature students, their current/most recent or their partner’s
occupation. Major 1 and Major 2 correspond respectively to higher and lower professional and
managerial backgrounds, Major 3 corresponds to associate professional/technical occupations,
whereas Major 4–9 encompass occupations in administration, skilled and unskilled trades, caring,
customer service and plant/machine operation.
Figure 6.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation by socio-economic status
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
291
r1
ajo
M
0%
10
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
641
or 2
j
j
Ma
148
or 3
Ma
jor
Ma
241
4-9
76
r
the
O
Employed
Unemployed
Other
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
18
30
%
Office for National Statistics, Standard Occupational Classifications 2000 (major groups 1 to 9).
1 » Managers and senior officials
2 » Professional occupations
3 » Associate professional and technical
occupations
4 » Administrative and secretarial occupations
5 » Skilled trades occupations
6 » Personal service occupations
7 » Sales and customer service occupations
8 » Process, plant and machine operatives
9 » Elementary occupations
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
» Respondents from Major 1 were less likely than
those
from Major 2–9 to go on to further study
%
50
and more likely to be employed (figure 6.1a).
%
» 4T0here
was a very similar proportion taking
teacher-training courses across all groups
(figure
6.1a).
%
30
» Respondents from Major 1 were more likely to
be earning over £25,000 and average salaries
decrease for the lower socio-economic groups
(figure 6.1a).
» Analysis of employment sectors for respondents
in employment by socio-economic group show a
similar distribution of sectors across all groups.
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
291
641
148
241
Figure 6.1b or 1
3
2
4-9
jor
j
jor
jor
Ma graduation by socio-economic
Ma
Ma
Salaries for respondents
in employment
one year after
status
Ma
76
r
e
Oth
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
134
r1
ajo
M
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
232
M
r2
ajo
53
M
r3
ajo
77
Ma
j
-9
or 4
30
r
e
Oth
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
19
7
Destinations of graduates
by institution
7.1 Destinations of graduates from different institutions
» Respondents from Russell Group* institutions
show a very similar proportion going on to
further study as those from non-Russell Group
institutions but Russell Group respondents were
more likely to go on to PhD study and less likely
to go on to Masters qualifications (figure 7.1a).
»R
espondents from Russell Group institutions
earned slightly higher salaries, with a higher
proportion of respondents earning over
£25,000 than those from non-Russell Group
institutions (figure 7.1b).
» Respondents from Russell Group institutions
were more likely to go into finance and
education, compared to those from non-Russell
Group institutions who were more likely to
take up positions in scientific and technical
industries, energy and environment
or government research (figure 7.1c).
Figure 7.1a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation from different institutions
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
759
619
oup
ll Gr
e
Russ
0%
10
%
90
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
oup
ll Gr
sse
n-Ru
1378
all
Over
No
Employed
Unemployed
Other
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
* The
definition of Russell Group institutions does not include the universities of Durham, York, Exeter and
%
20 Queen Mary who joined the Russell Group in March 2012.
20
%
10
%
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
759
ll
619
p
Grou
ll
1378
0%
all
Over
p
Grou
se
Figure 7.1bRusse
-Rus
Non
Salaries for respondents in employment one year after graduation from different institutions
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
286
ell
Russ
238
p
Grou
sell
-Rus
Non
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
524
all
Over
p
Grou
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
Figure 7.1c
Employment sectors of respondents in employment one year after graduation from different institutions
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
262
ell
Russ
235
p
Grou
Scientific and technical industries
Energy and environment
Government research
Electronics/IT/software
sell
-Rus
Non
497
all
Over
p
Grou
Healthcare
Government
Education
Finance
Legal
Media and communications
Retail/leisure
Other
21
n
7
Destinations of graduates
by institution
7.2 Destinations of graduates from different institutions by degree class
» Considering the destinations of respondents
from Russell Group institutions by degree class,
the differences identified in section 7.1 for the
destinations from Russell Group and nonRussell Group institutions are not apparent for
respondents with first- or upper-second class
degrees (figure 7.2a).
» Respondents with lower-second or third-class
degrees from Russell Group institutions were
less likely to go on to further study and more
likely to be employed than those with lowersecond or third-class degrees from non-Russell
Group institutions (figure 7.2a).
» When degree class is taken into account, there
are smaller differences between the distribution
of salaries for respondents from Russell Group
or non-Russell Group institutions. This may
indicate that, for physics graduates, degree
class is a more significant factor in determining
salary for those in employment than the
institution attended (figure 7.2b).
» The main difference between those with first
or upper-second class degrees from Russell
Group and non-Russell Group institutions is
in the choice of employment sector. Those
from non-Russell Group institutions were more
likely to stay in science sectors, whereas those
from the Russell Group have a wider spread
across all employment sectors, including a
larger proportion working in finance (25.1%
compared to 17.4%) (figure 7.2c).
Teacher-training courses are most likely to attract
respondents with lower-second or third-class degrees for
both Russell Group and non-Russell Group institutions.
