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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

PhD Salary UK: How Much Do PhD Students Get Paid Compared to Graduates?

Considering whether to stay in university as a PhD student or to leave and get a job? If so, you may be wondering “How much do PhD student get paid?” and “How does a UK PhD salary compare to a graduate salary?” .

In this post I delve into the details and reveal that the difference in take home pay between a UK PhD stipend and a grad position can actually be much lower than it first appears!

If you’re looking to know how much a PhD could boost your career and salary after finishing your doctoral degree I’d suggest checking out my post: Is a PhD Worth It ? See details here for how much people earn in academia after getting their PhD .

I also have a complementary post covering my monthly expenses as a PhD student. You may also wish to check out my guide to the application process , PhD FAQs and article on how I got a PhD scholarship .

February 2024 : This post has been updated to include figures for the 2023/24 academic year.

Do PhD students get paid in the UK? If so, how much do PhD students get paid?

Before we delve into the details let’s first cover whether PhD students get paid in the UK. Generally, yes, most PhD students get what is called a PhD stipend to support themselves during their PhD. Importantly, a PhD stipend (in the UK at least) is tax free .

It is worth noting though that not all PhD projects automatically include funding. Funding may also not be applicable for every applicant. For example sometimes it may only be available to home students i.e. those from the UK.

Therefore some students may resort to self funding their PhD. In STEM subjects self funding a PhD is pretty rare and often only happens because of limitations in funding eligibility. I’ve personally worked with a mix of funded and self-funded (often by parents) PhD students, though most are certainly funded by grants and scholarships.

If your project doesn’t already include funding, for most people I strongly advise trying to find funding rather than considering self funding. For more information on this check out my post on PhD Funding in the UK.

2023/24 UK PhD Salary

• PhD salary outside of London: In 2023/24 most new PhD students in the UK will receive a PhD stipend worth at least £18,622 per year .
• PhD salary in London : In 2023/24 most new PhD students in London will receive an increased stipend to account for cost of living , which is typically around £20,622 per year .

Notice that the PhD stipend for outside of London is at least £18,622 per year. I’ve seen several advertised at the London rate. There are also some available at an even higher rate. For example I know of CDTs in Bristol paying more like £24,000 tax-free.

Your PhD stipend will usually provide funding for 3.5 years, although it can occasionally be for 3 or 4 years.

These values are for most PhD studentships including those awarded by all UK research councils following the UKRI guidelines .

Certain scholarship schemes pay upwards of £25,000 per year, such as the £25,150 (2024/25 rate) President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial. For details on how to get such a scholarship, check out this article where I go over how I got awarded my own PhD scholarship.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN)  runs all across the EU. As well as nice training and exchange opportunities it pays a staggering stipend of approx £40,000 – £45,000 . The grant level is reviewed each year and increases if you have family dependents. I personally wish I’d known about it earlier and highly recommend anyone interested puts a reminder in their diary for when the next call opens!

Is a UK PhD stipend taxable?

Here is what PhD stipends look like compared to some fairly typical starting grad salaries in the UK:

At first glance a PhD stipend doesn’t stack up well against the higher wages of a graduate salary which can sometimes be twice this amount or more. But crucially PhD stipends for students are tax free !

There are a few other financial perks that come with being a student so I was intrigued to find out how the two salaries really compared. The results may surprise you!

Below is a high level overview and I’ll delve into each of the numbers in depth later in the post.

Grad salary vs PhD salary starting numbers

As mentioned earlier, in 2023/24 a typical PhD stipend outside of London is at least £18,622 . Within London this will typically increase slightly to account for cost of living to around £20,622 . These rates rise every year for new students, but do not rise for each year of the PhD. So for new students considering starting in 2024/25 a UK PhD salary will likely be around £19,100 outside of London. 

For the sake of simplifying the comparison I averaged the 2023/24 PhD stipend to £19,622 for all PhD students studying in the UK.

A fairly typical grad salary, for someone qualified enough to be considering a science PhD, is around £30,000 . Of course this is an average salary so needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. As the number can vary dramatically it may be considered too low by some, but I think it’s a good benchmark accounting for different regions of the UK.

I’ve included higher and lower graduate salaries too in the summary charts for this post.

Salary Gap: £10,378

On the face of it the PhD student would be earning £10,378 less per year: around 35% lower! This is enough of a difference to put off a lot of potential PhD candidates who’ve likely spent the last few years building up student loans.

But unlike normal wages, PhD stipends are tax free so maybe things aren’t as bleak for PhD students as it seems? Let’s explore how they really compare.

Income Tax & National Insurance Contributions

The 2023/24 Personal Income Allowance is £12,570. This means that you can earn up to this amount and not pay any income tax. Earnings from £12,571 up to £50,270 fall into the basic rate bracket of 20% tax.

PhD Student Salary: PhD stipends are tax free and incur no income tax or national insurance contributions. Remaining stipend: £19,622

Professional Salary: On £30,000 you’d pay £ 3486 in income tax and NI contributions of £2004 . Remaining wage:  £24,510

Salary Gap: £4888 Income tax and national insurance contributions have immediately almost halved the difference in take-home pay from £10,378 down to £4888!

Student Loan Repayment

PhD Student Salary: Even with a PhD stipend you are officially an unwaged student so you won’t make student loan repayments as a PhD student. Remaining stipend: £19,622 [see footnote 1]

Professional Salary: The amount you may have to pay for student loan repayments depends upon when you started your undergraduate course. If you started your undergraduate course since 2012 you pay student loan repayments on earnings above £27,295. Meaning on a salary of £30,000 you’d pay £243 a year on student loan repayments. If you began your undergraduate course before 2012, repayments start on salaries above £22,015 and would be £541 a year . Most of you likely completed your undergrad degree recently so we’ll go with the more recent, lower, repayments. Remaining wage:  £24,267

Salary Gap: £4645

Council Tax

PhD Student Salary: Another cost that students are exempt from is council tax. Though be careful if you share a house with non-students since council tax must then be paid on the property. [2] Remaining stipend:  £19,622

Professional Salary: Council tax varies greatly between council boroughs, and depends on the property you live in. For example in Cardiff I lived in a one bed flat and the annual council tax was £1050 per year. During my PhD in London council tax for a lovely three bed house  in Clapham it was £1000! Now that I live in Bristol it is over £2000 per year for a three bed house. I’ll go to the liberty of saying on average it would be £1150 per year and would be divided between two people: -£575 each. Total: £23,692

Salary Gap: £4070

Private Pension Contributions

PhD Student Salary: Although universities pay a PhD stipend to students, you are not a member of staff and hence do not make private pension contributions. Remaining stipend:  £19,622

Professional Salary: Legislation has been phasing in making contribution to private pensions mandatory. The upside is that employers match your contribution up to varying percentages: sometimes up to about 10% of your salary. Additionally there are tax benefits to contributing so overall you could see it as boosting your salary looking at the longer term view. [3]

I believe there are troubling times ahead for 20-somethings and personally am not relying on a state pension existing by the time we all reach retirement age. Therefore I wholeheartedly recommend making a decently sized contribution at least up to the same amount that your employer matches. For the purposes of this comparison I won’t deduct anything for private pension since it’s not really being deducted so I’ll call this one a draw.  Total: £23,692

Student Discount

Ah the obvious one! Student discount may have been the first thing you thought of when you saw this article, but I’m not going to include it in this analysis.

A student card does allow a significant amount to be saved, not only on luxuries such as entry to attractions and deals in shops but also travel. For example in London, an 18+ student oystercard gets you 30% off travelcards. For a monthly zones 1-3 ticket this would save about £50 a month: over £600 a year!

The reason I’ve not included it? How much you use student discount depends on your circumstances and lifestyle and I wanted to keep the analysis widely applicable. Also, there are ways around needing to pay for travel at all: I started cycling to university every day in London .

