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Introduction - First Destinations 2001/02

This publication is one of four reference volumes from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), which present statistics about the publicly-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) of the United Kingdom (UK).

The statistics in this volume are derived from data collected from publicly-funded HEIs in the UK by HESA. The source data set contains information about the first destinations of students who obtained higher education (HE) qualifications during the 2001/02 academic year and who had studied for these primarily full-time. Notes on Tables and Definitions sections are included at the back of this volume.

The figures throughout the volume exclude students whose domicile is non-EU overseas, those obtaining higher education qualifications from further education (FE) colleges and those who studied with private and independent HE providers.

The other reference volumes published by HESA are:

Students in Higher Education Institutions - which contains statistical data about all aspects of students in HEIs, including their examination results. Tabulations also cover subjects of study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This publication is aimed at those seriously interested in finding out about issues concerning students in HE.

Resources of Higher Education Institutions - which draws on HESA’s collection of data about finance and staff of HEIs. Tabulations are included which record and analyse the income and expenditure of universities and colleges (with data shown at institution level) and also about the characteristics of academic staff.

Higher Education Statistics for the United Kingdom - which is published in conjunction with National Statistics and which presents an overview of HE from a statistical perspective, including statistics about applications, participation, institutional finance, staffing, student awards and loans.

The Agency also makes available a number of other related products. More information about HESA’s other publications is set out at the end of this volume.

While HESA publishes extensively from the data it collects, it is recognised that specific requirements by some interested parties may not be addressed. Therefore, the Agency undertakes to provide a service to answer enquiries about the data collected, for which a charge will normally be levied.

Due to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998, HESA now implements a strategy designed to prevent the disclosure of personal information about any individual. These tabulations are derived from the HESA non-statutory populations and may differ slightly from those published by related statutory bodies. This strategy involves rounding all numbers to the nearest 5. A summary of this strategy is as follows:

  1. 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0
  2. 2. All other numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.

So for example 3 is represented as 5, 22 is represented as 20, 3286 is represented as 3285 while 0, 20, 55, 3510 remain unchanged.

Total figures are also subject to this rounding methodology; the consequence of which is that the sum of numbers in each row or column will rarely match the total shown precisely. Average values, proportions and FTE values prepared by HESA are not subject to the above strategy, and will be calculated on precise raw numbers. However, percentages calculated on populations which contain less than 50 individuals will be suppressed and represented as '..' as will averages based on populations of 7 or less. Further details are included in the Definitions.

First Destinations of Students Leaving Higher Education Institutions 2001/02

Information has been obtained from 243,910 qualifiers out of a possible 308,390 a response rate of 79%: this is equal to that recorded last year. From 1999/2000 onwards a single fixed reference date (3 January) was adopted and the period over which data are collected and also the mechanisms used for its collection were restricted. Information about first destinations has been linked to information already held by HESA about students and their studies to enable the analyses set out in this volume to be generated.

This section analyses some of the data contained in the main tables of the volume and presents summary statistics and selected key points.

Key points

  • Of the 243,910 former HE students whose destination was known, 67% (164,550) reported their first destination as employment compared to 68% last year.
  • 6% of qualifiers in 2001/02 were assumed to be unemployed. This is a 1% rise from the previous year when data showed an unemployment rate of 5%.
  • 19% of UK domiciled first degree graduates were reported to be studying or training. Of these 58% were female and 42% male. When looking at postgraduates 7% continue on to further study or training and the gender difference is slightly less pronounced with 47% being female and 53% male.
  • UK domiciled first degree qualifiers in medicine & dentistry at 91% and education at 87% were most likely to have entered UK employment. Qualifiers in law, at 33%, were least likely to have entered UK employment although they were most likely to continue study or training (56%).
  • 12% of UK domiciled males with other undergraduate qualifications entered occupations classified as managers & administrators compared with 4% of females with these qualifications.
  • At postgraduate level the figures for those qualifiers of UK domicile in employment are dominated by those working in the education sector (accounting for 17,880 of the 28,635 in employment) and of which 97% was within the professional occupations category.
  • Among those with other undergraduate qualifications, 68% were working in the health & social work sector of whom 94% held associate professional & technical posts.
  • 83% of UK domiciled qualifiers in employment were in paid full-time UK employment. Of these 70% were employed on contracts terminating after 30 September 2003 or not fixed term.
  • UK domiciled female first degree qualifiers formed the largest single group who went on to further study or training; they were most likely (49%) to study postgraduate diploma and certificate courses, including Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses, or undertake professional training.

All HE students by level and mode 2001/02

Chart 1 and Table A detail the activities of all students for whom HESA has received first destination information. Some 67% of respondents indicated that employment (including self-employment) was their main activity, 20% were studying or undertaking training and 6% were assumed to be unemployed.

