|
|
|
|
|
|
             |
Annual survey of graduate employment 1995Key findingsFirst degree graduates
Higher graduates
1995 Graduate Employment Survey ReportGeneral information The 1995 survey was compiled from questionnaires returned by 58 Departments in the UK (a separate report is written for graduates from Departments in the Republic of Ireland). The Professional and Education Committee thanks those Departments that contributed data (see Appendix 1). For the purposes of this survey 'biochemistry graduates' were defined as those students for whom biochemistry constituted at least 50% of the total degree course, irrespective of the title of the degree obtained. A list of all first degree titles that were considered by the responding Departments to meet this criterion is given in Appendix 2. MSc, whether taught or by research, and MPhil degrees, were not differentiated but are referred to as 'MSc'. Appendix 3 lists the courses from which the figures concerning MSc biochemistry graduates were drawn. The format of the questionnaire differed from that of the 1994 survey only in that question 1.4 was introduced in order to identify the number of intercalated medical students. Whilst the number of Departments completing the questionnaire was a little lower for 1995 than for 1994 (69), and the number of UK graduates analysed correspondingly lower (2238 compared to 2467), it is considered that meaningful comparisons between the two years can be made from the percentage figures for graduates falling within particular employment categories. Total numbers of biochemistry graduates of all levels entering employment The actual numbers of UK biochemistry graduates of all levels entering different categories of employment are listed in Table 1and shown as a bar chart in Figure 1. The categories are defined and explained in Appendix 4. Figure 2 indicates in the form of a pie diagram the percentage of total graduates entering particular types of occupation. For simplicity, some of the categories listed in Table 1have been combined in this and in subsequent figures and tables; thus, data on hospital, civil service or public authority laboratories were pooled to represent laboratory-based biochemical work other than research in academia or industry; teacher training and teaching in higher education were also combined, as were the two categories of unemployed graduates. By far the largest single group of biochemistry graduates continued with further biochemical study or training in the UK (610, 27.4% total), this obviously being skewed towards first degree and MSc graduates (Table 1, Figure 1 ). However, both numerically and as a percentage of total graduates these figures represented notable decreases compared to 1994 (737, 29.9% total). The proportion of students continuing biochemical training abroad was also much lower in 1995 (0.3% compared to 1.2% in 1994). The next largest groups of graduates entered careers requiring graduate-level ability but no particular biochemical knowledge such as accounting and retail management (215, 9.6% total), followed by research in academia (202, 9.0% total) and research in industry (186, 8.3% total). These percentage figures were not greatly different from the 1994 survey (9.3, 9.3 and 6.8% total, respectively) although industrial research now appeared more attractive. There was less than about 1% difference between 1995 and 1994 percentages for other categories of employment other than 1.3, non-biochemical study or training (3.3 compared to 6.5% total). In this case the difference was artificial and only arose because in the 1995 survey intercalated medical students (3.3% total) were pulled out as a separate category rather than being included in 1.3. The proportion of graduates working abroad decreased slightly in 1995 (1.4% compared to 2.1% total). The number of foreign students who had been trained in the UK and had now returned to the country of origin increased slightly in percentage terms (5.5% of total students compared to 4.4%). Graduates remaining in Biochemistry Data in Table 1 are dissected further in Table 2 to indicate percentages of first degree graduates of different classes, and MSc and PhD graduates, in the various types of occupation. This table enables easy comparisons across degrees. Whilst the largest proportion of first degree graduates (30.8%) moved on to further biochemical study or training, overwhelmingly in the UK, this figure was lower than in 1994 (35.0%), 1993 (33.6%) or 1992 (37.6%). The decrease overall was reflected in the figures for classes 1 and 2 graduates continuing biochemical study (down 3.9%). For those Departments that were able to supply the appropriate information an analysis was made of the number