UK Graduates Tend to Be Successful After Finishing Their Studies, Statistics Show

Graduates who have finished their studies at one of the many UK universities, tend to be quite successful in the labour market, approximately 15 months after graduation. A total of 81% of graduates surveyed in a study, were either employed or in unpaid work, while 76% of them working in the UK were in highly skilled occupations. 

The conclusion comes after the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) recently published their findings on Graduate Outcomes in the UK. These findings are particularly interesting, as they show where UK graduates, either domestic or international, stand approximately one year after finishing their studies at UK higher education institutions. 

The total number of participating graduates was 769,735, out of which 388,570 were respondents with known outcomes. The survey also included graduates from other EU countries (a total of 24,495) as well as graduates from other EU countries of origin (a total of 48,825). 71% of respondents agreed that they were utilising what they have learned during their studies.

More than one year after graduation, 83% of respondents from other European Union countries reported working in highly skilled occupations, while 86% of all respondents from non-EU countries are working at similar occupations, marked as highly-skilled. According to the latest statistics, currently up to 485,645 international students are enrolled at UK HEIs.

The UK is a highly recognized destination for international students. Even in light of Brexit, international students are still interested to study in the UK. Recently, we reported that non-EU students who accepted to study at UK universities in 2020 have increased by 2%, while students from the EU have shown a slight decrease. The numbers, however, are not yet final.

The Department for Education (DfE) in the UK, has announced in the previous months that the 2020/2021 academic year will be the last one where EU students are eligible for home fee status. Starting from the upcoming year, European Union students will lose home fee status as well as taxpayer-funded financial support. 

Regardless, the UK still remains a renowned academic destination for both domestic and international students and statistics show that employment opportunities are promising for UK graduates. Moreover, the UK will be introducing its post-study work visa in 2021, which will allow international graduates to stay in the UK for up to two years in order to find employment.