Queen Mary, University of London
The job market The value of being a graduate Many jobs advertised (it’s estimated to be around 60 per cent) ask that applicants should be educated to degree level, but do not specify a discipline. This reflects the trend that many employers are looking more for the 'soft' skills that graduates acquire during their study rather than their knowledge in a specific subject. All our degree programmes will equip you with valuable transferable skills, and the many extracurricular activities – from Students’ Union societies to part-time work – provide you with plentiful opportunities to add to your skill set.
The London advantage Queen Mary’s location between the City and Docklands means that some of the biggest names in finance and business are nearby, many of which advertise vacancies with us. London is also a centre for the creative industries (eg advertising, the arts), new tech companies, the legal professions, the media, and offers excellent opportunities in science and engineering, teaching and the medical professions. As a student here, you’ll be well placed to look for work placements and to build contacts. Closer to graduation, you’ll be able to get to interviews easily.
Average graduate starting salaries According to the most recent Graduate Recruitment Survey produced by the Association of Graduate Recruiters, the median salary for graduates in 2011 was £25,500. This average is based on responses from 202 major graduate recruiters, all big organisations, such as banks, law and accountancy firms, and big retailers. In contrast, the median starting salary of all those who left higher education in the UK in 2010, many of whom work at small and medium-sized companies, was £19,000 (Higher Education Statistics Agency). The table on the right shows average salaries from the AGR survey by career area. The survey does not cover all sectors, for example: doctors (Foundation Year 1) can expect to earn £22,412, increasing to £27,798 (Foundation Year 2), see www.nhscareers.nhs.uk; a newly qualified teacher working in inner London will make £27,000, see www.tda.gov.uk; and an officer in the British Army starts at £24,615.
Median graduate starting salaries at AGR employers by career area in 2011* Investment banking
£38,250
Legal work
£35,000
Consulting
£28,500
Actuarial work
£27,500
Research and development
£27,000
Financial management
£26,500
Manufacturing engineering
£26,500
IT
£25,500
Science
£25,250
Accountancy
£25,000
General management
£25,000
Civil engineering
£25,000
Electrical/electronic engineering
£25,000
Mechanical engineering
£25,000
Sales
£25,000
Purchasing
£25,000
Marketing
£25,000
Human resources
£25,000
Logistics
£25,000
Retail management
£23,000
Education
£22,750
Other
£25,000
*Recruiters may be offering vacancies in more than one career area simultaneously. Source: The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2011
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