Higher education research

The HE research occupational cluster is one of the key areas of employment for doctoral graduates.   

Three and a half years after graduation, just under 1 in 5 (19.2%) doctoral graduates are in a HE research occupation ['What do researchers? Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on.']. Biological science and biomedical doctoral graduates were particularly likely to be working in these roles (27% and 23% respectively three and a half years after graduating. These roles were less common amongst arts and humanities doctoral graduates, with only 8% working in the cluster three and a half years post-graduation.

Unlike the other occupational clusters the majority of doctoral graduates in this cluster are employed on fixed term contracts (74%), with only 19% on open-ended contracts. However, satisfaction levels are high as 91% of doctoral graduates in the cluster were satisfied with their career to date. 42% earned between £25,001 and £30,000 three and a half years after graduation, and 46% between £30,001 and £40,000.

Doctoral graduates in this cluster were most likely to have found their job through professional, work or educational contacts or networks (40%). Over a quarter (27%) were already at the university when offered a job, and 20% found their job through a university careers service.

Most graduates in these occupations reported that they use the detailed knowledge they gained through their degrees at least some of the time (86%), and nearly all report being able to use their research and generic skills in their jobs and that they have autonomy in their job. 763% have supervisory responsibility at least some of the time.  It is important to remember that doctoral graduates are often recruited by organisations for roles that require some managerial skills and universities are no exception. Many roles in HE will involve some supervision, often of students. Nearly all doctoral graduates in this cluster feel they are innovative in their roles (97%). Finally, three and a half years after graduating, 97% of doctoral graduates working in non-HE research occupations feel that their current role represents progress towards their long-term career goals.