The 10 most employable business degrees
Interested in studying a business degree and curious about your career prospects? Learn more in this handy list of the 10 most employable business degrees.
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If you plan to either pursue a career in the corporate world or explore entrepreneurship in the future, you may have a business degree in your sights. But with so many subjects to choose from, you may be struggling to choose which business degree to study.
To help you weigh up the decision, we’ve pulled together a list of business degrees that offer the most promising career prospects to graduates. Read on to learn the 10 most employable business degrees and the types of opportunities they can lead to.
What is a business degree?
A business degree is a university-level qualification in a topic relating to the world of business. These degrees prepare students for the theoretical and, in many cases, practical aspects of either corporate life or entrepreneurship.
Some of these degrees are in business-focused subjects, like business management and business administration.
However, other business degrees focus on a specific area of business, like finance and accounting or Human Resource (HR) management.
Most business degrees are available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Graduates are usually able to pursue careers in a wide range of disciplines, from investment banking and project management to sales and marketing. Some will join corporate graduate schemes, which typically offer hands-on experience and training in a wide range of business areas.
Other graduates use the skills and knowledge they gained during their studies to start their own businesses.
What are the 10 most employable business degrees?
While most business degrees have a high rate of employability, some offer graduates particularly strong career prospects.
Here are the 10 most employable business degrees, along with the types of jobs and salaries that students might be able to expect after graduating.
Accounting and Finance
A degree in Accounting and Finance covers financial accounting, financial analysis, taxation, management accounting and investment strategies. The topic tends to appeal to numerical and detail-oriented students who have an interest in finance, analysis and problem-solving.
Accounting and Finance graduates typically become accountants, financial analysts, auditors or tax advisors. Some of the common industries they enter include investment banking, financial services and the public sector. Other graduates pursue additional qualifications in order to practise accountancy within a firm.
An Accounting and Finance graduate can expect to earn between £22,000 and £30,000 a year in an entry-level role.
Business Administration
Business Administration degrees teach the principles of leadership and management, along with operations, strategy and aspects of business law. Aspiring business leaders who have an interest in managing organisations and making strategic decisions are often drawn to this area of study.
Business Administration degrees are available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. One of the most well-known postgraduate qualifications is a Master of Business Administration, also known as an MBA. Graduates of these courses typically become entrepreneurs, business managers, operations managers and project managers.
With an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, a graduate can expect to earn between £24,000 and £28,000 in an entry-level corporate role.
Business Analytics
Analytical thinkers who are interested in using data and statistics to aid business decision-making tend to be well suited to a degree in Business Analytics.
Courses on this topic typically teach data analysis techniques, along with business intelligence, statistics and the use of decision-making tools.
Graduates of Business Analytics often go on to pursue careers as business analysts, data analysts and operations research analysts.
With big data and generative AI among the most pressing topics in business today, the skills of a Business Analytics graduate are typically in high demand.
The starting salary for an entry-level role ranges from £25,000 to £30,000.
Business Law
A Business Law degree teaches legal frameworks within a business context. It covers the aspects of law that are most relevant in the world of commerce, including:
- Contract law
- Corporate law
- Tort law (which relates to compensation)
- Dispute resolution
Students who are interested in the legal aspects of business and commerce are often well suited to a Business Law degree. Graduates often go on to become corporate lawyers, solicitors, paralegals and compliance officers.
For an entry-level role, a Business Law graduate can expect a starting salary of between £22,000 and £28,000.
Business Management
Business management is a diverse field that covers a wide range of topics, including trading, finance and entrepreneurship. It’s a good option for students who have an interest in the world of commerce and want to develop their knowledge of business to a professional level.
Many graduates with a degree in business and management go on to start their own businesses. Others decide to pursue management positions in the corporate world, where the potential for career progression is high.
A Business Management graduate can expect a starting salary of between £22,000 and £28,000 a year in an entry-level corporate role.
Economics
Economics is the study of society from a financial perspective. One of the most traditional business-related degrees, it teaches:
- Microeconomics (the market behaviour of individuals and businesses)
- Macroeconomics (the market behaviour of an economy as a whole)
- Economic theory
- The principles of international trade.
Economics is a topic that tends to appeal to critical thinkers who are interested in understanding market dynamics and global economies.
Graduates go on to pursue a wide range of careers in business and finance. Typical job titles include economist, policy analyst, financial manager and financial risk analyst.
A typical starting salary for an Economics graduate in an entry-level role ranges from £24,000 to £30,000.
Human Resource Management
Human Resource (HR) Management is the study of the relationship between employers and employees. It looks at how organisations manage and organise people.
Degree courses in this field cover topics such as:
- Recruitment
- Employee relations
- Organisational behaviour and design
- Performance management
- Talent management
- Employment law
A degree in HR Management is usually a good fit for students who are interested in the areas of people management, skills development and the employer/employee dynamic.
Graduates often pursue careers in HR, in-house recruitment and Learning and Development (L&D) functions within organisations. Others become independent consultants, delivering these services to several businesses.
A graduate in HR Management can expect a starting salary of between £23,000 and £28,000 a year in an entry-level role.
International Business
International Business degrees teach business topics from a global perspective. Courses typically cover global trade, international marketing, cross-cultural management and global economic policies.
Students who are interested in how business is conducted in other countries are usually drawn to International Business degrees. Some courses include a period of study (often a full academic year) at a university abroad.
International Business graduates go on to pursue a wide range of careers in the business world. They often join multinational companies, where they can put their knowledge of global commerce to use.
For an entry-level role, an International Business graduate can expect a starting salary of between £25,000 and £32,000.
Marketing
Marketing is the study of how to promote, sell and promote a business’s goods, products or services. Degrees in this subject usually cover marketing strategies, consumer behaviour, branding and market research. Most modern marketing degree courses place a strong emphasis on digital marketing.
Creative individuals who are interested in understanding human behaviour and responding to evolving technology and consumer trends are often drawn to careers in marketing.
A degree in this field can set graduates up for various roles in marketing functions within organisations. Many marketing professionals are generalists, while others focus on a particular aspect of marketing, such as brand management, content marketing or customer acquisition.
A marketing graduate can expect to earn between £25,000 and £28,000 a year in an entry-level role.
Supply Chain Management and Logistics
The study of supply chain management and logistics is about the supply and delivery of goods and services in a business context. A degree in this area covers topics such as procurement, inventory, operations management and sustainability.
Problem-solvers who are interested in making improvements to operational efficiency tend to be well suited to the study of supply chain management and logistics.
Many graduates go on to build careers in supply chain management and logistics functions within organisations. Others pursue roles in areas such as procurement, operations and inventory analysis.
For an entry-level role, a Supply Chain Management and Logistics graduate can expect a starting salary of between £25,000 and £32,000.
Boost your career prospects with an employable business degree from FutureLearn
While these business degrees are among the most employable, almost every type of business degree offers strong career prospects to graduates.
Whether it’s in one of the fields of study listed here or in a different business topic, a business degree should stand you in very good stead for a promising career, either as an employee or an entrepreneur.
Ready to boost your career prospects by studying for an employable business degree online? At FutureLearn, we can help you achieve your goals with our flexible online learning options.