Curveball: the £12,570 Tax-Free Personal Income Allowance

So far the recent grad is still earning an additional £4842 per year: almost a third more than the PhD student. Owing to the fact that PhD students are exempt from income tax, national insurance contributions, council tax and student loan repayments the gap in earnings has shrunk considerably.

One last calculation I wanted to try was to consider the scenario of a student earning some additional money on the side. It is a common thing to make extra money with teaching assistant, tutoring and consultancy opportunities. In fact I think every PhD student I know does at least a little. There are of course non-academic routes to make additional money too.

I have written a post about some of the ways that I make extra money , many of which are in fact available to non-students. Do be careful to check that this is acceptable at your institution. My favourite way to make extra money is matched betting which is tax-free for everybody. You can find my complete guide to matched betting here .

Tax-free side-hustle

Currently you can earn £12,570 tax free in the UK . Given that the PhD stipend itself is tax free, unlike an equivalent worker you wouldn’t pay any tax on extra earnings up to this threshold. This might sound insignificant but it’s not.

Admittedly, unless you’re very entrepreneurial, it is unlikely that you would make use of the whole tax-free opportunity. But earning several thousand pounds per year on top of the stipend is certainly common.

As pointed out by a reader, John, in the comments below: a consideration should be that that some universities limit how much paid work you can do per month. Even so, there are lots of ways to make money and your time as a student could even be a great time to start your own business .

I’ve been paid more than £25 an hour doing pretty simple work for the university , so these earnings can mount up quickly.

To illustrate the extra earning potential afforded to PhD students, let’s consider the most extreme case where the tax-free earnings are maximised.

Since 2017 there has been a £1000 tax-free trading allowance for workers in the UK , meaning even those in a normal taxable job can earn £1000 on top of their salary from side-hustle jobs. Therefore the grad will pay additional taxes on £11,570 instead of £12,570.

PhD Student Salary: An enterprising student maxing out the tax-free allowance could earn £12,570 a year and pay no national insurance either, leaving additional take-home pay of  £12,570 . With a PhD stipend of £17,062 the student would in total earn £32,192 for the year. They’d keep 100% of those extra earnings.

Again, yes it is unlikely that someone would really earn this much on the side but it is common to make at least several thousand throughout the year.

Professional Salary: As a grad on £30,000 per year in your main job, to have an equivalent side-hustle earning £12,570, in total you’d pay tax on £41,570. Income tax would be £5800: £2314 higher than on their base salary of £30,000. NI contributions would be £3335: £1331 higher. Plus student loan repayments would be £1284: £1041 higher. Student loan repayments really start increasing considerably when you’re earning more. These additional taxes and costs total deductions of £4686,  leaving the professional with extra take-home pay of  £7884 . Including their day-job the total they’d be left with is £31,576 .

For this extra £12,570 of work, the student would pocket 100% of it and the professional would keep £7884 ( 63% ). Looking at the pre-tax difference in their earnings: at face value the student would be earning £32,192 and the grad £41,570: a difference of £9378. Yet once taxes are considered the final result is two people with remarkably similar take-home pays: a difference of £616 in favour of the student!

Check it out:

Under these circumstances the student would in fact take home £616 more per year than the professional! I used the maximum tax-free allowance to highlight the point and yes it’s unlikely that many students will fully utilise it. Yet the point stands that any additional earnings are much better retained by PhD students.

If someone was running a fully-fledged business on the side then the difference becomes even bigger as the grad salary approaches the next tax bracket for earnings of £50,271 and above, at which point the rate of income tax doubles.

There are very few legal ways of making money which are tax-exempt for everyone. One of these rare cases is also my favourite way to make money on the side: matched betting. Intrigued? I’ve written a huge guide to it here . In this rare instance none of the grad’s extra earnings get eroded by tax.

Grad salary vs PhD student salary conclusion

Starting from a difference of £10,378 in salary, taxes and other outgoings have knocked £6308 off the graduate’s wage. This brings the difference in earnings down to £4070. This equates to £339 per month. More than nothing, but not a huge difference. And this doesn’t include any extra earnings on the side which the student can do a much better job of retaining.

Surprised how small the difference is? I certainly was whilst I was writing this.

Here is a chart for comparing a wider range of salaries:

This analysis doesn’t take in to account the extra earning power that gaining a PhD could bring, nor the potential lifestyle benefits of being a student such as autonomy and flexible working hours which it could be argued level the playing field even further. Plus the opportunities afforded to PhD students, which everyone should seize. And yes, student discount if you use it.

Furthermore if you consider the opportunity to make an additional £12k+ per year before incurring tax  any difference in earnings can become close to negligible!

I hope that this post has helped explain that the wage gap between UK PhD stipends and grad salaries is not as dramatic it first seems. Perhaps it’s even encouraged you to consider a PhD. If so I’ve written posts to help with your application and an article on how to improve your chances of securing a PhD scholarship . Also if you’re curious you can read about life as a PhD student along with profiles of PhD students around the world .

If you’d like personalised help with your PhD application I am now starting to offer a small number of one-to-one sessions. Please contact me to find out more or click here to book a call.

What do you think about this comparison between a UK PhD stipend and grad salary? Do you think there are any additional factors that I have overlooked? Please share your thoughts in the comments below and if you’ve enjoyed this post you can subscribe to hear about more content:

[1] Some people might say that by continuing studying you’re simply delaying your student loan repayment.  Considering most people don’t pay it off in the 30 odd years until any outstanding balance is wiped I think it’s fair to say that this doesn’t ring true.

[2] No council tax is paid on a property if all occupants are students. If you live with one professional they can claim the single occupancy discount of 25% but with two or more professionals the full council tax amount must be paid. If you share in a mixed group it is up to you how you divide it within the group. Ironically given the spirit of this post, last year I voluntarily did pay an equal (third) share of council tax given that my partner was moving to London specifically to live with me…

[3] If you go on to work for a university after your PhD you’ll be enrolled in the USS pension scheme where you’ll usually pay in 9% of your salary and your employer pays in 19%: yes, nineteen! For comparison most often the best private companies may match contributions up to 10%. Pension contributions are often removed from your pay packet before taxes. This effectively leaves you with a smaller salary and hence pay less taxes and national insurance contributions. Between this and your employer’s contributions overall your salary could be “boosted” by quite a bit, around 20% in the USS example, if you consider the pension as part of your long-term salary.

All calculations were carried out using the tax calculator on Martin’s Money Saving Expert. A fantastic website for all things personal finance.

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17 Comments on “PhD Salary UK: How Much Do PhD Students Get Paid Compared to Graduates?”

It’s probably worth factoring in that most HEIs limit PhD students to a maximum I’m of 10hours pw of external work. By my rough estimate, the student would have to earn £25 an hour to make the money you’ve described here. The side hustle, should probably be halved to reflect a more typical salary. Still a fair whack though.

Hi John, yes that’s a good point and I’ll update the post to reflect this. In my experience £25/hour is realistic, at least here at Imperial, though I appreciate it would rarely get fully utilised. Thanks again

Hello Jeff! I am a Sustainability Consultant from India, looking at PhD opportunities in UK. It would be great if we can connect and discuss a bit about your experience and journey. Looking forward!

Hey Akhyata! Great, yes let’s have a chat. I’ve emailed you to arrange it. Best wishes, Jeff

Hi Jeff! I love your article, I’m a pharmacist juggling the idea of a PhD. I would love to take up on your offer to connect.

Hey Kai! Great, I’ll email you now to arrange it.

Hi Jeff, I am a law grad very interested in further study and pursuing a PhD.

I would love the chance to chat to you further about this article and your experience!

Thanks in advance

Hey Clara, Yeah no worries. I’ll send you an email now to discuss.

