Engineering and chemistry were considered to be the most 'future proof', as they are courses most likely to lead to an enduring and adaptable² career.

 

Students polled by a college were broadly optimistic that their chosen courses would prepare them for a world in which the job market could change dramatically during their working lives.

 

But opinion was sharply divided over which degrees were best for future-proof careers.

 

Eighty-two per cent of respondents believed engineering would help develop future-proof skills, with 74 per cent believing the same of chemistry and 73 per cent of computer science.

 

But just 33 per cent of undergraduates believed history would lead to a future-proof career, and 40 per cent English.

 

However more than two thirds of students - 67 per cent - thought the world of work would be significantly different or completely unrecognisable in 20 years.

 

The findings, published today, come after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan sparked controversy³ with claims that teenagers should steer⁴ clear of the arts and humanities and opt for science or maths subjects if they want to access the widest range of jobs.

 

She said that in previous decades students would only take maths or science if they wanted to pursue a specific career such as medicine or pharmacy⁵, but nowadays that 'couldn't be further from the truth'.

 

'If you wanted to do something different, or even if you didn't know what you wanted to do…then the arts and humanities were what you chose. Because they were useful – we were told – for all kinds of jobs. Of course now we know that couldn't be further from the truth, that the subjects that keep young people's options open and unlock doors to all sorts of careers are the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.'

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