Seven reasons to study a degree in STEM

Considering a career in STEM? Increasing the number of young people trained in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics has become an important topic in recent times. The UK is going through a technological, economic and societal change and, along with Brexit, the challenges ahead require a boost in STEM-related industries, creating more job roles than ever before.

Study a degree in STEM

You can choose to study a STEM degree without having any experience or particular skills in the subjects. Many of our STEM-related courses require you to have a passion for the subject and enthusiasm to learn! Our courses are structured to ensure you are taught the skills needed for a successful career right from the beginning.*   

From plentiful job opportunities to transferable skills, we explore seven reasons why you should consider studying a STEM related degree with us.

1. Increasing job demand

Did you know STEM-related jobs are expected to grow, creating 142,000 jobs between now and 2023? This is double the rate of other occupations (Social Market Foundation, EDF). As industries such as technology and engineering continue to rapidly grow, this has led to a demand for roles such as  AI Specialists and Data Scientists

With more focus being placed on topics such as sustainable living, electric cars and AI technology, the job demand in these sectors is set to increase for years to come. As national goals such as the ban of selling petrol and diesel cars by 2030 (helping the UK to achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050) are set, many industries which involve STEM will continue to grow.

2. Transferable skills

By studying a degree in a STEM subject you will not only learn skills that qualify you as a professional in one particular subject but also skills that can be used in a range of other sectors. Some of the skills you will learn include:

  • Solving real problems with innovative and creative solutions
  • Becoming efficient and organised
  • Designing, developing and manufacturing
  • Building your creative and analytical skills

So you can rest assured that if you choose to study a STEM subject you will graduate with skills for a range of exciting careers.

3. Excellent salary

Research by Korn Ferry Hay Group has found that graduates in  science, technology, engineering and maths related subjects can earn nearly 20% more than their peers. The average salary for someone working in a STEM role is just over £26,000 in the UK (Inside careers). Some of the highest paid roles include engineers and computer scientists, and as billion-pound industries grow, the average salary within these sectors are set to increase too. Plus, there is also great job security in these industries. 

4. Scholarships on offer 

In the CEBE faculty we offer a range of scholarships to support you throughout your degree.

If you are a female and choose to study one of our Engineering courses, you could be eligible for our WISE (Women in science and engineering) bursary. Currently there is a huge discrepancy between the number of men and women in the engineering profession, but in the last few years with the STEM campaign and Women in Engineering Week, more women are getting their foot in the door. The WISE bursary includes £1,000 funded by Meridian Lightweight Technologies UK.

The Millennium Point scholarship means you may be able to get a fully funded scholarship for your undergraduate degree in the faculty of CEBE, just check the eligibility criteria. 

Our MSc Artificial Intelligence course offers £10,000 OfS funded scholarships for women, black and disabled students.

CEBE Scholarships

Find out more about the scholarships we offer

5. Wide range of job roles

The sharp increase of growth within STEM industries has resulted in a wider range of job roles across different sectors:

  • Technology: When technology was initially used within job roles it was based around data or computer programming, but as technology continued to advance, more job roles were created. Now, most sectors include an element of technology and some of the highest paying industries for tech workers include Transportation, Education, Retail and Healthcare.  
  • Engineering: One of the UK’s broadest sectors is engineering, with 5.7 million people working within the industry, accounting for 19% of all UK employment (Prospects). The industry works with science and technology sectors, designing and developing a range of products. Just a few of these include aerospace, electronics, robotics and laser instruments.

6. Links with industry 

Our STEM-related degrees has excellent links with industry, which has led to gradates gaining roles with companies such as Aston Martin, Microsoft and John Lewis. During your degree, you will have the opportunity to build relationships with industry which will enable you to gain work placement opportunities as well as a great way to network with professionals.

Many of our courses are also accredited, including in engineering and the built environment.

7. Opportunities to travel

With so much progress and expansion in STEM-related industries the opportunities to work in different parts of the world are becoming more frequent. Some of the most popular STEM related careers around the world include:

  • United States: Microbiologist
  • Australia and Canada: Optometrist
  • India and China: Data analyst
  • Belgium and Switzerland: Astronaut
  • Russia: Software engineer

For more information on these locations and roles, take a look at Rs components.

Many of our courses provide you with the opportunity to travel while studying.

Our courses are also open to international students.

So, if you were considering a STEM related career, now is the time! As the demand for skills in science, technology, engineering and maths continue to grow, the career opportunities are set to boom. Jobs that did not even exist a decade ago, are now in more demand than ever. Begin your journey by studying a degree with us.

*Make sure to check the entry requirements on the STEM course you’re interested in for more details.

Interested in studying a STEM-related degree with us?

Find out more about the courses we offer.

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