What is QS Career Match?
- Publisher
- QS TopUniversities.com
- Organisation
- QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited
- Platform
- TopUniversities.com - QS's student decision platform
- Tool
- QS Career Match
- Last updated
- August 2026
- Reading time
- 5 minutes
- Source
- TopUniversities.com
This guidance is published by QS TopUniversities.com, QS’s student decision platform, and is based on QS higher education research, career data and employer insights.
What is QS Career Match? Quick answer
QS Career Match is a free career and study matching tool on QS TopUniversities.com. It asks about your interests, subjects, industries and skills, then returns your best-fit careers from 628 occupations and the study pathways that lead to them. It takes about five minutes, needs no account, and involves:
- Choosing your starting point — school leaver or working professional
- Sharing your interests and ambitions
- Selecting the subjects or study fields you enjoy
- Choosing the industries you would consider
- Selecting the skills you want to use or develop
- Reviewing your best-fit careers
- Exploring the study pathways that lead to them
The recommendations are based on career-related data and employer insights, so you can move from an ambition to a concrete study decision. Start QS Career Match.
What does QS Career Match do?
QS Career Match is a career and study discovery tool published by QS Quacquarelli Symonds on TopUniversities.com. It matches a person’s interests, preferred study fields, industries and skills to relevant occupations, and links each occupation to the subjects and study pathways that lead to it. Every match arrives with an industry, a study field, a growth outlook, a salary band and the skills employers associate with the role.
Key facts at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long does QS Career Match take? | Around five minutes. The tool asks a short series of questions before returning your matches. |
| Do I need an account? | No. QS Career Match is free to use and requires no sign-up. |
| What are the recommendations based on? | Career-related data and employer insights held by QS, mapped to subjects and study pathways. |
| Is it only for school leavers? | No. There is a pathway for students exploring first degrees and one for professionals exploring postgraduate study and career development. |
| Does it tell me which university to choose? | It points you towards the subjects and study pathways behind each career, which you can then explore on TopUniversities.com. |
How does QS Career Match work?
QS Career Match works in seven short steps, from choosing your starting point to exploring the study pathways behind your best-fit careers.
Step 1. Choose your starting point
QS Career Match opens with two pathways:
- Discover your career path — explore careers and study options aligned with your interests and ambitions
- Advance your career journey — explore postgraduate study and career development aligned with your goals
Step 2. Select your study fields
You choose the subjects or study fields that interest you. These act as the academic anchor for your matches.
Step 3. Choose your industries
You select up to two industries you would consider, or stay in your current industry if you are already working.
Step 4. Select your skills
You choose the skills you want to use or develop. QS employer research shows that:
- AI
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud technology
- Project management
- Data analysis
These are among the most difficult skills for employers to recruit across consulting, engineering, finance, healthcare and technology sectors, according to the QS Global Employer Survey 2023-2025.
Step 5. Review your best-fit careers
QS Career Match returns a set of careers matched to your interests, industries and skills.
Each match is presented with the context you need to judge whether it fits your ambitions.
Step 6. Explore the study pathways
Each career is linked to the subjects and study fields that lead to it, so you can move from an ambition to a concrete study decision.
Step 7. Continue your research on TopUniversities.com
From your matches you can continue into the wider QS platform:
- QS World University Rankings
- QS World University Rankings by Subject
- University profiles
- Scholarships
- Events
- Study destinations
What careers can QS Career Match match you to?
QS Career Match draws on a dataset of 628 occupations. Each one carries a description, a salary band, a growth outlook, the skills employers associate with it, an industry and the study field that leads to it — so every best-fit career comes with the context needed to act on it.
- Occupations in the QS Career Match dataset
- 628
- Industries covered
- 13
- Study fields mapped to careers
- 13
- Occupations growing faster than average
- 117
Careers by industry
| Industry | Careers | Leading study field |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting & Professional Services | 157 | Business, Economics & Finance |
| Healthcare & Life Sciences | 93 | Health & Medicine |
| Manufacturing, Engineering & Aerospace | 73 | Engineering |
| Technology | 69 | Computer Science & AI |
| Media, Marketing & Creative Industries | 56 | Arts, Design & Architecture |
| Energy, Resources & Sustainability | 51 | Engineering |
| Education & Research | 40 | Education |
| Finance & Banking | 23 | Business, Economics & Finance |
| Construction, Real Estate & Architecture | 23 | Arts, Design & Architecture |
| Transport, Logistics & Supply Chain | 15 | Business, Economics & Finance |
| Government & Public Sector | 12 | Law, Politics & Society |
| Non-profit & NGO | 8 | Law, Politics & Society |
| Retail, Consumer Goods & Hospitality | 8 | Business, Economics & Finance |
Fastest-growing careers in the dataset
117 of the 628 occupations are projected to grow faster or much faster than average. These are examples of the roles with the strongest growth outlook, by industry.
