What Are The Highest-Paying STEM Courses In The UK?

Mercy Awofiranye

CareerStudy Abroad
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The demand for professionals in the STEM field is currently on the rise. As we know, the world is learning to embrace technology, and this change is moving at a fast pace. This spurs the increase in demand for professionals in this field. Some of the highest-paid jobs are jobs that belong to the STEM field. If you are seeking to explore a new career path that is beneficial in this period, then you might want to consider courses in the STEM field. 

According to Business Day, as of the beginning of 2023, the United Kingdom was the most preferred destination for higher education for Nigerian students. Additionally, the number of international students increased from 450,835 in the 2016/2017 academic session to 650,130 in the 2021/2022 academic session. The report further states that the majority of the students chose courses like engineering, technology, computing, medicine, business management, and law among others. This further affirms that the demand for professionals in the STEM field is truly on the rise. 

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However, for students who desire to study in the U.K, it is advisable to not just go in for any course, but rather find out the most lucrative jobs and the current demand in the labour market before proceeding to apply for any course. What this does is that it puts you in an advantageous position as your skill will be in demand. 

What Is STEM?

STEM is simply the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM careers are courses in these fields. Some of them include:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Design and Technology
  • Electrical  Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Maths
  • Statistics
  • Information Technology
  • Pharmacy
  • Life Sciences
  • Astronomy
  • Data Science
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Materials Engineering

Professionals in this field embrace technological tools and apply skills like critical and creative thinking, cognitive skills and problem-solving. 

Benefits of Studying STEM in the U.K. 

  1. It enhances employability: Having a degree in a STEM course from a renowned university in the U.K. is likely to increase your chances with your employers. International students can also work off campus as they study and this provides the opportunity to gain both knowledge and experience thereby putting you ahead in the labour market. There are also paid internship opportunities available which can enhance your career. 
  2. Access to research: research is of top priority, especially for students seeking to study STEM courses in the U.K. Universities in the U.K. serve as the powerhouse for research especially in the STEM field. Many renowned scientists and engineers are also part of the universities staff. This means that international students who want to study STEM-related courses in the U.K are guaranteed to have an in-depth knowledge base because of the robust academic overview of the U.K universities. 
  3. Access to quality education: According to the university ranking by QS, universities that offer STEM courses rank as part of the top universities in the world. Subjects like engineering, technology, life sciences etc as well as four universities rank as part of the top 10 universities in the world according to QS ranking. In addition to this, the school system and the quality of education are equally top-notch. 

Highest-Paying STEM Courses in the U.K

Below is the list of some of the highest-paying STEM courses in the U.K.

1. Aeronautical Engineering

Average Base Pay: £42,650 (USD 54,197.70) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Aeronautical engineering deals with designing, developing and test-running aircraft, spaceships, satellites and missiles. Aerospace engineers often work in an office with like-minded individuals and can spend as much as 40 hours per week. They work on projects relating to national defence too. 

Universities in the U.K. that offers Aeronautical Engineering.

  1.  University of Cambridge
  2. Imperial College London
  3.  University of Oxford
  4. University of Manchester
  5. University College London

2. Civil Engineering

Average Base Pay: £40,500 (USD 53,998.59) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Civil engineering entails the conception, planning, designing and supervision of the construction and maintenance of buildings and general infrastructure. Examples include roads, buildings, water systems and so on. 

Universities in the U.K. that offers Civil Engineering.

  1. University of Cambridge
  2.  Imperial College London
  3. University of Oxford
  4. University College London
  5. University of Leeds

3. Computer Science Engineering

Average Base Pay: £55,183 (USD 70,069.44) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Computer engineering entails designing, developing and testing computer systems and components. This category of engineers mostly works in research labs that build and test different computer models. They may also be responsible for updating existing computer hardware or manufacturing new ones. 

Universities in the U.K. that offers Computer Science Engineering.