and proportion of graduates with class 1 and class 2 degrees registering for a higher degree by research (Table 3 ). This revealed that 74.0% of class 1, 42.8% of class 2.1 and 8.7% of class 2.2 graduates commenced a research degree. Of the total number of research students 25.5% had class 1, 64.2% class 2.1 and 10.3% class 2.2 degrees. As in previous years, there was a fairly even spread of classes 1 and 2 first degree graduates between the various biochemistry-based careers such as research in industry (8.0%) or academia (3.6%); work in hospital, public health, public analyst or forensic, laboratories (5.2%); teacher training (6.1%); and science-based non-laboratory work such as management, sales, or marketing in science-based industry, information science and editorial work (2.7%). Whereas the proportions entering academic research and science-based non-laboratory work had declined slightly from 1994 (by 0.4 and 1.0%, respectively), those entering industrial research, teaching, and other forms of laboratory work showed small increases (by 1.9, 1.3 and 0.9%, respectively). A smaller proportion of class 3/ pass degree graduates than of classes 1 and 2 undertook further biochemical training (7.7%, down 4.6% from 1994) or biochemistry-based careers, but a larger proportion entered non-scientific careers (21.0% compared to 9.9%). The small numbers entering most categories of science-based employment were little changed, with the notable exception of an increase from 1.7 to 8.2% in entrants to science-based non-laboratory work. The largest single group of MSc graduates (24.0%) continued biochemical training but this again represented a decrease of 5.6% from 1994. Similarly, although a higher proportion of MSc than first degree graduates entered research in academia (7.6%) this was actually a reduction of 3.7% on 1994. On the other hand numbers entering research in industry (8.7%) or other categories of science-based employment tended to be a little higher. As would be expected, the largest single group of PhDs continued research in universities and research institutes (41.8%), with fewer researching in industry (12.6%), both figures being slightly higher than in the 1994 survey. The proportion of PhDs undertaking further biochemical training increased from 9.1 to 11.3%, but a notable difference from the previous survey was the marked reduction in the proportion of these graduates who studied abroad rather than in the UK (down from 36.3 to 2.7% of the group). Proportions entering other science-based careers were remarkably similar to 1994 figures. It is likely that a large proportion of the 5.2% of PhDs working abroad were researching in academia but this was not revealed by the survey. Of those entering teaching, equal numbers started PGCE courses and teaching directly in higher education, whereas essentially all first degree and MSc graduates in this category entered teacher training. The percentages of the three levels of graduates remaining in biochemistry are shown in Fig 3 . Graduates entering teacher training have been included in the 'biochemical employment' category since it is anticipated that they will become science teachers, whereas in this figure intercalated medical students have been included in the 'non-biochemical training category'. The percentage of first degree graduates remaining in biochemistry was similar to that in 1994 (55.7 compared to56.9%) and that of MScs somewhat lower (47.9 compared to 54.8%), whereas PhDs showed an increase for the second successive year (74.4 compared to 69.9% in 1994 and 67.7% in 1993). There have been recent reports from a number of sources that increasing numbers of British PhDs are either choosing to, or having to, enter careers outside their PhD discipline, but there was no real evidence of this for biochemistry PhDs in the present survey (although the small increase in unemployment rate referred to later should be noted). Graduates pursuing careers not involving biochemistry This grouping covers those graduates who entered training for, or commenced, employment requiring degree-level ability but no specific biochemical knowledge, such as accountancy or retail management, and also intercalating students returned to their medical studies. The proportion of total graduates choosing a career outside biochemistry was 16.2%, similar to the 1994 figure of 15.8%. Not surprisingly, a larger proportion of first degree (and in particular class 3/ pass degree graduates-see Table 1) than of the more specialised MSc or PhD graduates was included in this grouping (19.2% overall compared to 8.8 and 2.9%, respectively). In comparison to 1994 the most noticeable feature was the increase of 3.1% in MSc graduates choosing a career