Career Opportunities with a Degree in... Physics & Astrophysics

Your Skills and the Employment Market

Possible Career Opportunities

Sample Jobs

Typical Employers

Further Study Opportunities

Resources in the Careers Information Room

Useful Links

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Your acquired skills and the employment market

The skills that you acquire during your four years of study are sought after in the work force.  

A grounding in computer programming opens the doors to many careers and builds on skills such as logic and problem-solving as well as a familiarity with technology that is highly sought after.  These skills are heightened by the strong mathematical and physics elements of the course.

The data-processing skills acquired during 3rd and 4th year are very useful in many industries backing up research etc.  Analytical skills developed through research and data processing are required for many occupations.  The ability to research, evaluate and communicate information is very relevant to a wide range of graduate careers.

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Possible Career Opportunities

Note: Further qualifications may be needed for certain positions. This list is a sample of positions available. Up to 40% of graduate employment opportunities are open to graduates of all disciplines.  In most cases, however you will need further postgraduate study or professional training. 

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Sample Jobs

Some jobs advertised that may suit students / graduates (these jobs are NOT currently available and are shown here for illustration purposes only).

Young Graduate Training Scheme, The European Space Agency Schemes run in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy or Paris for 1 year.  

Graduate Physicist/Meteorologist, British Antarctic Survey.  18 month contract working in the field.

Internship, Deutsche Boerse Group, Germany.  To have completed at least half a degree in Physics, IT, Maths, Law, Economics, Humanities. 3 months minimum.

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Typical Employers

Physics graduates are in demand in many industries.  Most typical of the employers are electronics or telecommunications sectors.  Other industries that would also be relevant are chemical, oil and gas. 

Research organisations, the Civil Service, Met Office, schools, universities, scientific sales and technical consultancies are also possible employers. 

The Aerospace industry is a more obvious employer for those with Physics and Astronomy either in technical or research roles.

Specialist magazines (such as Astronomy Now) are also a possibility, writers / editors with a background in the subject are essential to such publications.

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Further study opportunities

To see the range of opportunities in NUI Galway please visit www.nuigalway.ie/courses .

The Careers Information Room has sections on Ireland and the UK (including individual prospectuses), USA (with guides to applying, funding and lists of courses), studying in EU countries as well as further afield.

Other further study links:

http://www.postgradireland.com/ contains useful information on postgraduate courses in Ireland

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/ is an excellent site for researching opportunities in the UK

http://ec.europa.eu/ploteus covers the EU

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Resources in the Careers Information Room

 We have valuable information resources, experienced career development advisers and information staff on hand to help you with your queries.

Reference Books:

• Careers with a Science Degree
• Great Careers for People interested in Science…
• Building Careers that Fit (Institute of Physics)
• Landing your First Physics Job
• New Scientist Magazine

Drop into our information room and we will be happy to assist you.

For useful links see www.delicious.com/careersinfo/physics or www.delicous.com/careers/space .

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