Table A - All Qualifiers by First Destination, Level of Qualification, Domicile and Gender 2001/02
      Employment in the UK Employment overseas Undertaking study or training Not available for employment, study or training Assumed to be unemployed Others(1) Total
Postgraduate
  Home              
    Female 17400 460 1085 580 490 110 20125
    Male 10235 540 1235 305 585 90 12990
  Other EU              
    Female 655 1005 450 70 95 280 2555
    Male 460 965 480 335 95 250 2585
First degree
  Home              
    Female 66550 2150 19115 6070 5165 1020 100065
    Male 47625 1725 13890 4970 6945 1170 76325
  Other EU              
    Female 775 600 1615 155 160 430 3735
    Male 455 445 1765 160 160 440 3435
Other undergraduate
  Home              
    Female 9025 60 3785 370 225 65 13530
    Male 3070 45 4185 160 370 75 7910
  Other EU              
    Female 180 60 125 10 10 40 425
    Male 30 25 135 10 10 30 240
Total   156465 8080 47865 13190 14310 4000 243910
(1) Includes Other EU students leaving UK.

After obtaining an HE qualification, females were more likely to obtain employment than males, particularly at the other undergraduate level where 67% of home domiciled females were working in the UK compared with 39% of home domiciled males. When looking at students domiciled from other EU countries, 20% stay to work in the UK. Examining this by level of qualification shows that 22% of other EU domiciled postgraduates, 17% of first degree qualifiers and 32% of other undergraduate leavers gain employment in the UK.

Other EU students entering employment are generally more likely to have found employment outside the UK, particularly those with postgraduate qualifications although 4% (540) of UK domiciled male postgraduates in the survey were also working abroad.

Turning to unemployment, the highest rates were among UK domiciled first degree graduates. The lowest unemployment rate (for UK domiciled students) was for females with other undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications which stood at 2%.

A continuation of study or training was the most likely activity for UK domiciled males with undergraduate qualifications other than first degrees. 53% of such males (and 28% of females with the same background) were so identified. Around a fifth of first degree graduates were continuing their studies or training while postgraduates, particularly UK domiciled females (5%), were least likely to do so.

The remainder of this summary concentrates exclusively on UK domiciled qualifiers.

Table B - First Destination of UK Domiciled Qualifiers by Level of Qualification, Gender and Age Group 2001/02
      Employment in the UK Employment overseas Undertaking study or training Not available for employment, study or training Assumed to be unemployed Others(1) Total
Postgraduate
  Female              
    Under 25 years 7475 135 500 185 165 35 8500
    25 years & over 9920 325 585 395 325 75 11625
  Male              
    Under 25 years 3415 125 590 115 210 35 4485
    25 years & over 6810 415 645 190 375 55 8495
First degrees
  Female              
    Under 25 years 56720 2050 16685 5165 4190 825 85635
    25 years & over 9825 100 2430 900 975 195 14420
  Male              
    Under 25 years 41980 1615 12235 4520 5880 980 67210
    25 years & over 5640 110 1655 445 1065 190 9105
Other undergraduate
  Female              
    Under 25 years 3915 40 2930 190 125 40 7240
    25 years & over 5105 20 850 180 100 30 6285
  Male              
    Under 25 years 1765 30 3530 105 265 60 5750
    25 years & over 1305 15 650 55 110 15 2155
Total(1)   153905 4980 43290 12455 13780 2530 230940
(1) Unknown age included in total only.

At postgraduate level, females in the younger age group are slightly more likely to be in UK employment than older female qualifiers (88% and 85% respectively); the reverse is true for males (76% and 80%). At first degree level younger qualifiers are just as likely to be employed than those aged 25 & over, irrespective of gender. The largest age related discrepancy occurs for those with other undergraduate qualifications, where older qualifiers are around one and a half times more likely to be in employment than those aged under 25.

Less than 1% of UK domiciled HE qualifiers at other undergraduate level were working abroad, however, 2% of first degree graduates aged under 25 were. Older first degree qualifiers were less likely (1%) to be employed abroad. Among postgraduate qualifiers some 5% of males and 3% of females aged 25 & over were working overseas compared with 2% of females and 3% of males in the younger age group.

Further study or training was most likely to be undertaken by other undergraduate qualifiers, particularly males aged under 25 (61%). Of the qualifiers at this level, females aged 25 & over were least likely (14%) to continue their studies. For first degree graduates, in the under 25 age group 19% of females and 18% of males were reported as studying or training. Among postgraduates, males aged under 25 were more likely (13%) to continue in education than males 25 & over (8%), females under 25 (6%) and females 25 & over (5%).

As an outcome, for those obtaining a first degree, unemployment was most likely for male and female graduates aged 25 & over (12% and 7% respectively) and males aged under 25 (9%). The lowest unemployment rate (2% for both age categories) was experienced by females who achieved undergraduate qualifications other than first degrees.