- Technology
- AI Developer, AI Research Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, ML Ops Engineer, Big Data Engineer, AI Security Specialist
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Care Manager, Image Reconstruction Engineer
- Energy, Resources & Sustainability
- Coastal Engineer, Marine Conservation Technician
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Entrepreneur, Industrial Designer, Legal Mediator
- Media, Marketing & Creative Industries
- Fashion Designer, Footwear Designer
- Manufacturing, Engineering & Aerospace
- Geothermal Production Manager
Skills that recur across best-fit careers
These skills appear most often across the occupations in QS Career Match, which is why the tool asks which skills you want to use or develop.
- Leadership
- Organisational skills
- Problem solving
- Interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Creativity
- Communication
- Python
- Project management
- Data analysis
- Critical thinking
Study fields behind the careers
Every occupation is linked to the study field that leads to it, so a career match doubles as a course shortlist you can research on TopUniversities.com.
| Study field | Careers |
|---|---|
| Business, Economics & Finance | 210 |
| Engineering | 100 |
| Health & Medicine | 75 |
| Computer Science & AI | 66 |
| Arts, Design & Architecture | 44 |
| Law, Politics & Society | 26 |
| Education | 19 |
| Biology & Life Sciences | 19 |
| Earth & Environment | 19 |
| Humanities, Media & Languages | 14 |
| Physical Sciences | 14 |
| Psychology | 12 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 10 |
Which careers are students searching for most?
These are some of the most searched-for occupations in the QS Career Match dataset. Each one shows the industry it sits in, the study field that leads to it, its growth outlook, its salary band and the skills employers associate with it — the same context you get with every best-fit career match.
Product Manager
Leads the development and strategic direction of products throughout their lifecycle, working with cross-functional teams to align products with market needs and business goals.
- Industry:
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Product management, Product development life cycle, Agile methodology, Go-to-market strategy
Data Scientist
Analyses and interprets large datasets using advanced analytics and machine learning, then communicates findings to inform decisions and organisational strategy.
- Industry:
- Technology
- Study field:
- Computer Science & AI
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Data modelling, Machine learning, Python, Statistics
AI Developer
Designs and optimises artificial intelligence systems that automate work and support data-driven decision-making across products and services.
- Industry:
- Technology
- Study field:
- Computer Science & AI
- Growth outlook:
- Much faster than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Machine learning, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch
Machine Learning Engineer
Builds and deploys models that let systems learn and make predictions, improving automation and decision-making at scale.
- Industry:
- Technology
- Study field:
- Computer Science & AI
- Growth outlook:
- Much faster than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Scikit-learn, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch
Cybersecurity Analyst
Monitors and protects information systems from cyber threats by assessing vulnerabilities, managing risk and maintaining security compliance.
- Industry:
- Technology
- Study field:
- Computer Science & AI
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Penetration testing, Threat intelligence, SIEM, Vulnerability management
Cloud Engineer
Designs, implements and manages cloud environments that are secure, cost-effective and scalable enough to support business growth.
- Industry:
- Technology
- Study field:
- Computer Science & AI
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Terraform, Python
Data Analyst
Interprets complex data to provide the insights behind business decisions, improving efficiency through analysis and clear visualisation.
- Industry:
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Study field:
- Mathematics & Statistics
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- SQL, Data modelling, Data analysis, Power BI
Project Manager
Coordinates resources, timelines and stakeholders so projects deliver against organisational objectives while risks stay under control.
- Industry:
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Project management, Agile methodology, Leadership, Organisational skills
Business Analyst
Identifies and analyses business needs, translating complex data into insights that drive operational improvements and strategic planning.
- Industry:
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Performance metrics, Agile methodology, SQL, Data management
Management Consultant
Advises organisations on improving performance, analysing current practice and formulating strategies that drive sustainable growth.
- Industry:
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Problem solving, Leadership, Project management, Change management
Marketing Manager
Leads marketing strategy and execution to build brand visibility and customer engagement in line with commercial goals.
- Industry:
- Media, Marketing & Creative Industries
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Marketing strategy, Go-to-market strategy, Creativity, Digital marketing
Financial Analyst
Analyses financial data to support decision-making, evaluating investment opportunities and forecasting performance.