Hi Jeff, I’m putting together a PhD proposal at the moment and would really appreciate your input on a few things about the process when you have some free time. Cheers, Ben

Hi Ben, sure no problem, I’m happy to try and help. Let’s discuss over email.

Hi Jeff, Thank you for taking the time to write the articles you do. On this particular article, you have saved us all quite a lot of time. With such a minimal difference even without an additional income, it makes a lot of sense, especially with an increase when you graduate.

Those from the UK can take a £24k loan from the Gov (as if they didn’t have enough debt already). Still, it could enable a student to focus more on academia, speeding up the process and increasing the quality of work.

Apologies Jeff, the stipend and student loan are not available at the same time.

Thanks very much for your comments Tyrone. I’m pleased you find the website useful!

If you can get funding, I agree that there isn’t much of a reason to not do a PhD.

I must admit I’ve never looked much at postgraduate loans, in part because I encourage everyone doing a PhD (in STEM at least) to pursue funding. We’re doing PhDs which can help wider society and it doesn’t make sense for people to have to sacrifice even more by adding extra debt if they can avoid it. Interesting to hear that you can’t take out a loan if you have a stipend, thanks for letting me know.

Perhaps of interest to you, there is a post going live tomorrow which should put the length of a PhD in context of someone’s whole career. In short it doesn’t sacrifice much of a career but of course but make a very useful addition!

If there are any other topics you want to see covered please do let me know.

Best wishes.

Tax Free is not a perk. If you are not paying tax in the UK you cannot contribute to your pension. This may not seem important now, but it will later. This is especially important for mature students who can really lose out if there is a break in their NI contributions.

Thanks for your comment Marie.

The point is that normal tax-paying jobs don’t actually pay quite as much more than PhD stipends once you consider tax. I agree that over the long term avoiding paying taxes is neither a good idea because of things like pensions, nor is it socially ethical. But I don’t think there is any harm in taking 3-4 years out for a PhD:

You have to pay NI for a minimum of only 10 years to qualify for some level of state pension in the UK. After this the pension received simply increases linearly with the number of years of contributions, up to a max of 35 years. With retirement age edging up to 70 that gives at least 45 years between undergrad and retirement so most people will comfortably qualify (for now) for the full state pension. I’d argue that there is ample time to earn some tax free money as a PhD student without having to worry about making enough NI contributions. You can even voluntarily pay NI to gain additional qualifying years on your record. More generally I’d suggest also to not rely on receiving the state pension, I’m not personally betting on there even being a state pension by my own retirement (nor do I want to retire at 70+) so it’s always a good idea to build up your own private pension and savings too!

Hi Jeff, I was looking for funded PhD projects in the Marie Curie network and found a few on the EURAXESS website, but they all require a Master’s degree to apply. I was wondering if there is something I am missing or if you know where to find PhD funding opportunities in the Marie Curie network with only a bachelor’s degree. Thank you.

Hi Alex, thanks for your comment. I must admit I’m not an expert on all of the different Marie Curie funding routes available. If you’ve already done an extensive search then it sounds like yes they all may require a Master’s. By the way, when I first wrote this post I believed that all PhDs funded by UK research councils (UKRI) were at the very specific levels as mentioned in the post. However, I now know that there are some exceptions. For example, the Interactive AI CDT here at Bristol pays a stipend of £22,106: quite a bit higher than the standard non-London rate. CDTs such as this one include a foundation year and not everyone has a Master’s, so it may be worth considering schemes such as this. Best wishes, Jeff.

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• PhD Salary in UK – Explained
• Funding a PhD

What Are PhD Salaries?

The average cost of undertaking a PhD in the UK is approximately £20,000 per academic year for UK students and £40,000 for international students. To help offset the cost of this, many students question whether undertaking a doctorate comes with a PhD salary.

The salary of a PhD student is governed by three factors: whether they’re assisting in undergraduate teaching, assisting in research, or have secured a PhD with a stipend. Depending on which of the three categories a student falls within, they will receive an income during their studies, however, the amount will differ by a substantial amount.

To help show you how you can fund your postgraduate degree and how much you can expect to earn whilst doing so, carry on reading below.

Types of PhD Salaries

There are three types of PhD degree salaries:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) . In exchange for a salary, you’ll be required to assist in the delivery of one or more courses over a number of years. This includes, but is not limited to, marking student tutorials, supervising lab experiments and providing support to undergraduates during office hours. Besides this, you may have to teach a small section of the course itself. You can discover more about GTAs on King’s College London’s website.
• Research Assistantships (RAs) . In exchange for a salary, you assist a departmental professor with their research. In the ideal scenario, the professor you work with should also be your PhD supervisor and the research you’re asked to support with relates to your own doctoral project.
• Stipend via Studentship: A stipend is a non-repayable grant provided to doctoral students to help support their studies. A studentship covers a student’s tuition fees whilst a stipend covers a PhD student’s living costs. This includes outgoings such as rent, food, bills and basic travel. Unlike Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships, stipends rarely have duties attached to them. The only expectation of receiving a stipend will be that you maintain continuous progress within your degree.

It’s worth noting these earning opportunities can be also be combined. For example, it’s possible to be a research assistant whilst also committing time to teach undergraduate students.

Average PhD Salary in UK

The average PhD student salary for teaching assistantships will vary depending on the level of responsibility you’re taking. However, to provide figures, past doctoral students have reported receiving approx. £10/hr for marking tutorials, £15/hr for leading laboratory sessions and up to £20/hr for leading undergraduate classes and tutorials.

The actual amount you can earn from teaching assistance will depend on the rate your department offers and the hours you can realistically take on. If you’re on a Graduate Teaching Assistantship programme, they will require you to dedicate a set number of hours per week. If you’re not on a GTA but would still like to earn an income through this scheme, you will likely need to commit several hours per week consistently. Although this can be a great way to earn whilst you study, you need to make sure you manage your time effectively as to not become overwhelmed by taking on an additional commitment.

The average salary for research assistantships will vary depending on the field of the doctoral degree you are enrolled in. Usually, these positions pay between £25,000 to £30,000 per year, however, it’s possible to come across positions which sit slightly outside of this. As a general rule of thumb, STEM assistors are paid more than non-STEM assistors.

In the UK, PhD students can receive a stipend which varies between £15,000 and £18,000 per annum. As part of the studentship your stipend is provided under, your tuition fees will also be paid for. UK tuition fees will vary between universities but are approximately £4,500 per year for doctoral courses starting in 2021/22 as per the UKRI recommendations .

Although £15,000 to £18,000 per year is the typical range for a stipend, some can be far greater than this. For example, Wellcome Trust , a research-charity based in London, offers an annual stipend of up to £23,300 and £26,000 for doctoral students located outside and within London, respectively.

Are PhD Salaries Taxed?

PhD stipends are tax free. Therefore, you don’t need to pay any income tax nor do you need to make any national insurance contributions. This means you’ll keep all the money you receive from an annual stipend. However, this is not the case for Research Assistants.

In the UK, Research Assistants are employed as university staff members and are paid a direct salary as opposed to a stipend. As a result, it will require you to pay tax on your earnings and make national insurance contributions.

To put this into perspective, for the 2019/20 UK tax year, you’re required to pay a 20% tax on any income above £12,500 but less than £50,000. You’re also required to make national insurance contributions of 12% of your weekly earnings over £166 but less than £962. This means that an annual Research Assistantship salary of £30,000 will equate to a take-home salary of £23,938 per year.

How to Get a PhD Stipend

To find research positions which offer stipends, we recommend you search our PhD database and filter by ‘funded’ positions.

Besides this, you can also secure a studentship from UK Research Councils or directly from your university as a scholarship. Independent organisations, such as charities and research trusts, and innovative firms within your industry also offer funding. You can read our PhD studentship guide to see how these work or our Where to find a PhD guide for further ideas.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How to Get a Research Assistantship PhD

Unfortunately, research assistantships opportunities aren’t as common to come across compared to PhD stipends. Besides this, when they are available, they’re predominantly in STEM subjects such as computer science and engineering. The reason for this is these subjects usually have access to greater research grants and have a greater volume of practical work available.

