Graduate outcomes: August 2019 to July 2020

The Graduate Outcomes record includes a survey of graduates approximately 15 months after they complete their studies. This survey is delivered by the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA). The majority of survey respondents graduated in summer 2020 and were surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Autumn 2021.

The reporting period is from 01 August in year 1 to 31 July in year 2. This means the 2019/20 Graduate Outcomes Survey Results record is in respect of students who completed eligible programmes of study between 01 August 2019 and 31 July 2020 and who actually completed the survey (or the minimum response required).

The data included in this headline is collected from graduates from UK publicly funded higher education institutions, and graduates from privately funded student alternative providers for whom student data is submitted to HESA. It also includes data for graduates from HE level courses at further education (FE) colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There were 374,875 UK graduates who responded to the 2019/20 Graduate Outcomes survey from the target population of 774,715, a rate of 48% complete responses. When including graduates who partially completed the survey, this response rate rises to 52%, increasing the number of usable responses to 403,835.

Graduates with an undergraduate degree from Welsh higher education providers

• 6,870 (50%) of known graduates were in full-time employment and 1,485 (11%) were in part-time employment. 1,725 (12%) of known graduates were in full-time further study and 95 (1%) were in part-time further study.
• Overall, Welsh providers had the same percentage of known graduates in part-time employment as Northern Irish providers (11%) and Scottish providers (11%), but a lower percentage than English providers (12%). Welsh providers had a lower percentage of graduates in full-time employment than all other UK providers (50% from Welsh providers compared to 56% from Northern Irish providers, 54% from Scottish providers and 53% from English providers).
• 835 (6%) of graduates were unemployed, of which 235 were due to start work or further study.

Graduates with a postgraduate degree from higher education providers

• 3,655 (62%) known graduates were in full-time employment and 605 (10%) were in part-time employment. 300 (5%) known graduates were in full-time further study and 35 (1%) were in part-time further study.
• Overall, Welsh providers had a slightly higher percentage of known graduates in part-time employment (10%) compared to providers in Northern Ireland (9%), Scotland (9%) and England (9%). However, Welsh providers had a lower percentage of graduates in full-time employment (62%) than other providers in the UK (67% from Northern Irish providers, 63% from Scottish providers and 64% from English providers).
• 310 (5%) of graduates were unemployed, of which 50 were due to start work or further study.

Salaries of graduates with postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from Welsh higher education providers

• The median salary for graduates from Welsh higher education providers in full-time paid employment was £24,000. The median salary was also £24,000 for graduates from Northern Irish higher education providers. For graduates from English and Scottish higher education providers, the median salary was £25,000.
• Graduates in full-time paid employment from medicine and dentistry subjects reported the highest median salaries at £34,000.

Welsh domiciled graduates

• 5,810 (54%) of known undergraduates were in full-time employment and 1,210 (11%) were in part-time employment. 1,055 (10%) of known undergraduates were in full-time study and 55 (1%) were in part-time further study.
• 2,575 (66%) of known postgraduates were in full-time employment and 450 (11%) were in part-time employment. 150 (4%) of known postgraduates were in full-time study and 20 (1%) were in part-time further study.
• 48% of full-time undergraduate Wales domiciled graduates from the most deprived areas of Wales (WIMD Quintile 1) were in full-time employment, while 55% from the least deprived areas (WIMD Quintile 5) were in full-time employment.