You're mere months away from earning your Master's degree; now is the time to explore the job market. Public sector jobs abound across the UK; in London, such job offerings are thick on the ground, even for international NGO careers. This chart gives you a sampling of what's available to you.
| 👨💻Sector | 👩🏭Job areas | 📜What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Public sector | ||
| Law enforcement Education Healthcare Housing Social care Tax assessment andcollection | At least a Bachelor's degree in a targeted field of study. Masters' degrees are generally preferred. | |
| Charity sector | ||
| Project manager Programme manager Marketing manager Accountant Fundraiser | A Masters' degree, preferably in a relevant field of study. Volunteering experience is helpful. Fundraisers may get by with only a Bachelor's degree. | |
| International NGO sector | ||
| Grant specialist Researcher Director Communications and marketing Administrative staff Fundraiser | A Masters' degree, preferably in a relevant field of study. Research positions demand specific studies. | |
| National NGO sector | ||
| Director Grant specialist Communications and marketing Public relations/social media specialist Researcher Administrative staff Fundraiser | A Masters' degree in a relevant field of study. |
Defining Public Sector Careers
In many ways, public sector careers and working with a public-facing non-governmental organisation (NGO) have a lot in common.
Working in either sector typically demands graduate-level specialisation. For example, working in criminal justice requires a degree in criminology, psychology, or sociology. An undergraduate's degree will get you in the door but more education is usually what it takes to earn a promotion.
A law degree, or sociology, psychology, or a political science degree are standard requirements for NGO positions. These degrees will help you land a position in civil service, too. Still, you'll find substantial differences between public sector careers and working with an NGO.
Public sector jobs
- generally sector oriented:
- healthcare
- law enforcement / public safety
- education
- administration
- social care
NGO work
- generally cause oriented:
- environmental
- human rights
- legal protections
- energy production
- scientific endeavours
In all cases, your Masters' degree prepares you for high-level positions, regardless of your field of study. However, the depoliticised nature of non-governmental work suggests that your political science knowledge won't deliver direct benefits. Still, working with an NGO could boost your later political career.
In the meantime, don't give up on public-sector work. Your schooling makes you an ideal Civil Service candidate. With such a background, transitioning into politics is easy.
These positions ensure the stability and functioning of society.
They are a natural pathway into politics.
Are Careers in Charity Sector Considered Public Sector?
Careers in charity sector are certainly public-facing, but they are not public-sector jobs. Remember that the Civil Service and local governments oversee public sector work.
By contrast, charities receive their funding from non-governmental groups, as well as corporate and private entities. They typically solicit donations from the public (which are tax-deductible in some cases). Charitable organisations such as the Red Cross might work with international relations through sister organisations around the world.
Charitable organisations are more closely aligned with NGOs and non-profit organisations than public sector work. In many ways, these bodies mirror corporate structures. They include volunteers, workers, managers, fundraisers, and high-ranking officers.
As a student, you might get to know various charities by volunteering. These unpaid positions serve as an internship of sorts, through which you can learn more about the charity's mission. Your stint as a volunteer could pave the way to a paid position after graduation, if you wish to apply. Such jobs include:
Besides these highly specialised roles, administrative workers - assistants, clerks and others fill the ranks. These few jobs demonstrate the breadth of careers in charity sector.
Unfortunately, careers in charity sector suffer from low pay, with decent money starting only in the executive ranks. It's a bit like starting a career as a political analyst; the early years typically don't yield much in the way of money.
Of course, how much you might earn depends on where you work. London charity work tends to pay a bit more than elsewhere around the UK.
International NGO Careers: The Gold Standard
As noted above, charity work aligns more closely with NGO efforts. Careers in charity sector are a natural pathway into international NGO careers, especially if the charity you worked with was also international.
There exists no firm definition for NGO, other than the accepted 'not funded by government'. However, many NGOs work closely with the government in their home country. They tend to take on the humanitarian work that the government would like to do, sometimes with government funding. But they're more often funded through grants/donations, investments, and profit-making enterprises.
For political reasons, a government's diplomatic work remains separate from the humanitarian endeavours international NGOs undertake.
Failure to maintain that barrier could result in accusations of meddling or interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The United Nations Charter outlines this distinction, emphasising that NGOs must maintain a consultative status.
That's fascinating history, especially if you're a law student. As a political science graduate looking for work, these international NGO careers might interest you.
Researcher
- investigate and compile data
- verify and analyse information
- write reports
Grant specialist
- research funding opportunities
- write grant requests
- report the use of grant monies
Programme Director
- oversee the entire operation
- craft and implement new initiatives
- take accountability for NGO actions
Accountant
- oversee the NGO's finances
- process financial transactions
- manage payroll and financial documents
Besides those four job titles, NGOs need workers to function. They may be aid workers, social workers or other types of general labourers, depending on the NGO.
As that clip emphasises, fundraising is the heart and soul of NGO work; such positions are the easiest to access when you're fresh out of school.
£18 000 to £50 000 for entry-level to more experienced work.
Executive-level salaries start at £60,864 - rising above £112,000 annually.
Thriving NGO Careers UK
NGOs don't just help out overseas; we have plenty of these organisations helping to make life better in our country, too. You might be familiar with these names:
- The National Oceanography Centre
- Client Earth
- UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)
- Refugee Action
- Action Tutoring
- Mindfully Wired
- Oxfam
Along with these homegrown initiatives, the UK hosts branches of international NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Salvation Army, and the Red Cross. Thanks to them, you don't have to go abroad to start your career with an international NGO.
By these NGOs' names, you might guess that a degree in politics might not serve you as well. Degrees in science, sociology and social work, or education would likely work better but don't despair! You have plenty to offer these and other UK-based NGOs.
Our country has several NGOs with political leanings. Those include:
Survival International
fights for tribal peoples' rights.
War or Want
campaigns against injustice, global poverty, and inequality.
The Traveller Movement
fights for the rights of Traveller and Gypsy people.
Much like international NGO careers, job titles for homegrown NGOs include accountants, programme managers and directors, administrative staff, media specialists, and fundraisers. Thanks to these organisations' local flavours, you won't struggle to make a cultural connection with your target market.
Unfortunately, even international organisations lack the high starting salary one might expect. From programme managers to grant specialists, these positions don't pay much more than £ 50,000 to start. Like any job, building experience, taking on more responsibility, and even your geographical location influence your wages.
NGO Careers London: A Great Place to Build Your Future
Earning between £50,000 and £60,000 per year is necessary for a relatively carefree life in London.
Unbiased, as quoted in The Standard (June 2025)
Where NGOs are concerned, our capital city presents a split in ideas. As a global city, it's a natural headquarters for national and international organisations. However, charities and NGOs typically don't pay enough for the 'relatively carefree life' hinted at in the quote above.
From entry level (£ 27,000/year) to senior executive (£ 92,000/year), the average London NGO salary ranges from £ 42,499 to £ 56,078.
The money question might not land well, but London offers the most spectacular opportunities for NGO work in our country, as London is a major hub for NGOs.
You'll find renowned organisations like Amnesty International, Save the Children UK, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Of course, Oxfam and the Refugee Council provide significant networking and career advancement opportunities, too.
More importantly for political science graduates: London is the UK's seat of national and international power. Your educational background in political science and experience working with a special interest group put you in an ideal position for a role as a policy advisor.
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