Which subject should you study at university?
Explore our subject guides and career options with this comprehensive resource on choosing your degree subject at university
- Study abroad
Seeta Bhardwa
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There is one thing that you should try to remember when choosing which subject to study at university. It should be something you enjoy and that you would be happy to study in-depth for the next few years. Consider the subjects you enjoy the most at school and then research similar courses that you can study at university. Â
If you are looking for more detail about what each degree programme offers, then our guides below can help you decide which subject fits your interests and goals the best.Â
Business and economics degrees
What can you do with an accounting degree?
What can you do with a business and management degree?
What can you do with an economics degree?
Life sciences
What can you do with an agriculture degree?
What can you do with a biology degree?
What can you do with a sports science degree?
What can you do with a veterinary science degree?
Arts and humanities
What can you do with an archaeology degree?
What can you do with an architecture degree?
What can you do with a degree in design?
What can you do with a performing arts degree?
What can you do with an art degree?
What can you do with a philosophy degree?
What can you do with a history degree?Â
What can you do with a theology degree?
What can you do with a linguistics degree?
What can you do with a languages degree?
What can you do with an English literature degree?
What can you do with an English language degree?
Engineering and technology
What can you do with a chemical engineering degree?
What can you do with a civil engineering degree?
What can you do with an electrical engineering degree?Â
What can you do with a general engineering degree?
What can you do with a mechanical engineering degree?Â
What can you do with an aerospace engineering degree?
Physical sciences
What can you do with a chemistry degree?
What can you do with a geology degree?
What can you do with a mathematics degree?
What can you do with an astronomy degree?
What can you do with a physics degree?
Social sciences
What can you do with a media and communications degree?
What can you do with a geography degree?
What can you do with a politics degree?
What can you do with a sociology degree?
Computer science
What can you do with a computer science degree?
Education
Law
What can you do with a law degree?
Clinical and health
What can you do with a medical degree?
What can you do with a nursing degree?
What can you do with a dentistry degree?
Psychology
While it is completely fine to not know what you want to do after university, if you do have some idea and aren't sure which degree to go for, the table below can help you to work out which degree will help you on to that career path. Further study may be required for some of these occupations after graduation. Of course these are not the only jobs you can do, but this is a good place to start.
|
Career type |
Degrees to lead you there |
|
Accounting |
Accounting, maths, economics |
|
Acting |
Drama, dance, performing arts |
|
Advertising |
Advertising, business, management, communications, English, marketing, communication, media studies, graphic design, illustration, fine art |
|
Air cabin crew |
Hospitality management, languages, leisure and tourism, travel |
|
Archaeologist |
Archaeology, ancient history, geography, history, sociology, Classics |
|
Barrister |
³¢²¹·ÉÌý |
|
Broadcast journalist |
Journalism, business, finance, economics, politics |
|
Building surveyor |
Economics, geography, languages, mathematics, science, social sciences, urban and land studies |
|
Charity worker |
Business, management, finance, accounting, languages, computer science, engineering |
|
Dancer |
Dance, theatre studies |
|
Dentist |
Dentistry |
|
Dietician |
Life sciences, human physiology, biochemistry |
|
Digital marketing |
Advertising, media studies, communications, business, journalism, marketing |
|
Doctor |
Medicine |
|
Ecologist |
Life sciences, biology, botany, environmental management, geography, marine biology, zoology |
|
Economist |
Economics, mathematics |
|
Engineer |
Engineering (all forms), mathematics, physics |
|
Environmental worker |
Chemistry, ecology, geology, environmental engineering, geography |
|
Estate agent |
Business, estate management, property development, surveying, urban and land studies |
|
Events |
Business, event management, leisure and tourism, marketing |
|
Facilities manager |
Building management, business studies, construction, hospitality, management, surveying |
|
Farm manager |
Agriculture, horticulture, land or estate management |
|
Fashion designer |
Fashion, textiles, graphic design, fashion marketing, art and design |
|
Forensic scientist |
Biological sciences, chemistry, forensic science |
|
Game developer |
Animation, computer science, graphic design, mathematics, physics, software engineering |
|
GP |
²Ñ±ð»å¾±³¦¾±²Ô±ðÌý |
|
Graphic designer |
Film/television, fine art, graphic design, illustration, photography |
|
Health and safety |
Engineering, environmental health, physical and applied sciences |
|
Heritage |
Archaeology, education, geography, museum studies, history, marketing |
|
Hotel management |
Business with languages, business, management, hotel and hospitality, travel, tourism and leisure studies |
|
Human resources |
Business with languages, business, management, human resources, psychology, sociology |
|
Illustrator |
Graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion |
|
Insurance |
Business, management, economics, marketing, mathematics |
|
Interpreter |
Linguistics, modern languages, translation and interpreting |
|
IT |
Business studies, computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering |
|
Magazine/newspaper journalist |
Journalism, English |
|
Make-up artist |
Fashion, theatrical and media hair and make-up |
|
Marketing |
Advertising, business, management, media and communications, IT, computer science, marketing, psychology |
|
Museum curator |
History, history of art, languages,Ìý·¡²Ô²µ±ô¾±²õ³ó literature |
|
Nurse/midwife |
Nursing, midwifery |
|
Nutrition |
Dietetics, food, nutrition and health |
|
Office manager |
Business administration, business management, computing and IT, human resource management |
|
Optician |
Optometry |
|
Paramedic |
Paramedic science |
|
Pharmacist |
Pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, biomedical science, pharmacology |
|
Photographer |
Art and design, fine art, graphics, media studies, photography |
|
Teacher |
Education, physical and life sciences, humanities, social sciences |
|
Production manager |
Biochemistry, business, management, chemistry, engineering, food science, physics |
|
Public relations |
English, creative writing, business, management, marketing, social sciences, politics |
|
Publishing |
Publishing, media and communications,Ìý·¡²Ô²µ±ô¾±²õ³ó |
|
Quantity surveyor |
Construction, engineering, economics, geography, mathematics |
|
Retail |
Business |
|
Sales |
Business, management, marketing, computing, engineering, technology, media studies |
|
Social work |
Law, politics, social care, social sciences |
|
Solicitor |
Law |
|
Sports |
Health science, sports science |
|
Statistician |
Economics, geography, mathematics, psychology |
|
Theatre |
Drama, theatre studies, performing arts, music |
|
Tourism |
Tourism management, marketing, business, Â journalism, languages, media studies |
|
Translation |
Languages, linguistics, English |
|
Vet |
Veterinary science, biology, zoology |
|
Writer |
Communication and media studies, creative writing, English, journalism, performing arts |
International study
Going abroad to go to university is becoming more and more common, so it’s also worth knowing how degree programmes are structured in different parts of the world. This might influence not only what you study but where you decide to study.Â
In most countries in Europe, most students will study one or two subjects in great depth and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree. They can then go into work or to studying a master's degree.Â
However, in the US, students are able to take classes across all academic disciplines and then choose a major in the second year to focus on and will receive a bachelor’s degree in this chosen subject.Â
Australia follows a similar degree pattern to Europe with students homing in on just one or two subjects and becoming specialists in that field.Â
In Canada you are able to study a variety of different modules and subjects in the first year, eventually choosing a major in the second year which you will receive your final degree in.Â
Applying to university overseas: what to consider
Hoping to apply to a US university as a foreign student?
How to choose a UK university
A guide for international students choosing a university in Australia
