What is science?

Everyone’s taught science at school, so most people are aware of the main areas of science: physics, biology and chemistry.

 

If you have a passion for science, you may want to progress academically by gaining science qualifications like A Levels, BTECs or degrees.

 

What careers do science qualifications actually lead to though? You may imagine a science career involves hiding away in laboratories, but there are a lot more careers in science that stereotypes suggest. You could work in settings like hospitals, factories, offices or crime scenes.

 

Areas in Science

 

There are a wide range of specialized science areas that you could study and gain a career in. These include:

• Forensic science, which refers to the application of any type of science to matters concerning law. Forensic scientists can work on criminal investigations, in paternal disputes, in insurance investigations and a variety of other areas.
• Microbiology, which is the study of living organisms that are too small to be seen by the human eye. Microbiologists study microbes such as bacteria, viruses, archaea and fungi.
• Biomedical science, which focuses on how organs, systems and cells function in the human body. This area of science involves research that can be used towards treating human diseases.

 

Why study a science course?

 

Professions in science typically require you to have specialized knowledge that you’ll need to learn through educational courses at college or university. Once you know which science subject you want to pursue, you can choose the right A Levels, or equivalent qualifications, that would then allow you to apply for specific degree courses.

 

For example, if you’re interested in pursuing a subject like life sciences at degree level, you’ll need to have A Levels or equivalent qualifications in chemistry and biology. If you want to do a degree in chemical development and manufacturing, you’ll need A Levels or equivalent qualifications in chemistry, physics and maths.

 

At university, you have the option of studying subjects like:

 

• Chemical Engineering.
• Metallurgy.
• Pharmacology.
• Materials Science.
• Biochemistry.

 

Career Outcomes from a Science Course

 

By gaining relevant qualifications from a science course, there are a large number of career outcomes available. These include the following.

 

Analytical Chemist

 

Using a diverse range of methods, you would investigate the chemicals in substances as an analytical chemist. Your objective would be to identify and understand the substance being studied and see how it behaves in a variety of conditions. If you want to become an analytical chemist, you’ll need to have a degree in chemistry or a related subject.

 

Biomedical Engineer

 

This role involves researching and developing medical products like robotic surgical instruments and joint replacements. To become a biomedical engineer, you’ll need a degree in a subject like biomedical science or physics.

 

Scientific Laboratory Technician

 

In this position, you would be involved with a number of laboratory-based investigations, such as sampling, recording and analysing results as part of a team. Although a degree isn’t mandatory to work in this role, it’s beneficial to have a degree or a Higher National Diploma in a subject like biology, environmental science or biotechnology.