Statistics released today, Thursday 30 June 2016, show a higher rate of positive destinations for Scottish graduates compared to last year, and demonstrate that yet again graduates from Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions have better prospects within six months of graduation than their peers in the rest of the UK.
The statistics by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education in the United Kingdom (DLHE) for Academic Year 2014/15 showed:
- More graduates from Scotland’s universities were in positive destinations at 91 per cent. This is an increase of over one per cent on last year’s figure and was also higher in comparison to their peers in England at 89 per cent.
- Of those in work, the proportion of graduates in graduate level jobs within six months of leaving study was 72 per cent. Again, that this figure is higher than south of the border at 71 per cent.
- Scotland’s graduates from Scottish universities also recorded the lowest rate of unemployment in four years* at only five per cent, lower again when compared to England at six per cent.
- Graduates from Scottish universities had a higher mean average starting salary of £ 22,000, compared to the UK average salary of £21,500.
Commenting on the data, a spokesperson for Universities Scotland said:
“Today’s figures come as excellent news and reflect the work and commitment that Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions put into developing and embedding employability skills in their graduates as part of learning and teaching strategies. This is not only important to Scotland’s economy but also to ensure that the country has a highly skilled workforce for the future.”
“Scotland’s graduates are among the brightest and the best. The fact that they are going on to positive destinations and graduate level jobs so quickly after leaving university, and with starting salaries that are higher than the UK average, is a reflection of the quality and calibre of a Scottish higher education. ”
ENDS
NOTES:
- The full set of graduation destinations can be found on the HESA website here:
- * Due to changes in the HESA DLHE survey in 2011/12, it is not possible to compare data beyond four years.
For further information please contact:
Susannah Lane, Head of Public Affairs, at susannah@universities-scotland.ac.uk or on 0131 225 0701 or 07715 992 908.