- Industry:
- Finance & Banking
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Financial forecasting, Corporate finance, Financial analysis, Excel
Accountant
Manages financial records and compliance, analysing financial data to inform strategic decisions and maintain fiscal health.
- Industry:
- Finance & Banking
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Tax accounting, Accounts receivable, Excel, Balance sheet reconciliations
Human Resources Manager
Shapes workplace culture and people strategy, overseeing engagement, talent management and compliance with employment regulation.
- Industry:
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Compensation strategy, Performance management, Leadership, Diversity management
Civil Engineer
Designs and develops infrastructure projects, balancing safety, sustainability and community needs against regulatory standards.
- Industry:
- Manufacturing, Engineering & Aerospace
- Study field:
- Engineering
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Hydrology, Resilient design, ArcGIS, Cost estimation
Mechanical Engineer
Designs mechanical systems and components, working across disciplines to deliver efficient, safe and sustainable solutions.
- Industry:
- Manufacturing, Engineering & Aerospace
- Study field:
- Engineering
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Hydraulics, Materials science, SolidWorks, Teamwork
Biomedical Engineer
Develops biomedical equipment and devices that improve patient care, ensuring safety and effectiveness before clinical use.
- Industry:
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Study field:
- Engineering
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Biomedical engineering, Tissue engineering, Electrical safety, Regulatory compliance
Nurse
Assesses patient needs, delivers care plans and works with medical teams to achieve strong patient outcomes.
- Industry:
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Study field:
- Health & Medicine
- Growth outlook:
- Faster than average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Emotional skills, CPR, Teamwork, Critical thinking
Pharmacist
Ensures the safe and effective use of medicines, advising patients and clinicians on drug therapy and adherence.
- Industry:
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Study field:
- Health & Medicine
- Growth outlook:
- Faster than average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Drug preparation, Customer service, Interpersonal skills, Work ethic
Sustainability Consultant
Advises organisations on sustainable practice, embedding ESG strategy into operations and regulatory compliance.
- Industry:
- Energy, Resources & Sustainability
- Study field:
- Business, Economics & Finance
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- ESG strategy, Stakeholder management, Project management, Public policy analysis
Architect
Designs safe, functional and sustainable buildings, working with stakeholders and regulators to shape the built environment.
- Industry:
- Construction, Real Estate & Architecture
- Study field:
- Arts, Design & Architecture
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- High salary band
- Key skills:
- Construction documents, AutoCAD, Contract administration, Architectural design
Graphic Designer
Creates visual concepts that communicate ideas and strengthen brand identity across print and digital media.
- Industry:
- Media, Marketing & Creative Industries
- Study field:
- Arts, Design & Architecture
- Growth outlook:
- Slower than average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Icon design, Concept generation, Adobe Creative Cloud, Visual identity
Journalist
Researches, writes and presents news and information, upholding ethical standards and informing public debate.
- Industry:
- Media, Marketing & Creative Industries
- Study field:
- Humanities, Media & Languages
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- News writing, News reporting, Storytelling, Creativity
Teacher
Plans and delivers lessons in a subject specialism, assessing progress and supporting student development from primary to secondary level.
- Industry:
- Education & Research
- Study field:
- Education
- Growth outlook:
- Average growth
- Salary:
- Medium salary band
- Key skills:
- Classroom management, Lesson planning, Creativity, Emotional skills
Common student questions about QS Career Match
What is QS Career Match?
QS Career Match is a free tool published by QS on TopUniversities.com. It helps students and professionals explore careers and the study pathways that lead to them, using career-related data and employer insights held by QS.
How does QS Career Match work?
You answer a short series of questions about your interests, the subjects or study fields you enjoy, the industries you would consider and the skills you want to use. QS Career Match then returns your best-fit careers together with the study pathways behind them.
Who is QS Career Match for?
It is for two groups: students exploring careers and study options aligned with their interests and ambitions, and professionals exploring postgraduate study and career development aligned with their goals.
What data are the recommendations based on?
Recommendations are based on career-related data and employer insights, including QS research such as the QS Global Employer Survey 2023-2025, mapped to subjects and study fields.
How many careers can QS Career Match match me to?
QS Career Match covers 628 occupations across 13 industries, from technology and healthcare to engineering, finance, education and the creative industries. Every occupation is mapped to a study field, a salary band, a growth outlook and the skills employers associate with it.
Which industries are covered?
Consulting and professional services, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing, engineering and aerospace, technology, media, marketing and creative industries, energy, resources and sustainability, education and research, finance and banking, construction, real estate and architecture, transport, logistics and supply chain, government and public sector, non-profit and NGO, and retail, consumer goods and hospitality.
