Career development
Ranked 6th in the UK and 32nd in the world for employability*, the University of Edinburgh is an excellent choice for a postgraduate education with prospects.
We’re committed to developing the skills and attributes that will enhance your capacity both to compete in the job market and to achieve your full potential within the global community.
In addition to the provision of dedicated support through our award-winning Careers Service, we broker strategic partnerships between academics, industry, specialists and other institutions, to enhance your graduate attributes and to embed employability in all our curricula.
Graduate salaries
Edinburgh alumni earn an average salary of £48,500 within five years of leaving university.(Global Employability University Ranking 2014)
Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service provides advice and support whatever your plans for the future, including careers in research.
We offer workshops throughout the year that are open to all postgraduate students, plus sessions specifically for international students.
We have a team dedicated to developing our already strong links with employers from all employment sectors, from the world’s top recruiters to small local enterprises.
We offer lots of opportunities for you to meet employers on campus and online.
Postgraduates come to us with a broader outlook and more rounded and developed skills, both in their chosen discipline and more generally in terms of their communication skills and self confidence. We value their proven aptitude for self-driven learning and further study.
Work-based projects
Many of our Schools offer support in undertaking work-based projects, in partnership with an employer, as the basis of your masters dissertation.
Internships for PhDs
We encourage the provision of part-time, on-campus internships, which offer project-based, paid employment to current PhD students.
Employ.ed – a collaboration between the Careers Service and a number of partners – offers a range of structured internship programmes to fit your career.
Networking
We encourage our alumni to stay in touch with current students who are interested in a similar career path.
Connect.ed is a networking system run by the Careers Service that provides a confidential opportunity for alumni to share their occupational knowledge and experience with current students and graduates, who can contact them for advice and guidance on their future career.
Support for entrepreneurs
LAUNCH.ed is the University’s award-winning programme for student entrepreneurs. Each year, LAUNCH.ed works with hundreds of students, backing bright ideas and helping them start new businesses.
Public engagement opportunities
Our Institute for Academic Development (IAD) hosts the Beltane Public Engagement Network, so if you’re interested in promoting your research to wider audiences you will have access to resources, events and funding opportunities to help you develop the necessary skills and experience to do so.
Doctorate Extension Scheme
We support the Doctorate Extension Scheme, which means international students completing a PhD or other doctorate-level qualification on a Tier 4 visa may be eligible to apply to stay in the UK for employment for an additional 12 months with extended support from the University as your sponsor.
The scheme allows you more time to find work with a Tier 2 employer, gain practical experience or set up as an entrepreneur.
Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme
Postgraduate-level study helps bring fresh perspectives to creating innovative solutions to academic publishing challenges. The analytical and research skills learned in many Edinburgh postgraduate courses are of direct relevance and importance to the Edanz workplace.
* Latest Emerging Global Employability University Ranking