Academia and Higher Education
Universities are diverse workplaces, offering a broad range of career opportunities beyond the traditional roles of teaching and research. While academic staff play a key role, over half of university employees in the UK work in non-academic professional services roles (Jobs.ac.uk, 2025). These include areas such as student support, policy and planning, digital learning, research administration, marketing, human resources, finance, legal work and supporting students from diverse and under-represented backgrounds to access higher education among others.
Like many sectors, the higher education sector is evolving in response to shifting demographics, technological change and economic pressures. Recent analysis from the Office for Students (2025) highlights ongoing financial challenges, including falling income across the sector and reduced international student numbers following visa and immigration changes. In light of these challenges, universities are adapting how they deliver value to students, investing in digital transformation and exploring new ways to enhance the student experience.
Job roles
A career in academia offers many rewarding opportunities, though competition for permanent and secure positions can be strong. There are a variety of career paths within academia.
Education and Research (E&R) refers to roles or activities that involve both teaching (education) and academic research. These roles involve delivering lectures, seminars and supervising research work. Academics are usually involved with conducting original research, publishing papers and books as well as sourcing funding to support their research work. Typical roles in E&R include
Education and Scholarship (E&S) refers to roles that focus on teaching and pedagogical development, rather than original research. These opportunities are responsible for developing the quality of teaching and student support, including teaching materials and assessments. It is not normally expected that these will include traditional academic research, however, there are opportunities to contribute towards teaching focused journals, pedagogical innovation and curriculum development. Advance HE is an organisation which aims to raise standards within Higher Education and provides professional accreditation. Typical roles include
- Teaching Fellows, with progression towards Senior Teaching Fellows
The following websites will potentially be useful to explore for further information:
- Getting an academic job - this page offers a useful breakdown of the most common academic roles in universities.
- The Different Types of Academic Careers.
- PhD Careers: What to Do After a PhD? - explores varied career avenues, including academic roles and alternative options in various industries.
- Vitae - What do researchers do? - explores the destinations and career paths of doctoral graduates and how they contribute to society, culture and economy.
Universities offer diverse roles beyond teaching and research, covering a variety of roles that support students, academic staff, and the broader university mission. Some of these roles will also involve educating and facilitating students. Each area offers roles with varying levels of interaction with students, staff, and external stakeholders, and you can often find roles suited to a range of skills, from data analysis to project management to more student-facing roles. Key areas include:
- Administration and Operations e.g. Education Administrator or Admissions Officer
- Careers Advisor or Careers Information Officer
- Finance and Procurement
- Fundraising and Alumni e.g. Alumni Relations Officer
- Human Resources
- International Recruitment and support
- IT and Digital Services
- Lab Technicians can also be crucial in many STEM areas
- Library Services, Data and Information Management e.g. Academic Librarian
- Marketing, PR and Communications
- Student Support e.g. Student Support Advisor
To explore the wide range of roles in this area visit the webpages below:
Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here. These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to thoroughly reviewing the person specification, job description and job advert for each role you’re interested in before applying.
- Collaboration and Teamwork: You will be working in interdisciplinary teams, working with others on research papers or contributing to departmental projects. Collaboration is key, both within and across institutions.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication is essential not only for teaching and research but also for writing proposals, collaborating with colleagues and communicating with students and stakeholders.
- Interpersonal and Networking: Building relationships with colleagues, peers, students and external partners is vital for career development and research collaboration.
- Organisation and Time Management: Balancing multiple responsibilities such as teaching, research, administration, and student supervision requires excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage time efficiently.
- Passion for your subject: A deep and evolving understanding of your academic discipline is essential. This includes staying up to date with current research, trends and developments in your field.
- Research: It is very likely you will be required to complete original research. This requires the ability to design studies, analyse data, write for publication and apply for research funding or grants.
- Teaching and Presentation Skills: Most academic staff will be required to teach at some point in their career so being able to explain complex ideas clearly and engage students through lectures, seminars and discussions is key.
In order to develop these skills, remember Career Zone also offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term. Please also read through the sections about Developing Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications.
Higher Education (Professional Services)
Internship opportunities in the higher education sector can be limited, however the University’s Student Campus Partnership (SCP) scheme offers an excellent way to gain valuable experience. Through this paid internship programme, students can work within academic departments or professional services teams, developing key skills. Opportunities are available across all campuses in Exeter and Cornwall, with roles in areas such as research, project management, marketing, IT, data analytics, and more.
You can find current vacancies by searching ‘SCP’ in the job search field on Handshake. To stay updated on the latest SCP roles, sign up for our weekly student internship vacancy e-bulletin.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in Laboratories, the Professional Pathways to Scientific Laboratories programme, might interest you as you could gain experience supporting scientific analysis, investigation, research and development in one of the University of Exeter’s laboratories.
Academia
It can be difficult to obtain work experience in academia as a student. Occasionally, Faculties and departments offer students the chance to work on research projects, often via the Student Campus Partnership (SCP) scheme. Contact your department to enquire about any possible opportunities. One such example is the Research Support Internship Scheme in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. This provides students with academic/research-related experience on campus. All positions are advertised on Handshake.
Placements
If you would like to gain work experience that is integrated into your academic course, you may want to consider a placement. If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Placements Hub via your Exeter Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including how to apply for a placement and information for international students or those interested in working abroad.
Graduate Jobs
Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.
- Jobs.ac.uk is a jobs board for the universities sector
- Tes Jobs offers teaching and education jobs worldwide
- Times Higher Education Unijobs is a global jobs board
- Universities also advertise vacancies on their own websites
- For academic roles, you can find jobs in research journals related to your field of expertise, as well as on the websites of professional bodies.
For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page. You could also have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.
Graduate Schemes
- Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme at the University of Exeter - a graduate programme that will provide you the opportunity to work across 5 divisions of Professional Services.
- Some universities offer graduate programmes that are open to graduates from any institution. Visit individual University’s websites to find opportunities.
- University of Exeter Graduate Business Partnership (GBP): The University’s GBP scheme supports graduates in starting their careers in higher education. Search for vacancies on Handshake.
Further sources of support
If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally.
To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal. The worldwide country guides cover everything from job search resources and CV guidelines to cultural advice and visa information. Watch a short training video on how to get the most from GoinGlobal (4 minutes 20 seconds).
Professional development is highly valued within the HE sector, and engaging with relevant professional bodies can be a great way to enhance your skills. Many HE roles, both academic and non-academic, are supported by professional organisations such as the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). These bodies offer training, events, accreditation, and resources to support your ongoing development.
Universities often encourage staff to undertake continuing professional development (CPD), and some roles may require or benefit from gaining professional recognition (e.g. Fellowship of the HEA for teaching staff).
Further study
Further study can be an important step depending on the type of role you’re aiming for in academia or higher education. For academic careers, such as lecturing or research positions, a postgraduate qualification, often a PhD, is typically essential. However, there are some disciplines such as Business or other areas of skills shortages where significant professional experience can often precede an academic role. After securing a role in academia, you may be required to complete a higher education teaching qualification, this may include the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) or Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. Alternatively, your University may have its own internal teaching qualification.
Many professional services roles do not require a postgraduate degree, though some areas may benefit from or require specialist qualifications. It is important to research entry requirements for the area of work you are interested in, before committing to additional training or qualifications. Review the job profiles in the ‘Job roles’ section of this page to find out whether further study is essential or advantageous.
Advice
If you are considering postgraduate or doctoral level study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.