Graduates' subjective wellbeing

HE Graduate Outcomes Data Graduates' subjective wellbeing

27 July 2021

Experimental statistics

On this page: Graduates' subjective wellbeing by graduate activities | subject area of degree | classification of first degree | sex | domicile

The impact of COVID-19 on 2018/19 Graduate Outcomes data

The 2018/19 Graduate Outcomes survey was sent to graduates who qualified from their higher education course between August 2018 and July 2019. Surveying commenced in December 2019 for the first of four cohorts. Shortly after surveying began for the second cohort, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This meant that many graduates were completing the survey at various points during the pandemic. The Graduate Outcomes quality report details further information about survey alterations due to the pandemic.

The quality of data used in this release is not thought to be adversely affected by the pandemic. Results and trends emerging from the data this year do however reflect the circumstances under which it was collected. In particular, small changes around the activities of graduates are apparent (including an increase in the proportion of graduates unemployed and a drop in those taking time out to travel). Further details about the analysis we have undertaken to explore the impact of the pandemic on the 2018/19 Graduate Outcomes dataset is provided in an insight briefing: The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Graduate Outcomes 2018/19

Accompanying this release is a suite of supporting information in the form of a user guide. This contains guidance on the history and background to the survey, survey methodology and the Graduate Outcomes quality report.

All tables and charts include a link underneath allowing you to download the data you see on screen, including filters. Many tables also include a link to download the complete source data as a machine-readable CSV file.

What is Subjective Wellbeing?

The Graduate Outcomes survey asks four questions that were developed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to measure people’s own assessment of their general wellbeing. The same questions are used by ONS and other survey organisations across many social surveys.

There are many factors that influence individuals’ state of wellbeing and data users are advised not to draw causal relationships between higher education experience and wellbeing approximately 15 months after HE course completion. Published statistics are aggregated to a high level to ensure that all responses remain anonymous.

See Definitions: Graduate Outcomes for information on the banding of responses in published charts.

Please see this blog post for more detailed discussion of subjective wellbeing in Graduate Outcomes: Asking graduates how they feel