Andrea Rayat, 28, from the Philippines, works amid test tubes, flasks, microscopes and computers in a basement laboratory at University College London (UCL). Her research, part of a PhD, centres on trying to design a new filtration device that could speed up the process of developing new drugs in the world of medicines.

In the economic gloom, when banking and finance are losing their appeal and companies are cutting back on recruitment, "safe" professions such as the law look even more attractive.

If you want to do postgraduate study in science or technology, you'll be welcomed with open arms by universities overflowing with research funding. You might get a full scholarship plus bursary, meaning you pocket £12,000 tax-free, or you might get a permanent role as a research assistant, meaning you're on the academic salary scale and can expect significantly more. Either way, you probably won't be strapped for cash.