outside biochemistry. The conclusions that can be drawn from the survey are limited to some extent by the lack of knowledge concerning the employment of British graduates working abroad and of overseas students returning home, and by the relatively high percentages of first degree and MSc graduates whose employment position was not known (11.9% overall, and 11.7%). Relative to total numbers few first degree or MSc graduates took employment abroad but a significant proportion of PhDs did (5.2%, down 1.8%). There was a marked increase from 12.1 to 23.4% in the percentage of MSc graduates who were from overseas, but a reduction from 10.9 to 7.1% for PhD graduates. In the case of PhDs this appears to be a continuing trend (% of PhD graduates from overseas for the last four years:15.4,14.2,10.9,7.1). Comparison of destinations of first degree graduates from pre- and post-1992 universities In view of the opening up of higher education in recent years to a broader range of students it was of interest to compare career destinations of graduates from pre- and post-1992 university Departments. The present analysis was limited to first degrees since, as yet, there were insufficient MSc and PhD graduates from the post-1992 universities to enable a meaningful comparison. The proportion of class 1 and 2 degrees was similar for the two groups of universities, 88.8% for pre-1992 and 89.2% for post-1992, but a larger percentage of this group from pre-1992 universities undertook further biochemical study or training (38.3% compared to 13.2%) (Table 4 ), as was also evidenced by the breakdown of graduates registered for research degrees (Table 3 ). Relatively larger proportions of classes 1 and 2 graduates from the post-1992 universities entered careers in industry (14.5%) or in non-science-based employment (13.9%), consistent with the vocational mission of many post-1992 institutions. Perhaps surprising is the larger proportion of graduates from post-1992 universities moving on to research in universities and research institutes (7.6% compared to 2.7% for pre-1992 institutions). Proportions entering teacher training were similar for the two groups of universities. It would be unwise to attempt over-fine comparisons from the present data because of the large percentage of graduates from post-1992 universities in the 'unknown destination' category. Graduates who were unemployed at the time of the survey Of the 8.7% of total biochemistry graduates known to be unplaced at eight months after graduation only 5.4% were actively seeking employment, the remainder taking time out to travel, start a family, or in temporary jobs such as chalet staff or au-pairs whilst evaluating longer-term careers. This figure is almost identical to the 1994 value (5.2%) (Table 1), which had appeared to be on a shallow rising unemployment curve (see 1994 survey). There were some differences between the three levels of graduates in comparison to the 1994 survey. In particular, the level of unemployment of PhDs appeared to have increased (5.8% compared to 3.0%), and of MScs to have reduced slightly (4.1% compared to5.7%), whereas that of first degree graduates was essentially unchanged (4.7% for classes 1 and 2, 10.8 % for class 3/ pass). However, the large numbers in the 'unknown destination' category for first degree and MSc graduates should be noted since these could affect the unemployment figures. The unemployment rate for biochemistry first degree graduates (5.4% overall) compared favourably with those for other disciplines. According to First destinations of students leaving higher education institutions, 1994/95 (Higher Education Statistics Agency) 8.5% of first degree graduates of all disciplines were estimated to be unemployed at approximately six months after graduating and 9.9% of biological sciences graduates (a group comprising biologists, molecular biologists and biophysicists, botanists, zoologists, geneticists, microbiologists and psychologists in addition to biochemists). The corresponding figures for higher graduates were 6.0% unemployment for all disciplines and 4.4% for biological sciences, so that the present data for biochemistry MSc and PhD graduates were in line with national data. The comparatively low level of unemployment of biochemistry first degree graduates, coupled with the observation in this survey that they enter a wide range of careers, again supports the contention that biochemistry is regarded by employers as a numerate discipline that develops analytical thinking, creativity in problem solving, and the ability to handle large amounts of complex information, skills which are in broad demand. Table 1 Numbers of UK 1995 biochemistry graduates, of all levels, entering employment.
