Six Degrees with the Best Job Prospects in 2026

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1. Medicine and dentistry

Medicine and dentistry remain among the clearest routes from university into a defined, highly skilled profession. Demand is being supported by ageing populations, workforce shortages and the continuing need for licensed healthcare professionals.

According to the European Commission, the European Union (EU) faces a combined shortage of approximately 1.2 million doctors, nurses and midwives. A separate European Commission Joint Research Centre projection calculated that, if patterns of disease remain constant, the EU could need 30% more doctors and 33% more nurses by 2071 to meet demand.

Europe’s ageing population is likely to increase demand for healthcare while doctors take many years to train. Combined with the defined licensing route and strong graduate earnings, this gives medicine a more durable employment case than a subject supported only by a short-term rise in vacancies.

The US picture is more measured. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 3% for physicians and surgeons and 4% for dentists over the decade to 2034. These are not the fastest growth rates in the economy, but both professions retain high earning potential and thousands of annual openings.

What students should consider

Medicine is academically demanding, competitive and expensive. Training extends well beyond the first university degree, and working hours can be difficult. Students must also distinguish between admission to a medical course and eventual permission to practise.

In the UK and much of Europe, students can enter medicine directly after secondary school. In the US, applicants normally complete a four-year bachelor’s degree before entering medical school. The Association of American Medical Colleges explains that US medical schools determine their own prerequisite courses and admission requirements.

Examples of English-taught university programmes

• UK: Medicine MBBS/BSc at Imperial College London leads to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with an integrated Bachelor of Science (BSc). It combines medical science with clinical experience.
• Continental Europe: The International Medical School at the University of Milan, Italy offers a six-year programme taught in English, with 360 credits and clinical training.
• US: The Doctor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine illustrates the standard US postgraduate route. Applicants must first complete undergraduate study and the required pre-medical preparation.

Best suited to: students with strong science results, resilience, sustained motivation and a realistic understanding of clinical work.

2. Nursing and allied health professions

If job prospects are measured by the volume and persistence of demand, nursing deserves a place near the top of the list.

The European Commission’s estimate of a 1.2 million shortage across doctors, nurses and midwives is accompanied by declining interest in nursing careers in more than half of EU countries. Eurostat also warns that shortages could intensify as the population ages and existing nurses retire.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of registered nurses will grow by 5% over the decade to 2034. It expects approximately 189,100 openings each year when growth and replacement needs are combined. The wider US healthcare sector is projected to produce around 1.9 million openings annually.

Nursing is included because Europe and the US both show large continuing workforce needs. Many vacancies will arise as existing nurses retire or leave the profession, while an approved nursing degree leads directly towards professional registration.

Allied health degrees can lead to careers in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, diagnostic radiography, speech and language therapy and other regulated professions. Demand differs by occupation and country, so students should examine the specific profession rather than relying on a broad healthcare label.

What students should consider

Strong demand does not remove the pressures associated with the work. Nursing involves clinical responsibility, shift patterns and considerable emotional and physical demands. Salaries also vary substantially between countries.

Professional registration is essential. In the UK, applicants should check that a programme appears in the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s approved-programme database. Elsewhere in Europe, an English-taught degree may still require the national language for clinical placements and employment.

Examples of English-taught university programmes

• UK: Nursing with Registration as a Children’s Nurse BSc at King’s College London is a three-year programme leading towards professional registration.
• Continental Europe: The Nursing BSc at Semmelweis University, Hungary is a four-year programme taught in English. Students should still investigate the language requirements for clinical placements and professional practice in their intended country.
• US: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania combines scientific study with clinical education.

Best suited to: students who want direct work with people, can manage responsibility and are comfortable learning in clinical environments.

3. Computer science, data science and cybersecurity

Computing remains one of the strongest broad fields, although entry-level recruitment has become more selective in some areas.

According to the World Economic Forum’s latest employer survey, big data specialists, AI and machine-learning specialists and software developers are among the fastest-growing jobs expected by 2030. Demand is also rising for AI, big data, networks, cybersecurity and technological literacy.

