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Nearly two thirds of graduates working outside their field regret degree choice – Careerminds

The survey found that 37.5% regretted their degree overall, including 10.3% who regretted their choice completely and 27.2% who regretted it somewhat.

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Nearly two thirds of graduates working outside their field regret degree choice – Careerminds
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Nearly two thirds (62.6%) of graduates working outside the field they studied regret their degree choice, compared with 21.2% of those working in their field, according to research from Careerminds UK.

The survey of 1,000 graduates found that 37.5% regretted their degree overall, including 10.3% who regretted their choice completely and 27.2% who regretted it somewhat.

Only 41.8% said they would choose the same subject again, while 35.7% would still attend university but study something different.

More than one in five (22.5%) said they would not go to university at all if given the choice again.

A lack of job opportunities in their chosen field was the most common reason for regret, cited by 26.1% of graduates who regretted their degree.

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A further 14.4% said the pay they received did not justify the cost of their degree, while 12.8% cited artificial intelligence (AI) reducing the number of jobs for which they had trained.

Regret also varied considerably by subject.

Biological and sports sciences recorded the highest rate at 52.2%, followed by economics at 47.2%, creative arts and design at 47.1%, and politics, sociology and social sciences at 45.5%.

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Medicine and dentistry graduates recorded a regret rate of 43.9% despite having the highest typical salary among the subjects analysed, at £35,500.

By comparison, engineering and technology had the lowest regret rate at 21.4%, alongside a typical salary of £32,250. Computing graduates reported a regret rate of 33%, with a typical salary of £29,550.

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Amanda Augustine, CPCC and resident careers expert at Careerminds UK, said: “It’s telling that nearly 44.0% of medicine and dentistry graduates regret their degree despite going into some of the best-paid, most secure careers.

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“It’s a reminder that career satisfaction isn’t determined by salary or job security alone.

“A degree can lead to a promising career on paper and still turn out to be a poor fit for someone’s interests, strengths or priorities.”

Augustine added: “The job market graduates are entering today looks very different from the one many expected when they chose their degree.

“AI is reshaping entry-level work, and employers increasingly want evidence of practical skills and experience alongside academic qualifications.

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“Graduates may not be able to change the degree they chose, but they can continue building on it through work experience, additional training and new skills that make them more competitive in the job market.”

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