Career Pathways in Scotland
Find out exactly which Highers you need, which Scottish universities offer the degree, and what salary to expect — for 24 careers.
24
career pathways
6
career clusters
Scottish
SAAS-funded degrees
Healthcare
Doctor (Medicine)
Diagnose and treat patients across the full range of specialities in NHS Scotland.
Dentist
Provide dental care — diagnosis, prevention and treatment — in NHS or private practice.
Registered Nurse
Deliver direct patient care across NHS Scotland hospitals, community and specialist settings.
Pharmacist
Dispense medicines, advise patients and contribute to clinical care in community or hospital settings.
Physiotherapist
Assess and treat patients with movement, injury and long-term conditions across NHS and private practice.
Veterinary Surgeon
Diagnose and treat animals — from pets to livestock — in clinical or rural practice across Scotland.
Social Worker
Support individuals and families in need across local authority, NHS and third-sector services in Scotland.
Optometrist
Examine eyes, diagnose conditions and prescribe corrective lenses in community or hospital optometry.
Law & Business
Solicitor
Advise clients on legal matters and represent them in courts and tribunals across Scotland.
Chartered Accountant (CA)
Audit, advise and report on financial performance for businesses, public bodies and individuals.
Financial Analyst
Analyse investment opportunities, model financial data and support decisions in Edinburgh's financial services sector.
Economist
Analyse economic data and advise on policy for government, public bodies or financial institutions.
HR Manager
Manage recruitment, employee relations and organisational development for Scottish employers.
Marketing Manager
Plan and execute marketing campaigns, manage brands and grow audiences for Scottish organisations.
Engineering & Technology
Civil Engineer
Design and build roads, bridges, water systems and public infrastructure across Scotland.
Mechanical Engineer
Design and develop mechanical systems — from offshore energy equipment to medical devices.
Electrical / Electronic Engineer
Design power systems, electronics and control systems for energy, manufacturing and communications.
Software Engineer
Build software systems, apps and platforms for Scotland's growing tech sector.
Data Scientist
Extract insight from large datasets to guide business decisions, public policy and research.
Education
Creative & Design
Architect
Design buildings and spaces — from residential extensions to major civic projects — in Scotland's built environment.
Graphic Designer
Create visual communications — branding, digital design, packaging and print — for commercial and public sector clients.
Trades & Construction
Not sure which subjects to pick?
Use the subject choice guides to see which Highers are needed for specific careers — and which common mistakes to avoid in S3 and S5.