Future prospects

What do Oxford graduates do and where might an Oxford degree take you? The most recent Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) with data collected from 2017-18 research graduates approximately 15 months after graduation shows the possible routes and careers paths.

The survey was sent to 1,286 recent PGR graduates; 721 responses were received giving a response rate of 56%. Further details and key figures from the survey response data are shown below.

Summary

• Almost 80% of recent PGR graduates were in paid work for an employer; less than 3% were unemployed and looking for work.

• Almost all employed graduates were in graduate level jobs, mostly in education, research and development, or health industries.

• More than half of those reporting said they took their job as it fitted with their career plans or was exactly what they wanted to do.

• 52% of graduates in paid work for an employer were on a fixed-term contract lasting 12 months or longer, and 42% were employed permanently.

• Average annual salary was £41,600, with a median of £35,700 (from 320 graduates that disclosed annual salary in pounds).

• Almost 89% of graduates agreed their current work was meaningful and that they were utilising what they had learnt in their studies.

Comprehensive careers advice and support for all our graduate students is available from our expert Careers Service.

Personalised advice

The University’s Careers Service is here to help you prepare for your future, whether you have a clear idea of what you’d like to do next, or no idea at all.

As a student, you’ll be able to book 1:1 careers consultations with experienced careers advisers to get impartial, confidential careers advice based on your needs. Specialist advisers can provide advice tailored for students with different requirements, including students with disabilities. 

Careers Services appointments are also available to alumni within two years of the course-end date, outside term time.

Resources and opportunities

As one of our graduate students, you’ll be able to take advantage of services available only to Oxford students. This includes talks from industry experts, skills workshops, updates from the Careers Service and access to CareerConnect.

CareerConnect is the University’s careers hub, available only for Oxford students and alumni. About 4,500 vacancies are advertised every year on CareerConnect.

Chances to meet employers

Many top employers visit the University as part of one of our many careers events held throughout the year. 

Our most popular fair, the Oxford University Careers Fair is held in Michaelmas term (October) and welcomes employers coving a wide range of sectors. There are also careers fairs for specific careers or sectors, such as the Law Fair, Finance Fair, Careers in Computing Fair, Science, Technology and Engineering Fair and Jobs for Mathematicians Fair.

Many of our departments have close links with industry and host visits from industry employers, allowing students to find out more about potential career options.

Support for DPhil students

The University aims to provide you with the best possible opportunities for personal and career development. You’ll receive tailored support through your division’s graduate school, including a broad range of training courses and workshops for developing both academic and professional skills. You may also benefit from skills training from the Bodleian Libraries, IT Services, the Language Centre, and researcher development across other divisions.

Your supervisor will help you to identify courses that will be most useful to you and build a bespoke programme of training and development based on your individual needs.

Teaching and demonstrating are a great way to develop a range of personal skills, and reinforce your knowledge of your subject. You may take up teaching opportunities within your faculty or department, particularly if you intend to pursue an academic career path.

Whether you plan to stay in academic research, or are exploring other options, the Careers Service offers dedicated services for researchers, including advice and resources on:

• exploring career options within academia and beyond
• making your DPhil count
• boosting your employability
• making applications

At the annual Careers Beyond Academia careers conference for Oxford University researchers, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about career paths that may be open to you and meet potential employers. At many fairs, the Careers Service runs Researchers@, a pre-fair hour hosted by a specialist careers adviser to help you get the most from the fair.

The Research Careers website is edited by DPhil students and researchers, working in partnership with the Careers Service. Here, you can find career profiles across a range of fascinating sectors written by researchers now working outside academic research.

Oxford is one of the top 10 universities in the world for graduate employability (QS World University Rankings). Our graduate degrees are highly regarded by employers. During your time at Oxford, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and enhance your career prospects.

In addition to the valuable experience you’ll gain as part of your degree, our Careers Service can help you identify your needs and improve those skills through programmes that emphasise real-world experience and problem-solving.

Exclusive internships

You’ll be able to apply for internships offered exclusively to Oxford students. These are a great way to gain experience, build your CV and explore possible career paths. 

The Summer Internship Programme offers access to global internship opportunities during the summer vacation. Hundreds of 2- to 12-week summer internships are available in more than 40 countries (including the UK), and in a wide variety of sectors.

