Research outside the higher education sector

The research outside the higher education sector occupational cluster includes doctoral graduate research roles outside HE (sometimes referred to as wider research) [All data unless otherwise stated comes from ‘What do researchers? Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on.']. A full explanation and list of roles can be found in the ‘What do researchers do? Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on.  Methodology'.

Three and a half years after graduation, just over 1 in 8 (13.1%) doctoral graduates are in an research occupation outside the HE sector. Biological science doctoral graduates were particularly likely to be working in these roles (23%) in wider research roles three and a half years after graduating along with 18% of physical science and engineering graduates.  These roles were less common amongst arts and humanities doctoral graduates, with only 3% working in the cluster three and a half years post-graduation.

Most doctoral graduates in this cluster are employed on permanent contracts (79%). 34% earned between £25,001 and £30,000 three and a half years after graduation, and 38% 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 (36%). Over a quarter (26%) found their job via an employer website and 25% through a newspaper or magazine advert.

Most graduates in these occupations reported that they use the detailed knowledge they gained through their degrees at least some of the time (87%), and nearly all report being able to use their research and generic skills in their jobs and that they have autonomy in their job. 77% 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 will need to demonstrate these skills in to improve their chances of securing these jobs. Nearly all feel they are innovative in their roles (96%). Finally, three and a half years after graduating, 92% of doctoral graduates working in non-HE research occupations feel that their current role represents progress towards their long-term career goals.