<p>Anything to do with Machine Learning has a lot of career prospects because you could be employed by either finance or technology companies in general.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-03T20:38:28.317Z
Yes, Statistical Learning Theory has quite a bit of applications.
Varun
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-03T20:31:34.287Z
2015-11-03T20:31:34.287Z
Joshua Herman
<p>I just wanted to know areas in common to Theoretical Computer Science which have a lot of carrer prospects outside of academia. I specifically wanted to know because I am interested in almost all areas of TCS equally, so why not choose a field for PhD which is more vibrant in terms of carrer choice.
Inspired by this question  <a href="https://mathoverflow.net/questions/162125/what-areas-of-pure-mathematics-research-are-best-for-a-post-phd-transition-to-in">MathOverflow</a></p>

<p>My guesses are
1) Information Theory, all major communication companies and companies which need storage
2) Cryptography (Specifically protocols and construction of new/better codes)
3) Algorithmic Game Theory (Companies like Google are investing a lot in it)
4) Formal Verification(But i think it is a very niche area focussed in Europe)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-03T19:57:08.907Z
Don't do a PhD in theoretical computer science. There are many other areas of computer science which are much more practical.
Yuval Filmus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-03T19:58:52.603Z
No I love theory and only theory, from complexity theory to algorithms, but right now I am too open and dont have any particular fixation for any particular area,so i just wanted to keep track of areas where the carrer prospects are relatively beter.
Varun
<soft-question>
The most applicable areas in Theoretical Computer Science
Varun
# The most applicable areas in Theoretical Computer Science

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-03)

I just wanted to know areas in common to Theoretical Computer Science which have a lot of carrer prospects outside of academia. I specifically wanted to know because I am interested in almost all areas of TCS equally, so why not choose a field for PhD which is more vibrant in terms of carrer choice.
Inspired by this question [MathOverflow](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/162125/what-areas-of-pure-mathematics-research-are-best-for-a-post-phd-transition-to-in)

My guesses are
1) Information Theory, all major communication companies and companies which need storage
2) Cryptography (Specifically protocols and construction of new/better codes)
3) Algorithmic Game Theory (Companies like Google are investing a lot in it)
4) Formal Verification(But i think it is a very niche area focussed in Europe)

**Tags:** soft-question

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Don't do a PhD in theoretical computer science. There are many other areas of computer science which are much more practical.  
> **username_0**: No I love theory and only theory, from complexity theory to algorithms, but right now I am too open and dont have any particular fixation for any particular area,so i just wanted to keep track of areas where the carrer prospects are relatively beter.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-11-03. Score: 2

Anything to do with Machine Learning has a lot of career prospects because you could be employed by either finance or technology companies in general.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, Statistical Learning Theory has quite a bit of applications.  

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