To ask the best degree to do in order to earn the most

[Vitalic]

I've never been money-oriented and did a degree in my twenties in a very specific subject that interested me but which is never going to earn me much money. I only got a 2:2 plus it's such a specific subject I'd be surprised if it would get me into an MSc in anything useful.

I currently work to support myself and young dd in a field unrelated to my degree and in which there is no potential for progression or promotion.

I'm now completely sick of being poor and want to retrain in something that will earn enough for us to be comfortably off.

I have enough saved plus can get a career development loan to fund another undergraduate degree.

Please could anyone advise me what I should be looking at in order to get the most well-paid job possible following this? I have a BSc, am pretty good at maths, have good communication skills and lots of experience in various fields.

I was considering med school and scored well in practice GAMSAT exams - these aim to assess your capability in a variety of areas so I guess that's a good indication that I could potentially do well in various types of studies/jobs.

Would be very grateful for any advice

For everyone suggesting accountancy - the OP has a 2:2.

That's is "computer says no" for big 4 and most likely the mid-tier as well.

5 that's why they need to do the AAT first/as well!

I'd suggest programming / data / systems

@abigailgabble AAT isn't a route into the big 4

You also need really good A level grades.

Maybe mid-tier and certainly practices lower down the pecking order but they she won't be earning much.

My friends who earn the most are all in IT related fields. However, with automation and outsourcing their jobs can be precarious. They move companies quite a lot. Also, they're not necessarily grads. They've usually done a mixture of courses and being self taught, keeping up with the changing industry.

The highest paid person I know is an actuary with a "big name", but my goodness he has put in the hours.

Actuarial Science - apparently!

I have a 2:2 but got into big4 as I had exceptional circumstances. The OP said she did well until personal issues in her third year - if she had genuine personal circumstances then big4 might accept her. It would depend on what the circumstances were though.

Ps - he has a first class maths degree.

Becoming an atuary is a serious undertaking

I'd also be concerned about the future what with AI and all thay

Same thought at same time Bike!

I don't think you'd get on an actuary training program with a 2:2

I know apprentices at my big4 firm doing AAT before moving on to ACA. Some have no degree. Some have a degree but not a 2:1.

Also, not all big4 firms require a 2:1 in the first place. EY has no minimum requirements at all in terms of A levels or degree. (I don't work at EY, but I know their entry requirements don't stipulate minimum grades)

Totally agree re: actuarial work though. It's not an easy or quick route to big bucks and you need serious maths ability.

Computer science. We are recruiting, decent salary and its so hard to find qualified people!

Lots of people saying accountancy hut i thought it was at threat from artificial intelligence. Can someone confirm this?

I was thinking of going down this route aftet my psychology degree.

@SmokedPigletGuts lots of things are at risk from AI!

@WomanWithAltitude you're right, forgot EY removed academics from their recruitment requiments

5rivers7hills

But accountancy and computer programming are high risk careers. Thats what i read anyway.

EY did well with that because it always was a bit stupid that having a 2:2 was a barrier to being able to even get into the recruitment process.

NOT FUCKING MEDICINE

Particularly as accountancy firms are struggling to recruit enough talented grads.....

I'm laughing out loud here at actuaries. Ring replaced by AI. Not for a long time anyway and certainly not before accountants etc.

As mentioned above you can do degrees that will exempt you from the first series of exams so you should theoretically be able to qualify then in three years afterward.

For me the biggest difference being actuarial and accounting is the salary while training. So if you came out with exemptions from CT series you could be in a good wage while studying to finish whereas the accountancy training wages aren't liveable with kids (speaking as a former trainee actuary at Big 4 with a sister who was a trainee accountant at a a Big 4 firm).

Yes there is work involved and study but if you are actually good at maths it's not too bad plus your daughter would be older when studying and working at the same time. Plus you get roughly a day a week off work to study usually.

So if you are actually good at maths actuary would be my vote.

Good luck OP 👍

*being