Figure 7.2a
Destinations of respondents one year after graduation from different institutions by degree class
0%
0%
10
10
%
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
600
1st+2:1
142
2:2+3rd
445
1st+2:1
Russell Group
0%
10
%
22
90
%
80
Masters
PhD
PGCE/Teacher Training
151
2:2+3rd
Non-Russell Group
Employed
Unemployed
Other
1045
1st+2:1
293
2:2+3rd
Overall
0%
0%
n=
600
1st+2:1
142
2:2+3rd
Russell Group
445
1st+2:1
151
2:2+3rd
1045
1st+2:1
Non-Russell Group
293
2:2+3rd
0%
n=
1
Overall
Figure 7.2b
Salaries of respondents in employment one year after graduation from different institutions by degree class
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
204
1st+2:1
81
2:2+3rd
Russell Group
Up to £19,999
£20,000-£24,999
£25,000-£29,999
£30,000-£34,999
160
1st+2:1
69
2:2+3rd
364
1st+2:1
Non-Russell Group
150
2:2+3rd
Overall
£35,000-£39,999
£40,000-£49,999
£50,000-£99,999
More than £100,000
Figure 7.2c
Employment sectors for respondents in employment one year after graduation from different
institutions by degree class
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
%
10
0%
n=
187
1st+2:1
74
2:2+3rd
Russell Group
Scientific and technical industries
Energy and environment
Government research
Electronics/IT/software
155
1st+2:1
71
2:2+3rd
342
1st+2:1
Non-Russell Group
Healthcare
Government
Education
Finance
145
2:2+3rd
Overall
Legal
Media and communications
Retail/leisure
Other
23
8
Appendix – Demographics
of the sample
Sampling
The study has collected information from 5737
final-year undergraduates taking physics degrees
in the UK and Ireland between 2006 and 2010.
We estimate that this is a response rate of around
40% of the population of all physics graduates
in this period.
There was a drop in the number of responses one
year after graduation, with 34% of those captured
in the initial survey responding to the followup questionnaire. However, there was a better
retention rate for subsequent follow-up surveys.
For example, 83% of the people who responded
to the first follow-up survey also responded to
the second.
Gender
The proportion of female respondents at each
stage of the survey (average 28%) was higher
than the average proportion of female physics
graduates (21%) indicating that women were
more likely than men to complete the first survey
and respond to the follow-up surveys. This oversampling of women has been beneficial for the
analysis by gender to increase the sample sizes
under consideration.
Socio-economic status
Respondents were classified into socioeconomic groups Major 1 to 9 based on their
parental occupation, or in the case of mature
students their current/most recent or their
partner’s occupation. Classification was based
on the Office of National Statistics Standard
Occupational Classifications 2000*. Major 1 and
Major 2 correspond respectively to higher and
lower professional and managerial backgrounds,
Major 3 corresponds to associate professional/
technical occupations and Major 4–9 encompass
occupations in administration, skilled and
unskilled trades, caring, customer service and
plant/machine operation.
* Full
Over 60% of respondents were classified as
Major groups 1 and 2, indicating that the
majority of respondents came from professional
and managerial backgrounds. The proportion of
graduates from Major group 1 (20%) is consistent
with data for undergraduate students in physics
from the Higher Education Statistics Agency
(HESA). However, the proportion of respondents
in Major group 2 (46%) was significantly higher
than the proportion in this group given by HESA
(around 11%) of undergraduate physics students.
Ethnicity
Around 12% of respondents were from nonwhite ethnic backgrounds in each cohort, with
particularly small numbers of graduates from
black backgrounds. This is consistent with
HESA data, which puts the proportion of white
undergraduate students in physics at around 90%.
Therefore, in this sense the survey population is
representative of the pool of physics graduates
that respondents were drawn from.
Disability
There were a small number of respondents
declaring a disability in the initial and follow-up
surveys (6%). This is lower than the proportion of
students declaring a disability within HESA data
(10%). This may be indicative of accessibility
issues for disabled students and graduates
completing the paper or online surveys – an
important consideration for future research of this
nature. For survey respondents who considered
themselves to have a disability, the most prevalent
impairment given was dyslexia.
Degree class
Of respondents to the survey, 41% achieved
a first-class degree, which is 11% higher than
the proportion of graduates gaining a first from
HESA data for this period. Correspondingly, 4% of
survey respondents achieved a third-class degree
compared to 10% from HESA data.
details can be found here http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/archived-standard-classifications/
standard-occupational-classification-2000/index.html
24
The Career Paths of
Physics Graduates
A longitudinal study
2006–2010
For more information please contact:
Frances Ling
IOP Institute of Physics
76 Portland Place
London W1B 1NT
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7470 4842
Fax: +44 (0)20 7470 4848
E-mail: [email protected]
www.iop.org/diversity
Registered charity: 293851
Scottish charity register number: SC040092
This document is also available to download
as a PDF from our website.
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