Graduate Outcomes survey

Graduate Outcomes survey
Name	Graduate Outcomes survey
Conducted by	Higher Education Statistics Agency
Country	United Kingdom
Started	2017
Frequency	Annual
Sample	Graduates from UK higher education institutions

Contents

Graduate Outcomes survey

The Graduate Outcomes survey is a large-scale, annual statistical census of recent higher education leavers in the United Kingdom designed to capture destinations and activities six months after qualification. It is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency and interacts with institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University College London, London School of Economics, and sector bodies including Research England, Office for Students, Universities UK and Advance HE. The survey complements longitudinal and cross-sectional studies conducted by organizations like Institute for Fiscal Studies, Resolution Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, OECD and UNESCO.

Overview

The survey covers graduates from public and private institutions such as King's College London, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester and University of Glasgow across full-time, part-time and postgraduate routes. Respondents include leavers from professional schools like London Business School, conservatoires like Royal Academy of Music, and specialist colleges such as Royal Veterinary College and RCA. Results feed into national datasets curated alongside administrative sources like HM Revenue and Customs records, student records from the Student Loans Company, and historic surveys such as the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education collection.

Sampling and data collection employ a mix of contact methods coordinated with institutions such as University of Birmingham, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, University of Bristol and University of York. The approach uses administrative matching against databases maintained by NHS Digital and Department for Work and Pensions where lawful, supplemented by online questionnaires, telephone follow-up by commercial providers and postal reminders. Weighting and classification leverage standards and frameworks including the Standard Occupational Classification 2010, International Standard Classification of Education, and taxonomies used by Companies House and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Data security and governance reference regimes such as the Data Protection Act 2018 and interaction with bodies like the Information Commissioner's Office.

Outputs present sector-wide indicators for destination status (employed, studying, unemployed) and median salary metrics for cohorts from institutions such as University of St Andrews, Durham University, Newcastle University, Queen Mary University of London and Cardiff University. Analytic reports disaggregate by subject studied at faculties such as Faculty of Arts and Humanities, professional schools like Institute of Education, and units within institutions including Wolfson College, Oxford and Trinity College Dublin alumni comparisons. Researchers at think tanks and universities—National Institute of Economic and Social Research, London School of Economics, University of Warwick and University of Bath—use the data to model graduate progression, earnings returns and employment sectors such as those represented by Bankside Office Park, BBC, NHS England, Rolls-Royce Holdings and BP plc.

Policymakers in bodies such as Department for Education (United Kingdom), Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive draw on the survey for accountability, access and funding decisions affecting institutions like Open University and University of the Highlands and Islands. Institutional leaders at Goldsmiths, University of London, SOAS University of London, Royal Holloway, University of London and vocational providers use outputs for marketing, curriculum review, employability services and partnerships with employers including KPMG, Microsoft, Amazon (company), HSBC and Siemens. The survey informs league tables compiled by publishers such as The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Complete University Guide and agencies producing ranking products.

Critiques by academics from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and policy analysts at Institute for Fiscal Studies and Higher Education Policy Institute highlight issues with response bias, timing at six months post-qualification, and the treatment of self-employment and gig-economy roles such as those at Deliveroo, Uber (company) and freelancing platforms. Methodological concerns reference mismatches when linking to administrative registers such as Companies House and anonymisation debates involving the Information Commissioner's Office. Commentators in outlets like Times Higher Education and research forums including HEPI have argued the metrics can be over-interpreted in reputational comparisons between institutions such as University of Leicester and University of Hull.

Comparative studies set the survey alongside international instruments administered by OECD, national graduate surveys such as the Graduate Outcomes Belgium program, the Australian Graduate Survey, and alumni tracking exercises at institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley and University of Toronto. Cross-national harmonisation efforts reference frameworks such as the International Standard Classification of Occupations and collaborations with statistical agencies including Statistics Norway, Statistics Netherlands, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Australian Bureau of Statistics to align definitions for earnings, employment and study status.