Table 2 Destinations of 1995 Biochemistry graduates Data for 1758 first degree, 171 MSc/MPhil and 309 PhD graduates eight months after graduation
Table 3 Proportions of first degree graduates of different classes registering for a higher degree by research Data from 37 pre-1992 and 8 post-1992 university Departments that were able to provide this information
Table 4 Comparison of destinations of first degree graduates from pre- and post-1992 universities Data for 1434 graduates from 48 pre-1992 universities and 324 graduates from 10 post-1992 universities
# Data for 35 students only 
Appendix 1 Departments providing data used in the 1995 survey Bath, Biology and Biochemistry Birmingham, Biochemistry Bradford, Biomedical Sciences Bristol, Biochemistry Brunel, Biology and Biochemistry Buckingham, Life Sciences Cambridge, Biochemistry Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School London, Biochemistry Derby, Biological Sciences Dublin City, Biological Sciences Dundee, Biochemistry Durham, Biological Sciences East Anglia, Life Sciences Edinburgh, Biochemistry Edinburgh, Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology Glasgow, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Heriot-Watt, Biological Sciences Hull, Applied Biology Imperial College London, Biochemistry Institute of Psychiatry London, Neuroscience Keele, Biological Sciences Kent, Biosciences King's College London, Life Sciences Kingston, Life Sciences Lancaster, Biological Sciences Leeds, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Liverpool, Biochemistry Liverpool John Moores, Biomolecular Sciences Manchester, Biological Sciences Maynooth College Republic of Ireland, Biology Nene College, Northampton, Life Sciences Newcastle, Biochemistry and Genetics Nottingham, Applied Biochemistry and Food Science Nottingham, Biochemistry Nottingham Trent, Life Sciences North London, Life Sciences Oxford, Clinical Biochemistry Paisley, Biological Sciences Queen Mary and Westfield London, Biochemistry Queens Belfast, Biology and Biochemistry Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine London, Biochemistry Royal Holloway London, Biochemistry Salford, Biological Sciences Sheffield, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Sheffield Hallam, Biomedical Sciences Staffordshire, Biology St Andrews, Cell and Molecular Biology St George's Hospital Medical School London, Biochemistry Stirling, Biological and Molecular Sciences Strathclyde, Bioscience and Biotechnology Surrey, Biological Sciences Sussex, Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology UMIST, Biochemistry and Applied Molecular Biology University College Cork, Biochemistry University College Galway, Biochemistry University of Wales, Bangor, Biological Sciences University of Wales, Cardiff, Molecular and Medical Biosciences University of Wales, Swansea, Biochemistry/Biological Sciences Warwick, Biological Sciences Wolverhampton, Applied Sciences Wye College London, Biological Sciences York, Biochemistry Appendix 2 Titles of first degree courses that were considered by the responding institutions to contain at least 50% biochemistry (the figures are the numbers of institutions offering a course with that particular title) Animal sciences Applied biochemistry 4 Applied biochemistry and food science Applied biological sciences Applied biology 2 Applied cell biology and biochemistry Bioanalytical science Biochemistry 33 Biochemistry/chemistry (Joint Honours) 2 Biochemistry (toxicology) Biochemistry with applied molecular biology Biochemistry with basic medical sciences Biochemistry with biological chemistry Biochemistry with biotechnology 4 Biochemistry with chemistry 2 Biochemistry with clinical biochemistry Biochemistry with genetics Biochemistry with German Biochemistry with immunology 2 Biochemistry with management studies Biochemistry with medical biochemistry 2 Biochemistry with microbiology 2 Biochemistry with molecular and cell biology Biochemistry with molecular biology 3 Biochemistry with pharmacology Biochemistry with pharmacology with sandwich year Biochemistry with physiology 4 Biochemistry with sandwich year 5 Biochemistry with year in Europe Biochemistry with year in USA 2 Biological and biochemical sciences Biological sciences Biology Biology with biochemistry Biomedical chemistry Biomedical sciences 2 Biomedical technology Biotechnology Botany/biochemistry (Joint Honours) Cell biology and biochemistry Chemistry with biochemistry Combined honours (Life Sciences) Combined studies: biochemistry + 1 other science subject 2 Genetics Intercalated biochemistry 6 Life sciences (physiological biochemistry) Marine biology/biochemistry (Joint Honours) Medical biochemistry 5 Medical molecular biology Microbiology Microbiology with biochemistry Molecular biology 5 Molecular biology and biochemistry Molecular cell biology 3 Molecular genetics in biotechnology Special biology (biotechnology) Special biology (molecular biology) Zoology/biochemistry (Joint Honours) Appendix 3 Titles of MSc courses that were considered by the responding institutions to contain at least 50% biochemistry (the figures are the numbers of institutions offering a course with that particular title) Biochemistry Biochemistry and genetics Biochemical endocrinology Biological sciences 2 Biomedical sciences Bioreactor systems Biotechnology Cellular and molecular plant sciences Clinical biochemistry with molecular biology Food biotechnology Fungal technology General biochemistry Genetic manipulation and molecular biology Medical biochemistry Neuroscience Pathological sciences Plant biochemistry and productivity Toxicology 2 Appendix 4 A description of the career destinations Section 1: Further Study/Training
Section 2: Employment that requires biochemical knowledge
Section 3: Non-scientific Employment
Section 4: Abroad
Section 5 : Unplaced
Section 6
Report compiled by Mike Withnall, Professional and Education Section, October 1996
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||