To find a research assistantship, we recommend that you contact the university departments who host the courses you’re interested in directly. This is because research assistantships help professors with their research, and while they may require help, they may not be openly advertising for it. They may, therefore, be able to create a role for you within their department or put you into contact with one of their colleagues who already has an open position.

International Students

It’s worth noting that international students will have a harder time securing a funded PhD position than UK ‘home’ students will. This is largely because there are usually fewer funding opportunities available to international students, which as a result also attract significant competition.

Besides this, if you’re an international student studying in the UK you will most likely than not be on a Tier 4 visa. Although a Tier 4 visa will allow you to work to earn an additional income alongside any studentship you may have, there will be certain restrictions on what you can and can’t do. For example, during term-time, you won’t be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. For a full list of restrictions, please refer to the government website.

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Graduate engineering salary round up

Sophie White

9 Apr 2024, 11:49

Discover what a typical graduate engineer salary is, how much the top graduate schemes pay and the benefits, perks and bonuses offered by engineering companies.

Supported by:

Royal Air Force

A graduate engineer salary with a high-profile graduate employer in the UK is around the £25,000 to £32,000 mark. Graduate engineer salaries for schemes advertised with targetjobs tend to range between £20,000 and £35,000. A few engineering employers pay graduates more, typically (but not exclusively) oil and gas giants such as BP, who offer a starting salary of £37,000–£48,000 as well as additional joining and wellbeing allowances. Graduate engineer salaries for small and medium-sized or regional employers tend to be slightly lower, often between £20,000 and £25,000.

What is the average starting salary for a graduate engineer?

Data from the Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Statistics, which asked 2019/20 graduates about their jobs approximately a year after they graduated, found that most engineering and technology graduates who entered highly skilled jobs had starting salaries of £27,000¬–£29,999 – one of the highest starting salary levels by degree subject. However, bear in mind that this figure includes all graduates, not just those who had graduate jobs within engineering.

The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) 2022 Recruitment Survey reported that the median starting salary for graduates in the engineering, energy and industry sector was £28,667. However, bear in mind that this study was based on employees of ISE members, who typically pay more than other employers. It also reported the median starting salaries for graduates in the following sectors (covering graduates in all roles, not just engineering):

• Built environment : £25,500
• Health and pharmaceuticals : £28,500
• Retail and fast-moving consumer goods : £26,000

Employer graduate scheme salaries for engineering graduates

A lot of engineering employers simply state 'competitive salary' on their graduate careers websites, but other employers disclose their graduate starting salaries – and you can find some of them here.

The following figures are based on starting salaries for graduate jobs advertised in 2022.

• AECOM graduate salary: reported to be £25,096–£32,601
• Airbus graduate salary: £27,000
• Babcock International Group graduate salary: £30,000–£35000
• BAE Systems graduate salary: £30,000
• Bakkavor graduate salary: £27,000
• BMW Group graduate salary: £31,000
• BP graduate salary: £37,000–£48,000
• Caterpillar graduate salary: reported to be £32,713–£35,817 depending on programme and experience
• Centrica graduate salary: £36,000
• DSTL graduate salary: £25,000–£29,500
• EDF Energy graduate salary: £30,000
• INEOS graduate salary: £36,000
• Jaguar Land Rover graduate salary: £29,000
• Manufacturing Technology Centre graduate salary: £30,000
• MBDA graduate salary: £30,000
• Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains graduate salary: £33,000
• Ministry of Defence – Submarine Delivery Agency graduate salary: £27,625
• Mott MacDonald graduate salary: £28,700–£30,900
• National Grid graduate salary: £30,278–£31,379 depending on qualifications
• Network Rail graduate salary: £26,500
• Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK graduate salary: £30,000-£31,000 depending on location
• Nuclear Graduates graduate salary: £26,000
• Raytheon graduate salary: £28,000
• Rolls-Royce graduate salary: c. £29,000
• Severn Trent graduate salary: £29,056
• Toyota graduate salary: £32,088
• UK Power Networks graduate salary: £31,199
• Unilever graduate salary: £32,000
• United Utilities graduate salary: £29,500

Will I get paid more if I have a postgraduate degree?

Some engineering employers do pay their graduates more if they have a master’s degree or PhD. National Grid , for example, offers graduates with a master’s degree a slightly higher starting salary (£31,379 v. £30,278 for a bachelor’s degree). It may be that a postgraduate degree also boosts your future salary. Back in 2013, the Engineering Council’s Survey of Registered Engineers and Technicians 2013, found that the median basic income for engineers educated to graduate level was £56,000 whereas for those educated to postgraduate level, the figure was £62,000 – but there hasn’t been a similar survey since.

What benefits and bonuses can I get from an engineering company?

A number of engineering companies offer their graduates appealing benefits and cash incentives. We’ve rounded up some of the most tempting.

Welcome payments

AKA joining bonus, welcome bonus, welcome package, golden hello, settling-in allowance. Whatever it’s called, it's a lump sum that a number of engineering graduate employers offer to students on joining. Others split it into two or more payments when their graduates achieve certain milestones.

The Royal Navy offers a joining bonus of £27,000 to graduates in certain roles, plus an extra £5,000 for earning their ‘dolphins’. Meanwhile, the construction consultancy Atkins, an SNC-Lavalin business gives £5,000 per graduate, split into two payments: half on joining and half on achieving professional qualification, typically three to five years later. Centrica , meanwhile, is not far behind at £3,000.

Rolls-Royce, Frazer Nash, Jaguar Land Rover and Network Rail all offer a £2,000 joining bonus, while Bakkavor and Caterpillar offer £1,000. Other employers, including Mace , also offer a welcome bonus but don't disclose how much it is.

Performance-related bonuses

Many employers offer discretionary and performance-related bonuses once in the workplace. They include:

• Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains
• Max Fordham
• UK Power Networks

Meanwhile, both Arup & and Mott MacDonald highlight that, as employee-owned businesses, staff share a proportion of the organisations' profits and have a say in how the business is run. Other employers, such as Rolls-Royce , Babcock International Group and National Grid , offer share purchase schemes for their staff.

Getting behind the wheel

If you see yourself behind the wheel of a flash car, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains offers a car lease scheme to its employees. BMW Group and Jaguar Land Rover offer discounts on car purchases for staff and their family members while Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK offers car ownership schemes.

It's not just automotive manufacturers that offer car-related perks. Kloeckner Metals offers a car lease scheme and Laing O'Rourke gives its graduates a car allowance.

Transport discounts

OK, so the 07:18 to London Paddington doesn’t have the same glamour factor as putting the latest Jaguar through its paces. But a season ticket could set you back thousands of pounds a year, so wouldn’t it be nice if your employer paid for it?

If you take up a graduate job with a transport company, they might do. Transport for London provides two free Oyster cards and 75% off National Rail tickets for travel beyond the TfL network. Network Rail also offers subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets.

Some other engineering companies, such as Frazer Nash and Colas Rail , also offer season ticket loans.

Other perks

Some employers also offer benefits designed to support you mentally and physically. For example, Babcock International Group , Kloeckner Metals and Gist offer free employee assistance programmes, while WSP and Laing O'Rourke provide 24-hour virtual GP services. Mace , ISG and Expleo offer access to health club and gym membership discounts, while Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains and Unilever have onsite gyms.

If personal development is important for you, Nuclear Graduates gives its graduates their own personal training budget and pays for membership to two professional institutions. Previous graduates have spent their budgets on attending conferences all over the world and training courses back in the UK. BMW Group also offers funding for professional and vocational training and UK Power Networks pays for membership with the Institute of Engineers and Technology.

