International day of happiness: Career satisfaction
3.5 years after graduation in the winter of 2012/13, the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Longitudinal survey contacted a cohort of students who completed a higher education course at a UK HE provider in 2008/09. One of the questions in the survey asked leavers 'how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your career to date?' Here is what the respondents had to say...
| Career satisfaction to date, HESA Longitudinal survey 2008/09 cohort | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Satisfied | 83.5% | |||
| % Not satisfied | 15.5% | |||
| % Don't know | 1.0% | |||
| % Total | 100.0% | |||
Subjects
The majority of subjects had 80% or more leavers who were satisfied with their career to date. Leavers who had studied Medicine & dentistry had the highest career satisfaction over any other subject.
| Career satisfaction to date, HESA Longitudinal survey 2008/09 cohort | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | % Satisfied | % Not satisfied | % Don't know | % Total |
| Medicine & dentistry | 94.0% | 5.6% | 0.4% | 100.0% |
| Subjects allied to medicine | 90.3% | 8.9% | 0.8% | 100.0% |
| Biological sciences | 81.1% | 17.8% | 1.1% | 100.0% |
| Veterinary science | 88.8% | 10.1% | 1.0% | 100.0% |
| Agriculture & related subjects | 85.0% | 13.5% | 1.5% | 100.0% |
| Physical sciences | 81.6% | 17.3% | 1.0% | 100.0% |
| Mathematical sciences | 86.9% | 12.4% | 0.7% | 100.0% |
| Computer science | 80.8% | 18.4% | 0.8% | 100.0% |
| Engineering & technology | 87.5% | 11.8% | 0.8% | 100.0% |
| Architecture, building & planning | 82.5% | 15.9% | 1.6% | 100.0% |
| Social studies | 83.4% | 15.7% | 1.0% | 100.0% |
| Law | 81.0% | 18.4% | 0.6% | 100.0% |
| Business & administrative studies | 83.5% | 15.6% | 0.8% | 100.0% |
| Mass communications & documentation | 72.7% | 25.9% | 1.4% | 100.0% |
| Languages | 80.0% | 19.0% | 1.0% | 100.0% |
| Historical & philosophical studies | 76.5% | 22.1% | 1.4% | 100.0% |
| Creative arts & design | 76.5% | 22.5% | 1.0% | 100.0% |
| Education | 88.6% | 10.3% | 1.1% | 100.0% |
| Combined | 82.2% | 16.7% | 1.1% | 100.0% |
Level of qualification
Leavers with a postgraduate qualification were more satisfied with their career to date than leavers with an undergraduate qualification.
| Career satisfaction to date, HESA Longitudinal survey 2008/09 cohort | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualification obtained | % Satisfied | % Not satisfied | % Don't know | % Total |
| Undergraduate | 82.3% | 16.8% | 1.0% | 100.0% |
| Postgraduate | 88.1% | 10.9% | 1.0% | 100.0% |
The DLHE Longitudinal survey for the 2010/11 cohort of leavers has taken place over the winter of 2014/15. The findings will be released in August 2015.
DLHE Longitudinal Survey 2008/09 Introduction
Definitions for Student statistics
Definitions for DLHE Longitudinal statistics