  1. University of Oxford
  2. University of Cambridge
  3. University College London
  4.  Imperial College London
  5. University of Manchester

4. Chemical Engineering

Average Base Pay: £41,026 (USD 52,089.28) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Chemical engineering involves developing and designing chemical manufacturing processes. It applies the principles of chemistry, physics and engineering to manufacture products useful to humans. 

Universities in the U.K. that offers Chemical Engineering.

  1. University of Cambridge
  2.  University of Manchester
  3. Imperial College London
  4.  University of Oxford
  5. University of Leeds

5. Life Sciences

Average Base Pay: £38,090 (USD 48,369.54) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Life sciences comprises various aspects like biology, zoology, botany and ecology. It is summarily the study of living things. Life scientists make discoveries about animals, plants and other organisms we share the planet with. 

Universities in the U.K that offers Life Sciences.

  1. University of Oxford
  2. University of Cambridge
  3. UCL
  4. Imperial College London
  5. The University of Edinburgh

6. Mathematics and Statistics 

Average Base Pay: £39,797 (USD 50,520.90) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

They are responsible for analyzing data and using standard approaches to solve problems. Their top employers are research companies, development companies and the federal government. They also usually work in teams with engineers, scientists and other professionals.

Universities in the U.K that offers Mathematics and Statistics. 

  1. University of Cambridge
  2. University of Oxford
  3. Imperial College London
  4. The University of Warwick
  5. The University of Edinburgh

7. Mechanical Engineering

Average Base Pay: £40,115 /yr (USD 50,924.99) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Mechanical engineering involves designing machines and gadgets like electric generators, combustion engines, turbines, air-conditioning systems and lots more. 

Universities in the U.K that offers Mechanical Engineering.

  1. University of Cambridge
  2. University of Oxford
  3. Imperial College London
  4. University of Manchester
  5. University of Sheffield

8. Electrical Engineering

Average Base Pay: £43,166 (USD 54,766.65) per year 

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Electrical engineering entails designing, developing and test-running electrical equipment. These categories of engineers mostly work in offices except when they want to examine certain problems or equipment. They work in telecommunications. Manufacturing and even for the federal government. 

Universities in the U.K that offers Electrical Engineering.

  1. University of Cambridge
  2. University of Oxford
  3. Imperial College London
  4. The University of Manchester
  5. UCL

Eligibility Requirements To Study STEM Courses In The U.K.

Before you can study any STEM course in the U.K, you must meet the eligibility requirement to gain admission to study your desired course. Additionally, the eligibility requirements differ based on different factors like the school you are applying to, the course, etc. However, the general eligibility requirements are:

  1. For those pursuing an undergraduate degree, you must have physics, chemistry and biology in high school.
  2. For those pursuing a postgraduate degree, you must have a bachelor’s degree in the STEM course you are going in for. 
  3. Additionally, applicants must have the necessary documents 

Documents Required

Below are the documents required for students who desire to study STEM courses in the U.K. Although it could differ based on the university’s requirements and the course you are studying. 

  • Academic Transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • UG degree in case students are applying for PG course
  • English language proficiency test scores
  • Two Reference Letters
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Statement of purpose

Application Process for STEM Courses in the U.K 

Do you desire to start a STEM course in the U.K.?  Below is a glimpse of what the application process entails to ease the process: 

  • Identify the course you want to study, research schools offering the courses in the U.K. and outline their requirements.
  • If you meet up with the eligibility criteria after viewing the school’s website, proceed to fill out the application form. 
  • Do not forget to include your letter of recommendation in the application form too. 
  • Afterwards, the university will get back to you with the details about the required language tests you need to take.
  • Once this has been approved, prepare the money you need to sort out the expenses, apply for a student visa and do not forget to gather information about the university to enable you to know the other necessary details. 
  • Also, note that you will need a Tier-4 UK visa.

Start with Us

Do you desire you pursue a STEM course in the UK, we can help you get started and put you through the process. At EdXtra Associates, we provide you with the necessary information you need to help you through your education journey. We also offer educational consultancy services to aid your journey. Reach out to us today to get started. 

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