Here are just some of the exciting funded opportunities that have been previously offered:

• internships with world-leading international development organisations, such as the UN Development Programme and development charities in Africa, Asia and Latin America
• placements at multinational firms like Sony in Japan and boutique finance companies around the world
• scientific research internships with universities and institutes in India, Brazil, Russia, Germany, China and more
• teaching positions in schools around the world
• arts and heritage internships, from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg to the Naval History Museum in Washington DC

The Micro-Internship Programme offers convenient, short-term voluntary learning and development opportunities with organisations in the UK and Europe. Placements can be research-based or professional, and host organisations range from investment banks and consultancy firms to tech start-ups and heritage sites.

Development opportunities

Develop your employability skills during your time at Oxford on original Careers Service programmes including:

The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA) is a team-based experiential learning event with participants working on real strategy-focused client challenges over a week. It offers an opportunity to develop a broad range of transferable skills including teamwork, leadership, communication and business awareness. These along with the client relationship experience, will help you demonstrate your potential in applications, on your CV and in interviews.

Making a Difference is a practical skills development programme that provides insight into the third sector, with a focus on strategy, development, fundraising, marketing, and operations. The programme runs in Michaelmas term and Hilary term and includes a mix of interactive presentations, guest speakers, and group activities, followed by a group project with a local or international charity or social enterprise.

A variety of Insight programmes help with the transition from student to employee by developing your knowledge of academia, creative writing, medicine, pharma/biotech, or publishing.

Oxford has an excellent track record in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. The University provides an ideal environment for starting a business, with a wealth of support, training and funding available to help you bring your ideas to life. 

Commercialising research

We're focused on the real-world impact of our research. We’re one of the UK’s most successful organisations for commercialising research through technology licensing, accounting for £1 for every £10 earned by UK higher education. 

Oxford University Innovation (OUI) has created over 160 spinout companies—more than any other UK institution—and was named best in the world in the 2017 Global University Venturing awards. These spinouts have raised over £1.9 billion in external investment since 2011, and now have a global turnover of over £600 million. The OUI’s new £500,000 fund, SE2020, supports the development and acceleration of spinouts where the focus is solving a social or environmental problem. 

Oxford Sciences Enterprises, a company in its own right, is the largest university venture fund manager focused on a single institution in the world, with £580 million under management.

You can visit our Started in Oxford page, or follow the hashtag #StartedinOxford to find out more about the many exciting companies created here. 

Get involved

We believe that anyone can be an entrepreneur. Whether you have a great idea of your own or want to get involved with an existing project, at Oxford you can find like-minded people, build confidence, develop your business judgement, and gain practical skills that will support your future. Entrepreneurship at Oxford is about creating opportunities, from starting a company to developing the skills, confidence and networks that will set you apart in whichever path you choose.

EnSpire Oxford, the University’s entrepreneurship hub, helps students, staff and alumni get inspired to explore entrepreneurship, launch startups, and grow ventures. Whether you want to develop an idea, expand your entrepreneurial mindset, or gain practical experience, EnSpire can help you build resilience, teamwork, leadership and other transferable skills that employers value.

There is also the opportunity to connect with Oxford’s many entrepreneurial societies and organisations, such as Oxford Entrepreneurs - the largest student entrepreneur society in Europe, offering events, networking and competitions, and OX1 Incubator - providing mentoring and community support for early-stage ventures.

To keep up-to-date with all of the entrepreneurial opportunities at Oxford, keep an eye on the EnSpire newsletter for regular updates.

After your degree, you'll join our community of over 350,000 Oxford alumni worldwide. Your membership of the University can have lifelong benefits, particularly for your career.

Careers advice and support

As an Oxonian, you can benefit from the University's support at every stage of your career, wherever you are in the world. Whether you're searching for your first job, thinking about a career change or hoping to network with others in your industry, we have a range of services to help you:

• search job vacancies on CareerConnect
• attend our career fairs
• career advice appointments available to alumni within two years of the course-end date, outside term time
• attend events tailored for alumni

Find out more about our careers support for alumni.

Professional Networking Events

Several alumni groups run Networking events aimed at encouraging members to find out more about the careers and experiences of fellow alumni, which will be of particularly interest to postgraduate students  and younger alumni. These range from formal events to an informal gathering over a meal or drinks. Some Oxford alumni Special Interest Groups also run mentorship programmes, often in collaboration with student societies.

Alumni groups

Oxford's alumni network is global: There are over 150 regional alumni groups in over 90 countries. Wherever you are, you are sure to find Oxonians near you and a warm welcome. Alumni groups are run by dedicated alumni volunteers who provide a vital connection with the University of Oxford, supporting current and prospective students and connecting alumni through shared interests.