St Andrews graduate destinations
University of St Andrews graduates (from 2017 to 2022) work in over 3,000 organisations in over 100 countries.
15 months after graduation, 94% of graduates, both undergraduates and postgraduates, are either employed or studying further. 85% say that what they’re doing is meaningful.
Of graduates who go into work, over 40% are in the financial or tech sectors. Many others work in the public sector, for top universities, in the arts, in education, and beyond.
Many other graduates decide to study further. The universities they most commonly go to include the Universities of Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford, and St Andrews itself.
This means that, no matter what you want to do or where you want to do it, a degree from the University can help you. It also means that you can connect with graduates already working in the sectors that interest you.
Your subject and careers
What St Andrews graduates do varies by the subject they studied. To find out where a degree in your subject could take you, look at the relevant subject page.
Note that about 85% of UK graduate jobs don’t demand specific degrees. This means any degree can be used to apply to almost any job. If you need help deciding, you can speak to a careers adviser.
International graduates
While many international graduates return home after they graduate, many decide to stay and work in the UK, such as through the Graduate route and Skilled Worker visa.
Over:
- 25% of US graduates
- 25% of Chinese graduates
- 39% of EU graduates
- 45% of Indian graduates
are still in the UK 15 months after graduation.
Research postgraduates
While research postgraduates often continue into academia, others decide to work in non-academic roles within universities, or to leave the higher education sector entirely.
Among St Andrews PhD graduates, around:
- 35% are in academic roles
- 65% are in non-academic roles.
Of these non-academic roles, around:
- 80% are outside of a university
- 20% are within a university.
Career sectors graduates work in
These are some of the main sectors that St Andrews graduates work in, including common employers and job titles.
Finance
St Andrews graduates work in some of the world’s largest financial institutions. Key ones include JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, and Barclays.
Example roles include Investment Banking Analyst, Economist, Private Equity Analyst, and Audit Associate.
Consulting
Consulting is a popular choice for many St Andrews graduates.
Alongside the ‘Big Four’ firms of KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, and EY, many of our graduates can be found in companies like Accenture and smaller, boutique consultancies.
Roles encompass management consulting, as well as strategy, political and risk, and sustainability consulting.
Tech
‘Big tech’ corporations like Amazon and Google are common destinations for our graduates.
Example roles include Software Developer, Data Scientist, IT Consultant, and Data Analyst.
Government and public sector
Many students prefer to work in the public sector. This often involves work for the Government, especially the Civil Service, Cabinet Office, and UK and Scottish Parliaments.
Other popular options include the NHS, police and armed forces.
Higher education
St Andrews graduates often decide to work in higher education, either in academic departments or professional services.
The universities they most commonly work in are Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Dundee, and St Andrews itself.