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) projects average annual EU employment growth of approximately 2% for information technology professionals and technicians through 2035. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15% growth across software development, quality assurance and testing over the decade to 2034, with about 129,200 openings annually. It projects 34% growth for data scientists and 29% for information security analysts.

This breadth is why computing remains among the six. Its foundations can lead into software development, data science, cybersecurity and AI. Internships, independent projects and other practical experience can strengthen a graduate’s prospects when applying for a first job.

Examples of English-taught university programmes

• UK: Computer Science BSc at the University of Edinburgh covers the design, implementation and use of computing systems.
• Continental Europe: Computer Science and Engineering at Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands is one of the university’s bachelor’s programmes offered fully in English.
• US: Carnegie Mellon University’s undergraduate School of Computer Science programmes include computer science, artificial intelligence, computational biology, human-computer interaction and robotics.

Best suited to: students who enjoy mathematical reasoning, persistent problem-solving and learning technologies that will continue to change.

What about a degree specifically in artificial intelligence?

Students should be cautious about choosing a course simply because it has AI in its title. An AI degree can be a strong undergraduate choice when it includes computer science, programming, algorithms, linear algebra, calculus, probability, statistics and machine learning.

The UK government’s AI Labour Market Survey 2025 found that 97% of participating organisations identified at least one AI skills gap and 35% had difficulty filling AI roles. Insufficient work experience and technical skills were the most common recruitment barriers.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry qualification for data scientists and software developers. Research-focused roles are more likely to require postgraduate study. Computer science offers greater breadth, while a rigorous AI degree provides earlier specialisation.

Examples of English-taught AI programmes

• UK: Artificial Intelligence BSc at the University of Edinburgh includes machine learning, robotics, language processing and automated reasoning.
• Continental Europe: BSc Artificial Intelligence at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands combines computing with cognitive science.
• US: Carnegie Mellon University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Artificial Intelligence includes computer science, mathematics, statistics, machine learning and symbolic computation.

What students should consider

Students should compare compulsory modules, assessment methods, substantial projects, internships and placement opportunities. Strong programmes teach how computing and AI systems work as well as how to use current tools.

4. Engineering

Engineering connects scientific and mathematical study with infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, transport, electronics, construction and technology. It also encompasses very different labour markets, so students need to choose the branch carefully.

Cedefop expects strong growth for science and engineering roles as Europe invests in digitalisation and the green transition. In England, the 2026 Skills England report identifies engineering among the areas with substantial additional demand. EngineeringUK’s 2026 workforce analysis estimates that 6.3 million people work in engineering and technology roles, representing approximately 19% of UK employment.

In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects architecture and engineering occupations to produce approximately 186,500 openings each year over the decade to 2034. The group’s median annual wage was $97,310, compared with $49,500 across all occupations.

Engineering is included because it combines above-average occupational pay, a large number of replacement openings and demand connected with infrastructure, energy and manufacturing. Prospects still differ by specialism, so demand for civil or electrical engineers cannot automatically be applied to every branch.

Electrical, civil, mechanical, environmental, industrial and computer engineering may benefit from investment in power systems, housing, transport, semiconductors, automation and advanced manufacturing. Prospects for individual branches can still rise or fall with infrastructure spending and industrial cycles.

What students should consider

Applicants should check professional accreditation and whether the programme meets the educational requirements for chartered or licensed status. They should also investigate laboratory work, design projects, industry placements and opportunities to use relevant software.

A broad first year can be helpful for students who have not yet selected a branch. Those who already have a clear interest should compare the specialist modules rather than relying on the general reputation of the university.

Examples of English-taught university programmes

• UK: Electrical and Electronic Engineering MEng at Imperial College London is a four-year integrated master’s programme.
• Continental Europe: Electrical Engineering BSc at Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands is a three-year programme taught in English.
• US: Electrical Engineering BS at Georgia Tech allows study in areas including electronics, systems, energy, telecommunications and bioengineering.

Best suited to: students who are strong in mathematics and physics and want to apply technical knowledge to tangible problems.

