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Postgraduate Study

 

As a postgraduate student at Cambridge, you will be entitled to use the University Careers Service from the moment you arrive, throughout your research studies, and after you've graduated. If you do not have a clear idea what to do after your studies – or too many ideas – the team of Careers Advisers can help you think through your options, explore ideas, and find and the future that is right for you.

There is plenty of help available to take you to the next step; one to one guidance consultations; an extensive programme of briefings and skill sessions; 14 major careers events each year; coordinated employer presentations; a free book on CVs and Applications; and a database of over 4,00 graduate level job vacancies, covering a wide range of sectors.

How the Careers Service can help you

Career Essentials

We run one-hour ‘Careers Essentials’ workshops, on topics including choosing a career, cover letters, applications, and getting ready for interviews.

Internships and work experience

More than 1,500 internships are publicised across all sectors on our Vacancies & Opportunities database, with bursaries offered to support unpaid opportunities with charities.

Researching occupations and employers

  • Over 200 careers events and briefing and skills sessions typically offered by the Careers Service each year.
  • 14 major careers fairs, including Work to Change the World, Consultancy, and Engineering, Science and Technology.
  • CamCareers email service – key information on specific careers sectors.

Finding vacancies

  • Online vacancy information covering opportunities in sectors including; academia, commercial, public and charity.

Networking with alumni

  • GradLink – our alumni database is free to our users and gives access to contact details for Cambridge alumni who can offer first-hand advice.
  • More than 50 employment related skills training sessions.
  • Information on occupations, further study courses and funding.

Graduate Prospects

Cambridge graduates are highly sought after in the job market. In addition to strong employment prospects, students benefit from the services of the Careers Service, to help them find and then secure the future that is right for them.

The table below shows the career destinations of a recent cohort of MPhil and PhD graduates.

Industry MPhil Graduates PhD Graduates
Number % of total employed Number % of total employed
Accountancy and tax 8 1.6% 1 0.2%
Acturial and insurance 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Arts and recreation 24 4.7% 11 1.7%
Banking and investment 58 11.5% 17 2.7%
Communications business 13 2.6% 4 0.6%
Engineering and architectural consultancy 21 4.2% 7 1.1%
Health 19 3.8% 27 4.3%
IT sector 27 5.3% 44 7.0%
Legal sector 10 2.0% 6 0.9%
Management consultancy 46 9.1% 15 2.4%
Manufacturing industry, utilities, power: business 14 2.8% 7 1.1%
Manufacturing industry, utilities, power: technical 25 4.9% 29 4.6%
Other sectors 92 18.2% 55 8.7%
Other service industries 20 4.0% 5 0.8%
Public service 46 9.1% 25 4.0%
Publishing and media 18 3.6% 7 1.1%
Research: science 13 2.6% 232 36.7%
Research: social science 12 2.4% 65 10.3%
Social, community and charity 10 2.0% 9 1.4%
Teaching/lecturing 30 5.9% 66 10.4%
Total 506 100% 632 100%

Source: Careers Service Annual Report 2017 - 2018