The STEM sector has been riding a seemingly endless wave of growth. As humankind continues to reach for the stars, the work undertaken in tech, research and design is expanding exponentially. This has led to the creation of new job types and also to immense skills gaps across the sector. Employer demand for STEM qualifications and skills is high and will continue to increase in the future.
STEM is more than just a group of subjects it more closely reflects a skills set. It uses logic to creatively solve problems.
With STEM skills, you can make a big contribution to many of the big challenges facing society today. From designing visual for a new film, to working as a physiotherapist in a hospital, to inventing a new hi-tech health scanner, to manufacturing a new mobile phone, to writing the code for a new software programme or putting new satellites into space, there are thousands of exciting and well-paid opportunities.
There are different routes into STEM careers at different educational levels, from level 5 and 6, through apprenticeships or from relevant degrees and master programmes.
STEM crosses all career sectors and nearly every job in the future will require STEM/STEAM skills. In this page we are bringing together information on some of the more obvious STEM sectors.
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The engineering sector itself is made up of a wide range of companies providing a diverse range of products and services.
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Physical and Mathematical Sciences is a broad sector, with many potential career paths for those with qualifications and suitable skillsets, including medical work, engineering, teaching, finance and technology.
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Sample Courses
This year-long course is designed to equip learners with key Auctioneering and Estate Agency skills, as well as an understanding of a...
Participants will be trained on the client-server networked environment incorporating physical, virtual, on premise and cloud technologies. The...
This programme focuses on the practical application of chemistry and includes Medicinal Chemistry, Forensic Analysis, Quality Management,...
Our BSc in Information Technology is not just about coding. It's about understanding the impact of technology on society, it's about learning how...
The Physical Sciences (Common Entry) course is designed for applicants who wish to enter a physical science course in MTU but are undecided about...
This course is designed for those who wish to work as professional construction managers in the construction industry. The 4-year programme was...
This one year course aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop essential knowledge and practical skills to work in the rapidly...
The UCD Science (DN200) course offers 27 degree subjects categorised into streams. Students can study subjects from more than one stream in first...
Analytical Chemistry is the speciality dealing with devising, selecting, and using methods for determining the identity and quantity of chemical...
This exciting Level 8 Bachelors Degree teaches students about the latest technological developments, and enables them to gain practical work...
Throughout this course students develop an understanding of the physicochemical and biological principles that underpin the design, function,...
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Sample Occupations
Discovers new fragrance chemicals, improves how fragrance ingredients are produced and analyses fragrances and their ingredients.
Involved in all aspects of the production of a multimedia product. Liaises with production team and client to ensure targets and goals are achieved.
Inspects and enforces health and hygiene standards in the community at large. Carries out inspections to ensure that health and safety regulations are being followed at work, and in public places such as leisure centres, shops and restaurants.
Works on building sites and operates plant equipment such as dump trucks and excavators.
Geochemists monitor developments in the earth's chemical composition by undertaking analysis of rock and other environmental samples.
Studies the mining, uses and treatment of metals and alloys.
Heavy goods packers pack all types of large and heavy items. They may use lifting equipment to move goods like heavy engineering units.
Works on problems related to nuclear energy production and nuclear waste disposal.
Work to fit components together to make products in a range of industries, such as furniture making, electronics or automotive supplies
Studies, analyses and collects information about both plant and animal life.
Install window frames and windows into new and existing buildings. They may also fit conservatories and doors with glass panels.
Artificial intelligence (AI) engineers are responsible for developing, programming and training the complex networks of algorithms that make up AI so that they can function like a human brain. This role requires combined expertise in software development, programming, data science and data engineering.