5. Mathematics, statistics and actuarial science

Mathematics and statistics do not lead to one protected profession. Their strength lies in the range of work that depends on quantitative reasoning.

Graduates can move into actuarial work, data science, operations research, finance, economic analysis, risk, software, government, research and consulting. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that mathematical occupations will grow much faster than average through 2034, producing around 37,700 openings annually.

Within that group, employment of actuaries is projected to grow by 22%. Employment of mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow by 8%, although many statistician roles require a master’s degree.

Mathematics is included because it supplies advanced quantitative skills used across several expanding fields rather than training graduates for only one occupation. Its employment case is strongest when the degree also includes statistics, programming, economics, operations research or actuarial preparation.

The case for quantitative study is also strengthened by the growth of data-intensive work across finance, healthcare, government, insurance, logistics and technology. A 2026 US Census Bureau working paper, College Majors and Earnings Growth, found that engineering and computer science graduates experienced earnings growth comparable to or faster than graduates in other fields over their careers. Mathematics and statistics provide many of the underlying skills used in those sectors.

What students should consider

Pure mathematics develops powerful analytical abilities but does not automatically demonstrate that a graduate can work with real data or business problems. Programming, statistical software, economics, finance or an applied specialism can make the route into employment clearer.

Actuarial careers also involve professional examinations after university. Some accredited degrees provide exemptions from parts of that process, but students should verify the current rules of the relevant professional body.

Examples of English-taught university programmes

• UK: MORSE BSc at the University of Warwick combines mathematics, operational research, statistics and economics, which together form the name MORSE.
• Continental Europe: Econometrics and Operations Research BSc at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands combines econometrics, actuarial science, operations research and mathematical economics in an English-taught programme.
• US: The Statistics major at the University of Michigan includes applied statistics, statistical theory and statistical computing.

Best suited to: students who enjoy abstract reasoning but are also willing to develop programming, communication and applied analytical skills.

6. Law

Law can lead to strong professional outcomes, high earnings and careers extending beyond legal practice. Legal qualifications are closely tied to jurisdiction, with different routes to professional practice in each country.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $151,160 for lawyers. Employment is projected to grow by 4% over the decade to 2034, broadly in line with the overall economy, with approximately 31,500 openings each year.

The American Bar Association reported that 87.7% of graduates from Council-accredited US law schools in the class of 2025 were in full-time, long-term jobs requiring or anticipating bar admission, or in positions where a Juris Doctor provided an advantage, around ten months after graduation.

In Europe, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) projects employment across the broader group of legal, social and cultural professionals to increase by approximately 17% through 2035. Cedefop also reports that technology is changing document review, legal research and drafting, increasing the importance of digital skills among legal professionals.

Law remains among the six because it provides a defined route into regulated professional careers and can also lead to work in business, government, compliance and policy. The route, cost and licensing requirements differ sharply by country.

What students should consider

Law is not a single international qualification. A student must begin by asking where they may eventually want to practise.

In England and Wales, a law degree does not by itself qualify someone as a solicitor. Under the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route, candidates need a degree or equivalent qualification, passes in the first and second assessments (SQE1 and SQE2), two years of qualifying work experience and satisfactory character and suitability checks.

The route to the Bar is different. The Bar Standards Board separates training into academic, vocational and work-based components and warns that becoming a barrister is highly competitive.

In the US, law is normally a postgraduate Juris Doctor degree completed after a bachelor’s degree. In continental Europe, English-taught international or European law degrees may not provide the national legal qualifications needed to practise in the country where the university is located.

Examples of English-taught university programmes

• UK: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Bristol is a three-year degree covering the seven foundations of legal knowledge. Bristol also offers four-year language and study-abroad routes.
• Continental Europe: Global Law LLB at Tilburg University, the Netherlands is a three-year English-taught degree examining legal problems across different jurisdictions. It does not provide the national legal qualification required to practise Dutch law.
• US: The Juris Doctor at Georgetown University Law Center illustrates the standard US postgraduate route. Applicants normally apply after completing an undergraduate degree.

Best suited to: students with strong reading, writing and analytical skills who understand the professional route in the country where they hope to work.

What about economics, finance and business?