Finally, if you want to be rewarded for doing your bit for the environment, numerous employers, including Frazer Nash , Rolls-Royce , Nuclear Graduates , Babcock International Group , take part in cycle to work schemes that offer discounts on bikes and cycling accessories.

What can a graduate engineer expect in terms of salary progression?

Many engineering employers state that their graduates can expect to see their salary reviewed – and potentially increased – on a regular basis. How much your salary will increase over the course of your graduate scheme will depend on the individual employer, though. The ISE 2022 Development Survey suggested that an average graduate salary in the engineering, energy and industry sector would typically progress from a starting salary of £28,000 to £38,000 after three years.

What is my earning potential as an engineer?

To give you an idea of what you might earn in the future, the 2022 salary survey by The Engineer , which looks at all engineers and not just recent graduates, reported a mean average salary level of £58,108, which was an increase of 2.3% on the mean average from the previous year.

The average engineering salary varies by area of expertise, location and sector. Engineers working in the manufacturing sector typically earn the highest salaries, with the average salary of respondents who were manufacturing engineers coming in at £65,340, according to The Engineer 's 2022 survey.

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We've got you

Mechanical Engineering MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

Outstanding science, strong industrial engagement, and tangible impact are all hallmarks of our PhD programme and of our research culture. Our students work and learn both in UCL's world-class laboratories but also in partnership with a wide range of collaborating institutions and companies worldwide, enhancing knowledge, networking and employment opportunities.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

Normally a UK Master’s degree, or a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Relevant professional qualifications and/or appropriate work experience may also be taken into consideration.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance . This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Doctoral study at UCL's Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the opportunity to become a world-class interdisciplinary researcher at the interface of science and engineering. Our PhD researchers specialise in applying advanced principles of engineering science to generate new knowledge and introduce innovative solutions to a diverse range of challenges. From biomedical systems to the marine environment, from clean and low carbon power systems to pioneering materials and manufacturing, and in many other fields, we propose ground-breaking technologies that change the world.

Who this course is for

This programme is most likely to appeal to students with a background in engineering or another related discipline who wish to produce a significant contribution to the development and understanding of a specific field within mechanical engineering.

What this course will give you

UCL Mechanical Engineering is the oldest such department in England, based in the centre of London and part of one of the world's best universities. We have a long, proud history of providing a vibrant and stimulating environment for PhD students from around the world.

Our doctoral candidates are engaged in challenging and innovative engineering research, supervised by world-leading academics, in close collaboration with major industrial partners. Candidates receive an extensive range of skills development training programmes and develop unique scientific and engineering competencies that prepare them for careers in academia, industrial research and development, management and many other fields.

Our research projects are often industry sponsored and have direct practical relevance. As we collaborate with other departments and universities and engage in a range of multi-disciplinary research activities, you will often be jointly trained by a range of experts, making you highly attractive to a range of employers. Research graduates in engineering with good analytical ability are in high demand.

The foundation of your career

Recent graduates have entered professions in a wide variety of leading companies, government agencies and not-for-profit institutions of varying sizes. These include:

• McLaren Automotive
• HCA Healthcare UK

Our PhD graduates also pursue postdoctoral research and lectureships at UCL and a variety of institutions in the UK and overseas (e.g. Royal Veterinary College, Beijing Institute of Technology, University of Kenya).

Employability

A research degree in Mechanical Engineering opens the door to many rewarding careers, not just in engineering. You are likely to find employment in a wide range of industries and organisations, both at home and abroad, as well as academic careers in postdoctoral research and university lectureships.

There are ample networking opportunities both within and beyond the UCL research community. For example, the department frequently organises seminars, inviting prominent speakers from industry and other academic institutes, that provide opportunities for students to consult directly with industry. Our annual PhD Student Conference offers another excellent opportunity for developing contacts. Research students present their work to an audience which includes alumni, members of the department and other invited guests. In our post-conference reception and poster session, students are able to discuss their ideas for research development and gain valuable career insights.

Teaching and learning

Full-time research equates roughly to 36.5 hours per week. We also welcome applications for part-time research.

If a student has external funding, they should also ensure they meet the Terms & Conditions of their funder in this regard.  

You will register initially for an MPhil degree, with the expectation of transfer to PhD following successful completion of an upgrade viva after 9-18 months. For a successful upgrade to PhD, you prepare a written report, give an oral presentation and pass an oral examination.

For a PhD award, you will be examined on your submitted thesis. This involves a viva (an oral examination) with two independent examiners.

Research students’ attendance is not formally monitored; however, it is expected that their research time mirrors that of staff engagement as closely as possible. It is therefore recommended that full-time research equates roughly to 36.5 hours per week.

Research areas and structure

• Biomechanical engineering: biomaterials, encapsulation; tissue engineering; biofluidics and CFD; biophysics; cardiovascular engineering; medical devices and mechatronics; ultrasonics and non-destructive evaluation
• Energy and environment: IC engines and fuel systems; fluid mechanics and microfluidics; refrigeration; turbomachinery, CFD, and environmental and pollution modelling
• Marine: naval architecture; marine vehicle applications and design methods; renewable energy; electric propulsion and power systems; electric ship/submarine; computer-aided design; novel ship types and low carbon shipping.
• Materials, Structures and Manufacturing:  additive manufacturing, advanced processing and manufacturing, aerospace materials, biomaterials, imaging and characterisation of materials, lightweight structures, materials design, mechanical testing, metallurgy, nanotechnology, nondestructive evaluation, sensors & actuators, smart materials, structural analysis, sustainability

Research environment

Outstanding science, strong industrial engagement, and tangible impact are all hallmarks of our PhD programme and of our research culture. Our students work and learn both in UCL's world-class laboratories but also in partnership with a wide range of collaborating institutions & companies worldwide, enhancing knowledge, networking and employment opportunities.

The length of registration for the research degree programme is 3 years for full-time and 5 years for part-time.

Within three months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research methodology and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback.

In your second year you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD, you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may register as a completing research student (CRS) while you write up your thesis. 

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

In some circumstances, an Additional Fee Element (AFE), also known as a bench fee, may be requested from students' sponsors to cover additional costs for consumables, equipment and materials required for the student's research. As each PhD project is unique in nature, the AFE is calculated on a student by student basis depending on the nature of the specific research project. If an AFE is required for your research project, it will be agreed before you join the PhD programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

A number of competitive funded studentships are available each year for suitably qualified research applicants. Funded vacancies are announced on our department website as well as on FindaPhD.com .

Recent research sponsors include:

• BAE Systems
• British Heart Foundation
• Cancer Research UK
• European Space Agency
• Kuwait Government
• Ministry of Defence (UK)
• Rolls Royce
• Siemens Energy
• UK Health Security Agency

Self-funded candidates are advised to contact  our academic staff to discuss possible research topics.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholarship

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme) Criteria Based on academic merit Eligibility: EU, Overseas

You are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors before submitting a formal application. It is important that you find a supervisor who shares the same research interest and expectations and is available to take a new student. Supervisors in our department welcome emails enquiring about your potential MPhil/PhD study. For more information see our How to Apply page. Applications for self-funded PhDs are accepted throughout the year. A number of funded PhD research projects are offered each year and these have specific deadlines and start dates dictated by funding arrangements. See our How to Apply page for details of all current funded PhD studentship opportunities in Mechanical Engineering.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Mechanical Engineering

[email protected]

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students .

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Average graduate salary UK

Gaining a degree require years of hard work and thousands of pounds in university tuition fees, but are graduates getting a good deal once they enter the job market?

We have analysed all of the public information available to find out what the average graduate salary is in the UK in 2022, along with additional information on which subjects or universities are most lucrative, and which regions graduates can earn the biggest starting salaries.

