The experience of doing a PhD has a significant impact on the perceived employability and career decisions of doctoral graduates. Over 90% feel their PhD experience enables them to make a difference in their workplace. Over 80% of doctoral graduates are using their research skills even though many work in roles which are not classified as research.
A research career can lead to opportunities outside of academia. Of around 4,500 RCUK Doctoral graduates each year, over half will move out of higher education and take their skills into the wider world of business, industry and commerce. The skills gained from a research career are highly sought after by increasing numbers of national and international companies who are seeking opportunities to work with UK researchers.
Career pathways
To help increase awareness and understanding of the value and impact of doctoral training, a study is being conducted of doctoral career pathways. It aims to establish the extent to which doctoral graduates help to drive forward innovation and growth and thereby contribute to UK society, culture and economy.
An RCUK commissioned analysis of the options for collecting data on the early careers of PhD and research degree graduates is available here 
and the specification here . This analysis recommends that the study gather information through the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) survey of the destinations of leavers of higher education which asks graduates about their careers and choices roughly 3.5 years after graduation (known as the L DLHE).
- More information about the HESA L DLHE is available here.
- A validation of the responses from doctoral graduates to the survey is available here
- A report on the results from the enhanced L DHLE survey is available here
RCUK is working with HESA on the next round of this survey. However, statistics alone cannot provide the whole picture of how doctoral graduates contribute to our economy and society and so the next study will include gathering case studies and career profiles from individuals. In the longer term, the aim is to develop a 'panel' of doctoral graduates so their careers might be tracked over a number of years.
Impact of researchers
RCUK believes that as well as excellent research, it is excellent people that have an impact on the economic and social wellbeing of the UK. The following reports highlight this impact:
Impact: People and Skills (June 2010)
This report profiles a number of researchers from different disciplines who have an impact of the economy and society in a variety of ways. A copy of the report is available here
What do Researchers Do? Career profiles of doctoral entrepreneurs (2010)
A collection of 30 career stories from doctoral researchers who have gone on to become entrepreneurs is available on the Vitae website here
CIHE Report on Value of Graduates and Postgraduates (November 2009)
This report outlines the results of a study co-sponsored by RCUK which explored how the value of recruiting graduates and postgraduates is measured by employers. A copy of the report is available here