Economics and finance can lead to high earnings, particularly when combined with mathematics, statistics, econometrics or data analysis. The US Census Bureau’s field-of-degree report recorded median annual earnings of $101,400 for economics graduates, compared with $108,500 for computer science and $121,600 for electrical engineering.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects business and financial occupations to grow faster than the overall average, generating approximately 942,500 openings annually over the decade to 2034. It projects 6% growth for financial analysts and 9% for management analysts.

However, “business” covers a very wide range of courses and careers. Outcomes depend heavily on quantitative content, internships, the institution, the local employment market and the student’s own experience.

For that reason, economics and finance are strong options but have not been presented as one of six universally reliable choices. Students considering them should favour courses with economics, accounting, statistics, data analysis or professional placements rather than relying on a broad course title alone.

Examples of English-taught university programmes

• Economics: BSc Economics at the London School of Economics is a mathematically demanding programme that combines economic theory with quantitative analysis.
• Finance: BSc Finance at Bocconi University is a three-year degree taught in English. It uses quantitative methods to examine capital markets, financial institutions, financial instruments, decisions and risk.
• Business management: BSc Business Management at Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London provides a broad business education. Applicants should compare its pathway choices, quantitative modules, international options and placement opportunities with more specialised degrees.
• US business education: Wharton’s BS in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania is an applied business degree, despite its title. Its curriculum combines economics with business fundamentals and a chosen concentration.

These programmes illustrate four different approaches. They are examples rather than a ranking. In this field, the course content matters at least as much as whether the title says economics, finance or business.

What about education and teaching?

Teacher shortages are real. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the profession is ageing across many countries. Its analysis of teacher shortages found that the proportion of secondary teachers aged 50 or over across 25 European Union countries (EU25) rose from 39% to 42% over the decade examined. Greece was among the countries with a particularly high share.

But vacancies differ by country, region and teaching subject. Mathematics, science, computing and special education may offer better prospects than other areas. Salaries, workload and retention problems also affect the profession, while teaching abroad normally requires recognition of qualifications and proficiency in the local language.

Teaching may be an excellent career choice, but the evidence does not support presenting a general education degree as one of the six strongest choices across all three markets.

A promising subject is not enough

The subject on the degree certificate is only one part of graduate employability. Before applying, students should examine the actual programme.

Check accreditation

For medicine, nursing, allied health, engineering and law, confirm what the programme allows a graduate to do. “Accredited”, “recognised” and “qualifying” can have specific meanings, and recognition in one country may not extend automatically to another.

Compare modules, not just course names

Two degrees with the same title may teach very different material. Look for the balance between theory and practical work, the available specialisations and whether important modules are compulsory or optional.

Investigate placements and clinical experience

A well-structured placement can provide evidence of professional skills, references and contacts. In regulated health degrees, the quality and location of clinical training are especially important.

Ask where graduates actually go

Employment percentages alone can conceal whether graduates are in professional work, further study or jobs unrelated to the degree. Check the sample size, response rate and year of the data. UK applicants can use Discover Uni to compare official course-level information where sufficient data is available.

Calculate the entire cost

Tuition is only part of the expense. Accommodation, insurance, travel, equipment and the length of postgraduate or professional training can change the real cost substantially. This is particularly important for medicine and for US law and medicine, which normally follow an undergraduate degree.

Consider the right to work after graduation

An excellent employment market is of limited use if a graduate cannot remain in the country or obtain professional recognition. Immigration rules change frequently, so students should use current government information rather than assume that today’s post-study route will remain unchanged.

The final decision

Employment prospects matter, but students should not select a demanding subject only because it appears on a high-salary list. A student who dislikes clinical work is unlikely to thrive in nursing or medicine. Someone who avoids mathematics may struggle in engineering, computing or quantitative economics, regardless of the advertised demand.

The most valuable choice sits at the intersection of ability, interest, course quality, affordability and a realistic route into work. For students who can identify that intersection, the six fields in this guide offer strong foundations. None removes uncertainty, but each can lead towards work that economies in the UK, Europe and the US are likely to continue needing.

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