Top 10 most employable Master's degrees in the UK - FutureLearn (2024)

Master’s degrees are a brilliant way to increase your employability. Research shows that graduates with a Master’s degree are comparatively more employable than those without – and go on to earn more over their lifetime compared with those who haven’t enrolled in postgraduate study. For example, according to government statistics, 78% of postgraduates are in professional ‘highly-skilled’ employment, compared with just 66% of graduates without.

In the eyes of employers, not all Master’s degrees are created equal. Some postgraduate courses are more desirable than others and can provide a stable route to direct employment. In this article, we’ll help you navigate the myriad options, so you can choose a genuinely employable Master’s degree in the UK.

Nursing and Midwifery

Nursing and Midwifery is the most employable Master’s degree in the UK. According to the NHS, 94% of nursing graduates get a job within six months of finishing their course.

It’s a rewarding career where you have the chance to make a real difference in society. The average salary is £32,512 per year, but this varies depending on your area of specialisation.

A Master’s degree in nursing sets you up for a variety of roles within healthcare, from a nurse practitioner, nurse educator, midwife, or specialist nurse. A Master’s degree in Nursing can also help you get to grips with leadership skills, clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice. There’s potential to work within research and academia, where you can create new effective policies for healthcare and nursing practice.

If you’re looking to develop your career in nursing, we offer online degrees in nursing, including Master’s degrees. Flexible, and designed to fit around your life, it’s a great way to skill up, while receiving a qualification from a prestigious UK university.

Education

If you want to make a difference in the lives and minds of young learners, Education is a solid choice for a Master’s degree in the UK. According to Time’s Education Supplement, the average salary in Education is £36,400. With a postgraduate employability rate of 96.6%, it’s one of the most in-demand professions around.

A Master’s degree in Education can help you elevate your teaching skills, educational knowledge and ability to design classes around the curriculum. You can also focus on a specialised area of education, such as early childhood, SEN, leadership, or policy. A Master’s degree in Education can be a big boon for career advancement, especially if you’re looking to work towards more senior roles as a headteacher, educational consultant, or education policy researcher. If you’re looking for a flexible way to earn your degree, we also have online teaching degrees from top universities on FutureLearn.

Veterinary Science

One of the most sought-after and lucrative Master’s degrees in the UK is Veterinary Science, which has a postgraduate employability rate of 98.9% and a median salary of £43,4002, according to the Government’s Postgraduate Learning Education Outcomes (LEO) study.

An MA in Veterinary Science will give you the skills you need to work with disease, diagnosis, treatment and prevention in animals. As rewarding as it is challenging, you’ll have the chance to work with animals to improve their health and welfare. It’s an always-developing field, with plenty of opportunity to specialise. You can focus on a specific area of veterinary science, such as wildlife, equine, farm, or companion animals. There’s plenty of opportunity for further research, or academic careers within the field.

Medicine

According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), medicine graduates have some of the highest employment rates among all MA degree holders in the UK, with 98.9% of postgrads in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. It can lead to a well-remunerated role, with a benchmark salary of £54,600 for post-graduates working within the wider profession.

It’s unsurprising, considering the high demand and shortage of medicine professionals in the UK. Medicine-related degrees encompass a wide range of subjects, including pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacy, dentistry, biomedical sciences, and public health. They offer rewarding, impactful careers, contributing to the health and well-being of local and global communities.

Pursuing a Master’s degree in a medicine-related subject can enhance your knowledge in your chosen field and prepare you for further research or academic careers. Specialising in areas such as clinical practice, drug design, epidemiology, or policy opens up opportunities in hospitals, laboratories, universities, or pharmaceutical companies. Check out our online healthcare degrees to discover flexible options for earning your medicine degree.

Mathematical Sciences

If you’re mathematically minded, a Master’s degree in Mathematical Studies can be a hugely employable option. Rooted in analytical, logical and problem-solving skills, you can apply your mathematical chops to various industries such as finance, data science, statistics, research and consultancy. Mathematical Sciences is an ever-evolving and innovative field, with a raft of opportunities for research and development. The employment rate for Mathematical Sciences is one of the highest at 94.8%, with an average salary of £43,400 according to Government Statistics.

Materials Science and Engineering

Materials Science can open doors to lucrative careers, with an employability rate of 87.7% and a median salary of around £44k. Working with materials and cutting-edge technology, it’s an exciting, future-proof career where you’ll be innovating and developing the fields of energy, biomaterials, nanotechnology and sustainability.

By pursuing a Master’s degree in Materials Science, you’ll develop engineering smarts, which you can apply to a variety of areas, from design, and processing to testing. A Master’s degree can help you specialise further and sets you up for respectable careers in research and academia.

Business and Management

The employment rate for business postgraduates is 94.9%, and the average salary is £39,100. It remains one of the most popular degrees in the UK, but it’s also one of the most employable. You’ll discover the tools you need to succeed within a company (or learn how to start your own) while honing your analytical, strategic and business skills. Employers value graduates with a working knowledge of how to effectively manage people, projects and budgets–as well as a wider understanding of global business contexts. You can further specialise in an area of business and management, such as international business, project management, marketing, or business innovation.

Computer Science

Technology governs the world in which we live, so it’s a no-brainer that computer skills are among the most in-demand right now. Post-graduate employment rates for an MA in Computer Science (and related subjects) is around 96%, and the average salary is £44,500. A Master’s degree in Computer Science hones your skills in areas as diverse as AI, Software Engineering, Data Science and Cybersecurity, with a plethora of applications in the world of technology, government, manufacturing and software development.If you’re looking to earn your degree at your own pace around other commitments, check out our online IT and computer science degrees.

Engineering

If you want to drive innovation and help solve challenges facing society, engineering can be a valuable and lucrative career. The postgraduate employment rate for Engineering is 95.7%, and the average salary is £44,500. Engineering is a diverse field with plenty of opportunities for further study. You could work in civil, mechanical, electrical, or biomedical engineering–and design and develop products and systems to help with climate change, smart cities, AI or aerospace. It’s a broad discipline, and the options are limitless. Check out our online engineering degrees to discover flexible options from top universities.

Law

Law consistently ranks among the highest in post-graduate employment rates, with 95.8% securing roles after obtaining a Master’s degree. The average salary is also substantial, at around £40,900. A noble, well-respected profession, law provides numerous pathways to career success.

Specialisations range from human rights and commercial law to environmental or international law. An MA can help prepare you for advanced qualifications, such as the Professional Training Course (BPTC), a requirement if you want to become a solicitor in the UK.

Final Thoughts

While these are some of the most employable Master’s degrees in the UK, they’re not the only ones. Career development looks different for everyone, and there’s no one-size-fits-all pathway to success.

Online learning can help you acquire the knowledge and skills that are in high demand in the global and digital economy, as well as enriching your personal development. With FutureLearn, you can access high-quality courses and online degrees that are offered by some of the world’s leading universities and organisations, and join a diverse and supportive community of learners.

Whether you want to boost your employability, change your career, or pursue your passion, online learning with FutureLearn can help you achieve your goals and unlock your full potential.