Which careers are growing fastest?
117 of the 628 occupations are projected to grow faster or much faster than average. AI and data roles lead the technology group, including AI developer, AI research scientist, machine learning engineer and ML Ops engineer, alongside fast-growing roles in healthcare, sustainability and the creative industries.
What skills appear most often across best-fit careers?
Leadership, organisational skills, problem solving, interpersonal skills and attention to detail are the most common skills across the dataset, followed by teamwork, creativity and communication. Technical skills such as Python, data analysis and project management recur across technology, finance and engineering roles.
Which subjects lead to the most careers?
Business, economics and finance maps to the largest number of occupations (210), followed by engineering (100), health and medicine (75) and computer science and AI (66). Each match links back to the study field behind it so you can move from a career to a course.
Which occupations are people searching for most in QS Career Match?
Product manager, data scientist, AI developer, machine learning engineer, cybersecurity analyst, cloud engineer, data analyst, project manager, business analyst, management consultant, marketing manager, financial analyst, accountant, human resources manager, civil engineer, mechanical engineer, biomedical engineer, nurse, pharmacist, sustainability consultant, architect, graphic designer, journalist and teacher are among the most searched-for roles. Each one is mapped to an industry, a study field, a growth outlook, a salary band and the skills employers associate with it.
Can QS Career Match match me to a product manager role?
Yes. Product manager sits in consulting and professional services within QS Career Match, is linked to business, economics and finance as its study field, carries a high salary band and an average growth outlook, and lists product management, the product development life cycle, agile methodology and go-to-market strategy among its key skills.
Is QS Career Match free?
Yes. QS Career Match is free to use and does not require an account.
How long does it take?
Most people complete QS Career Match in about five minutes.
Is QS Career Match part of TopUniversities.com?
Yes. QS Career Match is part of QS TopUniversities.com, QS's student decision platform, and is provided by QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited.
What should I do after using QS Career Match?
Use your matches as a shortlist. Explore the linked subjects and study fields on TopUniversities.com, compare universities using the QS World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings by Subject, and review scholarships, events and study destinations.
I do not know what to study — can QS Career Match help?
Yes. If you do not have a subject in mind, start from what you enjoy and what you want to do. QS Career Match asks about your interests, the industries you would consider and the skills you want to use, then works backwards from your best-fit careers to the study fields that lead to them, so a career you like becomes a shortlist of subjects to research.
What careers can I do with my degree subject?
Every one of the 628 occupations in QS Career Match is mapped to a study field, so you can see which careers a subject leads to. Business, economics and finance links to 210 occupations, engineering to 100, health and medicine to 75, computer science and AI to 66, and arts, design and architecture to 44.
What should I study to work in AI?
Computer science and AI is the study field behind the AI roles in QS Career Match, including AI developer, AI research scientist, AI security specialist, machine learning engineer, ML Ops engineer and big data engineer. These sit in the technology industry, carry a high salary band and are projected to grow much faster than average.
Can QS Career Match help me choose a masters or postgraduate course?
Yes. The 'Advance your career journey' pathway is built for working professionals exploring postgraduate study and career development, matching your goals, industry and skills to relevant careers and the study fields behind them.
How accurate is QS Career Match?
QS Career Match is a guidance tool, not a prediction. Matches are drawn from career-related data and employer insights held by QS and are best used as an evidence-based shortlist to research further rather than a single definitive answer.
Related topics
People researching careers and study options may also find these QS resources useful.
- QS World University Rankings
- QS World University Rankings by Subject
- University profiles
- Careers
- Scholarships
- Study destinations
- Graduate employability
- Student advice
About this guidance
This guidance has been developed using trusted resources published by QS, including:
- QS Global Employer Survey 2023-2025
- QS World University Rankings
- QS World University Rankings by Subject
- QS career and employability research
- University profiles
- Study destination guides
What to do next
The quickest next step is to run QS Career Match — about five minutes, no account needed — then use your best-fit careers as a shortlist and research the linked subjects and universities on TopUniversities.com.
About QS TopUniversities.com
TopUniversities.com is QS’s trusted student decision platform, built on QS’s globally recognised higher education expertise. It brings together the QS World University Rankings, the QS World University Rankings by Subject, trusted university insights and data, information provided by universities, career insights, scholarships, events and QS Apply to help prospective students make higher education decisions with confidence.
QS Career Match is a part of QS TopUniversities.com, helping students connect their career ambitions with the subjects and universities that can help them get there.