Job Opportunities after Engineering Masters in UK
Overview
As the 5th largest economy in the world, UK is home to some of the world’s leading engineering industry and engineering institutions, with a focus on innovation, research, and industry collaboration. Upon completion of an engineering master’s degree, graduates are well-positioned to take advantage of various career and academic opportunities both within the UK and globally. Amongst the vast scope of work that the country offers, postgraduates in engineering are more likely to be immediately hired after completing their course.
Engineering industry in UK
The UK has a robust engineering sector with demand across various industries including aerospace, automotive, civil, electrical, mechanical, and software engineering.
The overall number of employees in the engineering occupations was around 5.7 million in 2021. Out of this, 16.5% i.e. 0.94 million are females and more than 10% nearly 0.6 million were born outside UK. This figure shows that UK has a preference for foreign graduates in Engineering trade. Main industries where Engineers are employed are as follows
| Trade | % age | Employment |
| Manufacturing | 37.8% | 2.2 mn |
| Construction | 29.7% | 1.7 mn |
| IT industry | 19.1% | 1.1 mn |
Best cities for Engineering graduates
Various indexes like The Startups Cities Index, Innovation Cities Index, Statista, Beauhurst, Start up Genome and others provide an insight on where MS graduates can work in UK. The results are based on several factors like work opportunities, well-being benefits, co-working spaces among others. Top 10 cities which are most favourable for Engineering graduates are – London, Aberdeen, Sheffield, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Benefits of Masters courses in UK
Masters degrees in Engineering involve advanced study of the practical application of scientific and mathematical principles to solve real-world problems. UK offers one of the highest ranked institutions in the world with a huge focus on research. UK institutions offer Engineering Masters programs in traditional fields as well as new age sciences. Traditional fields include Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Automobile, Civil and Chemical. New age programs are in a wide spectrum and make a student ready for upcoming technologies. Some of these programs are in the field of Sustainable energy, Robotics, Biomedical, Space, Nuclear, race car aerodynamics, etc.
One very positive feature is that some UK universities offer Industry linked programs on their campus. Students taking these programs, undergo 1 year of internships or placements in industry thus getting the required practical knowledge and experience. This ‘with Industry Placement’ option offers a practical experiential element over the traditional one-year degree structure, allowing students to reflect on theory and practice. Most of the time, students get absorbed in the company where they complete internship, thus making it a way to get placements.
Employability scenario for Engineering graduates in UK
Engineering UK recently reported that the country needs 1.8 million new engineers and technicians by in next 3-4 years. UK is working in various fields where it will require big number of engineers. Renewable energy is one sector where huge number of engineers are required in next 5 years. UK is putting up GBP 6.6 billion in HS2 rail network between London and Birmingham where again huge number of engineers are required. New age tech like AI, VR, self driving cars, high-tech homes are also in focus where CS and Electronics engineers are required.
Type of work – Engineering graduates can indulge in different kinds of work like Corporate Job, Research & Development, Academic, Entrepreneurship.
Key companies – such as Airbus, Aston Martin, Bentley Motors, BAE Systems, British Airways, Colas Rail, Dyson, Jaguar and Land Rover, Mercedes, Network Rail, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Thales group, and Transport of London are known to actively recruit engineering graduates.
Average salary – Starting salary of Engineering graduates is GBP 32000. Average salary for an engineer is GBP 44000. With experience, it can go upto GBP 80-90 k.
How can Engineering Masters find a job
Graduate route PSW – International students with tier 4 visas are allowed an extension of two years of Post study work permit, to look for a job after they graduate. Applicants can remain in the UK while on a job search, even without a sponsor during this period.
University Placements – University placements are one of the easiest sources to enter the job market. Some of the reputed universities in the UK such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and King’s College London, have a very well-established placement cell to aid their graduates in getting placed at the best organizations. Some of the top universities in the UK organize webinars, career events, and job fairs to help graduates connect with employers and explore job prospects.
Recruitment Agency – Recruitment agencies offer end-to-end solutions for job applications. There are more than 25000 agencies operating in UK. The candidates must carefully choose a reliable and well-referred brand such as Adecco, Impellam, Hays, Reed, etc., and work with them to plan their applications. After registration with an agency and good track records, the candidates can easily find a suitable job that fits their profile.
Job sites – Students must upload their profile on job sites where they have the option of searching and getting connected to employers through out the UK.
Social Media – The students might be able to communicate and build a relationship with resourceful connections in the UK through networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter, highlighting their skill sets and using positive references.
Conclusion
Completing a master’s degree in engineering in the UK opens up a wide range of opportunities across multiple sectors. Whether pursuing a career in industry, academia, or entrepreneurship, graduates are well-equipped with the skills, knowledge, and credentials needed to succeed. The combination of the UK’s strong engineering heritage, its global reputation for education, and the myriad of available opportunities makes it an excellent destination for aspiring engineers.