Key graduate salary statistics 2022

• The average graduate salary in the UK in 2022 is £24,291.
• Medicine & dentistry degrees offer the highest average starting salaries at £35,000.
• London graduates earn the most across all UK regions with an average salary of £28,634, whilst grads in Wales earn the least at £22,420.
• Rothschilds offers the highest paid graduate scheme with a £65,000 starting salary.
• Male graduates earn an average of 6% more than their female counterparts.
• Graduates earn an average of £7,000 per year than non-graduates
• The total outstanding amount of student debt in the UK surpassed £177 billion in 2021.

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Get our studies on jobs, salaries, recruitment and more as soon as they are published, average graduate salary uk 2022.

The average starting salary for a graduate in the UK for 2022 is £24,291 – this is a 5% decrease from 2021 (£25,466).

Graduate salaries per subject

The subject studied at university is an important factor in the starting salary achievable by a graduate.

Below are the average starting salaries for graduates in each subject area, which is further divided into high-skill, medium-skill, and low-skill. These skill levels are defined by HESA and relate to the technical ability involved in the role. For example, in education a low skilled role could be a teaching assistant and a high skilled role could be a head teacher.

Average graduate salary per region

The table below shows the average starting graduate salary for every region in the UK. Note that the region indicates where the location where the graduate has gained employment as opposed to the location of the university they studied at.

London tops the starting salary list for graduates with an average starting salary of £28K , whilst Wales offers the least at £22K. However, cost of living differences across region may decrease the purchasing power of some of the higher salaries here.

“The average salary being advertised online is £5,002 greater than the average salary actually being achieved by graduates.”

Average graduate salary advertised

According to Glassdoor, the average graduate role in the UK is offering a salary of £29,293 – this is £5,002 more than the average graduate salary being achieved.

This could mean that advertised salaries are being inflated, or that in some cases “graduate roles” may also require candidates to have work experience in the job description , which employers are prepared to pay more for. Either way, entry-level graduates jobs are paying less in reality, than what is being advertised online

Best paying universities

The university which a student attends can have a huge impact on the starting salary they are able to achieve. This is likely due to a number of factors including the subjects available at each university, the standard of teaching and the reputation a university has amongst employers.

This table shows the top ten universities in the UK with the percentage of graduates who achieved a starting salary of £51,000 or higher.

University College of Estate Management is specialist remote learning institute offering courses in real estate exclusively, which could account for its position in this table. London School of Economics and the remaining universities on the list offer a broader range of course subjects.

Highest paying graduate schemes

The highest paying graduate schemes in the UK sit within finance and banking, and pay more than double the average starting salary for grads.

Below are the top 10 highest paying graduate schemes currently available in the UK.

• Rothschilds – Private Finance – £65,000
• JP. Morgan – Investment Banking – £58,000
• Goldman Sachs – Investment Banking – £52,000
• The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) – Investment Banking – £54,000
• Barclays Capital – Investment Banking – £50,000
• White and Chase – Legal Services – £50,000
• British Petroleum (BP) – Oil and Gas – £49,000
• Baker McKenzie – Legal Services – £48,000
• The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) – Software – £45,000
• Aldi – Retail – £44,000

Highest paying public sector graduate schemes

Careers in the public sector are considered to be safe and secure with many of them offering good financial rewards and job stability over the long term.

These are the 8 highest paying graduate schemes in the public sector.

• MI5 – Technology graduate development programme – £34,366.00
• Intellectual Property Office – Telecoms – £33,101.00
• HM Revenue & Customs – Tax Professional Programme – £30,880.00
• National Audit Office – £29,978.00
• NHS – Health Policy Fast Track Scheme – £28,966.00
• Civil service – Fast stream – £28,000.00
• Government Legal Profession – £28,000.00
• The Forestry Commission – £25,594.00

Graduate gender pay gap

Male graduates who obtained first-class degree qualifications and entered full time jobs in the UK in 2019 were paid an average of £26,000 compared to women who were paid £24,500 – a 6% difference .

On average, male graduates at the age of 25 earn 5% more than the average female graduate . By age 30, the gender pay gap in annual earnings stands at 25%.

The graph below from StandOut CV shows the portion of graduates and their earnings for men and women.

A key takeaway from this graph is that the gender pay increase with higher paid roles, to the point where at the top end of the scale, only 3% of female graduates earn over £51,000 compared to 7% of men .

Graduates becoming CEOs

Chief executive officer (CEO) is the top job available in large organisations and consistently ranks amongst the highest paying jobs in the UK with an average salary of £81,102 and many CEOs earning well in excess of this figure.

Recruitment firm Forward Role analysed over 260,000 LinkedIn profiles to discover which universities and degrees were propelling the most graduates to this sought-after position.

The top 20 universities producing the most CEOs

Which degrees produce the most CEOs?

Graduates VS Non graduates

Data from the Department of education shows median salary for graduates over their entire working career is £34,000 – whereas the median lifetime salary for a non-graduate is £25,000. This means that graduates earn an average of £7,000 per year more than their non-graduate counterpart s and this results in a lifetime earnings gap of £321,000.

The cost of university

Whilst a degree is likely to land you a higher paid job, the cost of gaining one is becoming increasingly expensive in the UK.

Tuition fees are the biggest cost a student will have to bear (in addition to living costs) which pay for the key elements of course delivery such as lectures, campus facilities and student support services.

Tuition fees across the UK are as follows and will vary depending on where the student’s home region is:

• England: up to £9,250 per year
• Scotland: Up to £9,250 per year
• Northern Ireland: up to £9,250 per year
• Wales: Up to £9,000 per year

Student debt

Most students take out Student Loans to finance their studies which were introduced by the government to make gaining a degree more accessible.

Here are the important numbers around student debt in the UK.

Average student loan debt UK

The average outstanding amount of student loan in the UK, split into regions is shown below:

• England: £45,060
• Wales: £27,600
• Northern Ireland: £24,720
• Scotland: £15,170

When student loans have to be paid

Student loans do not have to be paid back until the graduate is earning over a threshold set by the government.

Below are the repayment thresholds for each UK region.

Student debt repayment time

In the UK it takes an average of 29 years and 4 months for graduates to pay off their student loans .

According to the UK Government, it is expected that just 25% of undergraduates will repay their full student loan.

Outstanding student debt UK

According to data released by the Student Loans Company, the total outstanding amount of student debt in the UK surpassed £177 billion in 2021 . By 2050 they expect the figure to reach £560 billion.

Student cost of living

In the pursuit of gaining a lucrative degree, students will often live away from home for the first time and encounter numerous living costs from rent and utility bills, to takeaway food and nights out socialising.

The average university student shells out £810 per month according to a leading student website’s survey.

In addition to the above, NatWest’s Student living index unveiled the following facts:

• 54% of students rely on their student loan to pay their rent and 37% rely on parents or family, whilst only 13% use their own income .
• Average student monthly rents across the UK have increased by 18.5% since 2020
• 27% of UK students have found themselves running out of money by end of the semester

For more analysis on how graduates compete in the UK job market, including employment and unemployment numbers, see our full UK graduates statistics analysis.

Most expensive Uni towns

Whilst the average student rent across the UK sits at £421 per month, some towns and cities can cost a lot more.

These are the top 5 most expensive town/cities for student accommodation in the UK.

Cheapest Uni towns

At the other end of the spectrum, these are the university towns with the 5 lowest student rents.

