New data released by the Department for Education show that over 81% of master’s level geography graduates were in sustained employment, further study, or both, five years after graduation – outperforming several other subjects, including economics, politics and languages.
This good news for postgraduate geographers is bolsted by a strong earnings record. Geographers outperform chemists, bioscientists and linguists in terms of median earnings five years after graduation, according to the new data. The data show that, overall, postgraduates went on to earn significantly more than those with a first degree alone, while noting that several other factors also influence this contrast.
The findings are part of a release of Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data from 2017/18, for those who graduated with a postgraduate degree from a higher education institution (HEI) in England one, three, five and 10 years after graduation. The new figures do not include graduates who are in impermanent employment or those choosing not to work.
Choosing to study geography at postgraduate level can be a valuable and rewarding experience, opening up a diverse range of career possibilities. Approximately a fifth of geography graduates return to university to undertake postgraduate study. Many undertake a master’s degree that allows them to specialise in a specific area, such as geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, conservation, water resources, or environmental management.
Find out more about Choosing geography.