HESA | Graduate outcome report – https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/graduates

Target Jobs | BestPublic sector schemes – https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/public-services-and-administration/what-starting-salary-should-graduate

Glassdoor | Average graduate job salary UK – https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/graduate-salary-SRCH_KO0,8.htm

UCAS | Tuition fees – https://www.ucas.com/finance/undergraduate-tuition-fees-and-student-loans

Glide – Highest paid graduate schemes UK – https://glide.co.uk/guides/highest-paid-graduate-schemes/

Forward role | Graduate CEO study – https://www.forwardrole.com/blog/2019/10/which-universities-produce-most-ceos

Natwest | Student living index – https://www.natwest.com/life-moments/students-and-graduates/student-living-index.html

Save the Student | National Student Money Survey – https://www.savethestudent.org/money/student-budgeting/what-do-students-spend-their-money-on.html

HEFCE | Nature and extent of undergraduates’ work experience – https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/5159/1/rd19_02.pdf

IFS | Gender differences in subject choice lead to gender pay gap immediately after graduation – https://ifs.org.uk/publications/15657#:~:text=At%20age%2025%2C%20the%20average,annual%20earnings%20stands%20at%2025%25

UK Gov | Average Loan Balance on entry into repayment – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/992172/Average_loan_balance_on_entry_into_repayment.pdf

Cosmopolitan | It takes a depressingly long time to pay off your student loan – https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/worklife/campus/a12443209/how-long-uni-students-pay-student-loans/

UK Parliament | House of Commons Library: Student loan statistics https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01079/

Statista | Outstanding debt of student loans in the UK 2013-2021 – https://www.statista.com/statistics/376411/uk-outstanding-student-loan-debt/

StandOut CV | Graduate statistics – https://standout-cv.com/uk-graduate-statistics

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Graduate salaries in the uk.

Micha-Shannon Smith

What is the average UK starting salary for graduates? This is a relatively simple question, but the answer is much more complicated - not least because it varies by region and industry

Graduate salary data is very difficult to track accurately and raises many questions, including:

• How many hours are graduates working a week?
• What currency are they being paid in?
• What other company benefits are they getting?
• Which exchange rate do you use?
• Which average do you use?

However, due to its importance in the decision making of employers, students and graduates, salary can still be a useful metric.

This article is regularly updated with the most recent data

What is the average graduate starting salary?

Institute of Student Employers (ISE) research indicates that the average graduate salary in the UK sits at £33,229 . 1 However, with ISE research primarily focusing on large businesses and graduate schemes, this figure is significantly higher than the average graduate salary reported by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

According to data from HESA’s most recent Graduate Outcomes survey of 2020/21 graduates, the average salary reported by first-degree graduates in full-time employment was £27,340 fifteen months after graduation.

While useful, it is likely that both of these figures are too general, with average salaries hiding key influences that factors like industry and region of employment can have on graduate earnings.

How does salary vary by region?

HESA Graduate Outcomes data reveals notable regional differences in reported salaries among 2020/21 graduates fifteen months after graduating. For instance, graduates who found employment in London reported higher salaries, on average, than those in any other region of the UK. The average annual salary for those working in London was £6,203 higher than those working in Wales (roughly £119 a week).

However, wide disparities between different local economies in the UK mean that costs of living vary significantly and this, in turn, means that salary and actual disposable incomes are not synonymous. 2

Where is the most affordable graduate destination?

Having a higher salary does not always mean more purchasing power for graduates. To put salary data into context, we can use housing prices as a proxy for cost of living to analyse which regions of the UK have the greatest cost of living to salary ratio. Assuming that house prices reflect the cost of living in an area/region, a lower median house price to median salary ratio in an area should mean greater purchasing power for graduates working there when compared to graduates employed in an area on the opposite end of the spectrum.

To put this into perspective, a recent graduate earning an average salary in London may need to work three times as long as a graduate earning an average salary in the North East of England in order to buy a house. 3,4

For more in depth analysis on the relationship between graduate salaries and the cost of living in UK cities, see Charlie Ball’s two part series .

Which are the best-paying industries?

The ISE and Graduate Outcomes disagree about which industries pay the most and what they pay. Comparing them is not straightforward, though, as there are differences in how industries are grouped. Built environment, for example, does not have its own category in Graduate Outcomes. Despite this, we can still see overlap with financial services, engineering, IT, and energy appearing on both.

A more detailed overview of average salaries for various occupations can be found by browsing  job profiles  on Prospects.

Over time we have seen wholescale changes in the labour market. For example, 40% of jobs today are in roles that did not exist 50 years ago. Yet, many of the industries on these lists are those that have been practised for centuries and have traditionally been well paid.

How much more do graduates earn than non-graduates?

Statistics from the Department of Education show that the median annual salary for UK graduates was £38,500 in 2022, this was £11,500 more than working-age non-graduates (£27,000), and £6,500 less than postgraduates. 5

Moreover, research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies on the impact of an undergraduate degree on lifetime earnings reveals that the discounted difference in lifetime earnings between graduates and non-graduates is £430k for men and £260k for women. However, once taxes and student loans are taken into account, the earnings premium declines to around £130k for men and £100k for women. This represents a gain in average net lifetime earnings of around 20% for both men and women. 6

Also in this series:

• Graduate salaries in context: what do they really mean?
• These cities give graduates the best value for their salary
• How graduate salaries vary by degree subject
• Student Recruitment Survey 2022 , Institute of Student Employers, 2022.
• Graduate salaries in context: what do they really mean? , Luminate, 2019.
• House price to residence-based earnings ratio , Office for National Statistics, 2023.
• For a more local view, see ONS data (Tabs 3c and 5c).
• Graduate labour market statistics , Department for Education, 2022.
• The impact of undergraduate degrees on lifetime earnings , Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2020.

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• #Labour-market

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Average graduate salaries by university and subject: Where to go and what to study to earn top dollar

By: William Turvill

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Going to university at Oxford or Cambridge pays. But it doesn’t pay as much as the London School of Economics or City University London. But it pays a lot more than going to Cardiff Metropolitan University.

And if you want to earn top dollar as a graduate it’s also worth aiming for an economics degree rather than fine arts and design.

Salary benchmarking site Emolument.com has compiled a ranking of 84 UK universities by analysing 2,400 salaries from graduates (defined as those with less than two years of experience in the workplace) with bachelor degree.

It marks the latest in a long line of graduate pay studies undertaken by Emolument, including research into which universities produce the most business leaders and which MBA courses are best for pay .

London School of Economics grads can expect to earn an average of £38,000, slightly above £36,000 at City University. Cambridge (£35,000) pips Oxford to third place (£34,000). Bath, Edinburgh and Durham, with £33,000, £32,000 and £31,000, come next in the ranking.

Cardiff Metropolitan props up the table, with an average graduate salary of £18,000, slightly behind Liverpool John Moores, Goldsmiths, Anglia Ruskin, University of Central Lancashire, Queen’s University Belfast and Aberystwyth on £19,000.

As for degree subjects, economics pays £33,000, ahead of engineering in second with £28,000. Fine arts and design is at the bottom of the table, with £19,000, just behind English literature and media, marketing and communication, both of £21,000.

Read more : Three-quarters of millennials will never pay off their student loan

And here is what you need to study…

Economics: £33,000

Engineering: £28,000

Management & Strategy: £27,000

Mathematics & Statistics: £27,000

Computer Sciences: £27,000

Accounting, Business & Finance: £27,000

Physics, Life Sciences & Healthcare: £27,000

Law: £26,000

Modern Languages: £26,000

Humanities (History, Geography, Politics…): £25,000

Chemistry & Natural Sciences: £23,000

Psychology: £23,000

Media, Marketing & Communication: £21,000

English Literature: £21,000

Fine Arts & Design: £19,000

Read more : This PE firm's slashed grad salaries – it's buying them houses instead

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What do graduates do and earn?

Have a look at what you can do and earn after graduation..

What do graduates do?

What do graduates earn.

For many prospective university students, graduate prospects and salaries are top priorities when it comes to choosing a degree.

We've compiled data to help you understand the world of work after graduation – from job prospects to starting salaries. We also have data on the graduate gender pay gap .

We’ve broken down the destinations of graduates from over 100 subject areas into four categories – employed, self employed, in further study and unemployed.  To see a guide to studying the subject, simply click on the link.

*Prosthetics currently has no data due to having too few respondents.

Money shouldn't be the only factor to consider when choosing a degree. However, with universities charging up to £9,250 per year, it's worth thinking about potential starting salaries.

Use the table below to see the average starting salaries for graduates from more than 100 subject areas.

It shows shows the average salaries of undergraduate students from each subject area entering employment. The three skill levels – high, medium and low – reflect the UK's Standard Occupational Classification's major groups 1–3, 4–6 and 7–9 respectively.

Full table of average graduate salaries

Data source for all tables: HESA 2019–20, published July 2022.

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• The UK Graduate Route– A Guide for Postgraduate Students

The UK Graduate Route – A Guide for Postgraduate Students

Written by Sarah Hastings-Woodhouse

The UK Graduate Route allows international students to apply for a post-study work (PSW) visa which is valid for at least two years after completing their degree. You don’t need to be in employment to stay in the UK on a graduate visa, and there are no restrictions of the kind of work you can do. This guide will cover everything you need to know about the Graduate Route, including who is eligible and how to apply.

We’ve also written a guide to the UK’s High Potential individual visa , for students who have graduated from some of the world’s top universities.

If you're looking for information about getting a visa to study your Masters in the UK, read our guide covering student visa requirements in the UK .

UK Government immigration update

You might have heard that last week the Migration Advisory Committee released a report indicating that the Graduate Visa is working as intended and should be retained. The Home Office has now announced that no changes will be made to the Graduate Visa right now. However, aspects of the student immigration route are under review and we'll keep you updated on any new announcements. Until then, keep on top of all the recent changes to the UK immigration policy with our blog!

On this page

How long can i stay in the uk with a graduate visa.

How long your visa will be valid for depends on your qualification:

• Masters (and Bachelors) graduates will be able to stay for up to two years after the completion of their degree.
• Those who have completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification will be able to stay for three years

This time period begins from the day your visa application is approved.

You don’t need to have received a job offer to apply for a Graduate Route UK visa, and you’re free to undertake almost any kind of employment in the UK (or be self-employed). You can’t work as a professional sportsperson or apply for most state benefits.

Many international students won’t have been able to stay in their host country due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If this applies to you, you may exempt from the requirement to have studied in the UK for at least 12 months. See the UK government website for details. .

Who can apply for a Graduate visa?

The Graduate Route is open to any international student that has studied an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate course in the UK. As well as Bachelors, Masters and PhD courses, this includes several other qualifications such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), a Law conversion course or a foundation programme in Dentistry or Medicine. You can view a more extensive list on the UK government website .

You’ll also need to have studied in the UK for at least 12 months (if the duration of your course was longer than this). If your course was shorter than 12 months, you’ll need to have remained in the UK for its entire duration .

You’ll need to be in the UK when you submit your application. You’ll also need to hold either Tier 4 visa or a Student Visa (which replaced the Tier 4 visa in 2020).

Should I apply for a Graduate Route visa as an EU student?

EU, EEA and Swiss students can apply for the Graduate Route visa in the same way as other international students.

If you already have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme , you won't need to apply for a PSW via the Graduate Route.

However, the deadline to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme was June 2021 for most students – so you'll likely need to apply for the Graduate Route instead. You can still apply for settled or pre-settled status in very specific circumstances .

How much does the Graduate Visa cost?

You’ll need to pay an application fee of £822 . There is also a healthcare surcharge – equivalent to £1,035 for each year you’ll be in the UK, to be paid upfront when you apply.

You might be able to get a refund for the healthcare surcharge if you end up working for the NHS.

Applying for the Graduate Route visa

To apply for a Graduate Route Visa, you’ll need the following documents:

• A valid passport (or other travel document showing your identity and nationality)
• Your biometric residence permit (BRP) if you have one. This would have been provided when you applied for your Tier 4 or Student Visa. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can use their biometric passports to verify their identity in place of a BRP.
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number – this should have been sent to you by your university when you were offered a place on your course

If you received funding from a scholarship or sponsorship while studying in the UK, you may need to provide a letter from your funding provider approving your application. You’ll also need to get a certified translation if your documents are in a language other than English or Welsh.

There is no specific deadline for Graduate Route Visa applications, but you’ll need to apply before your student visa expires. When this is will depend on your course. You’ll be able to find out by checking you Confirmation of Studies (CAS), or by asking your university.

Once you’ve gathered the necessary documents, you can submit your application online. It may take up to eight weeks for you application to be approved.

Accessing your visa

If your application is successful, you’ll be issued with a digital eVisa, which you can view online via the government’s View and Prove service . This can also be accessed on your tablet or mobile device. This will allow you to prove your immigration status to employers, landlords or education providers.

If you want to stay in the UK longer than the two-year period covered by the Graduate Route Visa, you’ll need to apply for a different visa once it expires. This will most likely be the Skilled Worker visa .

Unlike the Graduate Route Visa, a Skilled Worker visa does require applicants to have an offer of employment with a minimum skill and salary level – but you’ll be able to use your time on the Graduate Route to work towards this.

For more information about the Graduate Route Visa, visit the official UK government website . You can also find out more about studying and living in the UK as an international student in our study in UK section .

Search for a PhD

Ready to start looking for your ideal programme? Browse and compare PhD programmes in the UK on FindAMasters.com.

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The seven UK Research Councils provide government studentships for PhD research in different subject areas. Our simple guide explains how this funding works, what you can get and how to apply successfully.

You may be able to get a PhD loan of up to £27,892 for a UK doctorate. Our guide explains eligibility, applications and repayments.

Our guide explains the best ways to fund international PhD study in the UK, with information on all the main scholarships available to you.

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) or Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs) provide UK Research Council funded PhD studentships to postgraduate students

The Turing Scheme recently replaced the Erasmus programme, but is it any different? Let’s examine the Turing Scheme vs Erasmus debate in detail.

Postgraduate students in the UK are not eligible for the same funding as undergraduates or the free-hours entitlement for workers. So, what childcare support are postgraduate students eligible for?

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Lecturer in Digital Construction

University of central lancashire - school of engineering and computing.

The University of Central Lancashire wishes to appoint a Lecturer in Digital Construction. The post holder will be based within the School of Engineering and Computing and will work across the subject areas of architecture and construction. The successful applicant will lecture and perform research in one or more of the various areas that comprise digital construction within the context of the built environment professionalisms. The appointee will take a lead role in teaching across under-graduate and post-graduate programmes in architecture, surveying and construction project management as well as contributing to and conducting relevant published research.

The successful applicant will have a good honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, and have an established academic or industry based career in the domain of project and design management software and information systems; preferably BIM, Revit, 3D modelling software and other digital technologies, such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality. They will also have completed a PhD or developed an equivalent level of professional experience in a relevant field of study.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates whose expertise is in modern/digital construction technology, artificial intelligence and digital twinning to help us evolve our curriculum and research and ensure that we create a more sustainable and equitable built environment.

Candidates must meet all the essential criteria to be considered for interview.

Read more about the  benefits of working at UCLan

We are proud to be a diverse, multicultural university. We are committed to building a truly inclusive culture where diversity is championed. Applications are particularly welcomed from individuals who will support the diversification within the University and support its development of a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all.

UCLan is committed to providing a safe environment to study, work and visit, protecting children, young people and adults at risk from harm and abuse. Our safeguarding policy and safer recruitment procedure outlines our approach, alongside other internal policies, procedures and guidance which can be found on our website at   Safeguarding - UCLan  

Applicants applying for roles in regulated activity and that are listed as an exception under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 will be required to disclose any spent and unspent convictions and undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check at the appropriate level, UCLan will only ask an applicant to make an application for a DBS check if they are legally entitled to.

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