Table C - UK Domiciled Qualifiers by First Destination, Level of Qualification and Subject Area 2001/02
    Employment in the UK Employment overseas Undertaking study or training Not available for employment, study or training Assumed to be unemployed Others(1) Total
Postgraduate
  Medicine & dentistry 400 40 80 15 5 0 540
  Subjects allied to medicine 420 40 105 15 15 5 600
  Biological sciences 1125 130 245 50 40 5 1595
  Veterinary science 25 0 5 0 0 0 35
  Agriculture & related subjects 180 15 20 10 5 0 230
  Physical sciences 1090 115 200 30 60 5 1505
  Mathematical sciences 220 15 50 5 15 5 310
  Computer science 1220 35 130 35 115 20 1560
  Engineering & technology 1085 100 140 35 75 10 1440
  Architecture, building & planning 260 5 20 15 15 5 320
  Social, economic & political studies 1455 110 260 75 60 10 1970
  Law 240 20 115 15 30 5 425
  Business & administrative studies 1525 90 85 80 145 25 1940
  Librarianship & information science 435 15 25 25 30 10 535
  Languages 500 60 225 35 35 5 860
  Humanities 520 30 290 50 50 15 955
  Creative arts & design 730 25 110 50 80 35 1030
  Education 15935 140 140 325 270 35 16845
  Combined 265 15 75 20 35 5 410
First degree
  Medicine & dentistry 4370 10 375 20 5 5 4785
  Subjects allied to medicine 9965 100 1425 425 285 45 12240
  Biological sciences 7775 265 3640 1015 845 130 13675
  Veterinary science 360 15 80 10 15 5 485
  Agriculture & related subjects 1165 50 185 125 120 20 1670
  Physical sciences 4780 210 3005 675 705 105 9485
  Mathematical sciences 1700 75 895 215 270 25 3180
  Computer science 5780 95 1050 450 1290 195 8855
  Engineering & technology 6995 215 1515 670 1060 150 10605
  Architecture, building & planning 2375 75 555 160 150 30 3350
  Social, economic & political studies 9705 365 2740 1265 1070 175 15320
  Law 2155 95 3670 405 250 40 6610
  Business & administrative studies 15055 400 1605 1550 1320 195 20120
  Librarianship & information science 2660 50 370 235 340 60 3715
  Languages 5945 760 2995 855 780 130 11465
  Humanities 3845 180 2220 555 565 100 7460
  Creative arts & design 10720 255 2395 935 1510 555 16370
  Education 8465 105 605 260 240 30 9710
  Combined 10355 555 3670 1225 1285 195 17285
Other undergraduate
  Medicine & dentistry 10 0 0 0 0 0 10
  Subjects allied to medicine 7860 45 515 145 75 20 8665
  Biological sciences 125 5 285 20 15 0 450
  Veterinary science 5 0 5 0 0 0 10
  Agriculture & related subjects 315 10 390 15 35 0 770
  Physical sciences 45 0 135 5 5 0 190
  Mathematical sciences 15 0 40 0 0 0 60
  Computer science 555 10 1530 40 150 20 2310
  Engineering & technology 370 5 530 30 55 20 1015
  Architecture, building & planning 105 0 110 5 5 0 225
  Social, economic & political studies 715 0 390 35 20 0 1160
  Law 45 0 80 5 5 0 135
  Business & administrative studies 835 15 2240 80 75 15 3260
  Librarianship & information science 120 0 195 15 20 10 350
  Languages 30 0 55 5 5 0 95
  Humanities 15 0 10 5 5 0 35
  Creative arts & design 580 5 810 85 100 40 1615
  Education 205 5 345 20 10 5 585
  Combined 140 5 305 25 20 5 500
Total 153905 4980 43290 12455 13780 2530 230940

Table C relates first destination to subject area studied. At postgraduate level the overall percentage of qualifiers in UK employment was 83%. Those who studied education make up 58% of all postgraduate qualifiers in UK employment and, with 95% in UK employment, they are more likely to be working than other postgraduates. The proportion of postgraduate qualifiers in UK employment otherwise ranges from 54% of those who studied humanities to 82% of those who studied architecture, building & planning. Similarly, since only 1% of those with an education qualification at this level undertake further study or training, the average of 7% for all postgraduates masks the fact that some 13% of other postgraduates continued their studies or training. 30% of those who obtained a humanities qualification, 27% of those who gained a law qualification and 26% of those who gained a languages qualification entered further study or training compared with 4.5% of qualifiers in librarianship & information science and 4.3% of qualifiers in business & administrative studies.

Among those with first degrees there was considerable variation in the proportion of those in employment; qualifiers in medicine & dentistry (91%) and education (87%) were most likely and qualifiers in law (33%) least likely to be working in the UK. At 7%, qualifiers in languages were almost twice as likely to be working abroad as qualifiers in any other subject area. As a counterpart to the proportions in employment at this level, those who were least likely to continue to study or train were those who studied librarianship & information science (10%), medicine & dentistry (8%), business & administrative studies (8%) or education (6%).

By far the most likely to continue study or training were former law students (56%) but 32% of those who qualified in physical sciences and 30% of humanities qualifiers also continued studying or were undertaking training. Unemployment rates at this level varied from 15% of qualifiers in computer science, 10% of qualifiers in engineering & technology to 0.1% of medicine & dentistry qualifiers.

Among the remaining undergraduate qualifiers (except for medicine & dentistry qualifiers who have a very small population), those who studied subjects allied to medicine stand out as having by far the highest proportion of their number in UK employment (91%). At the other end of the scale, those least likely to be employed, former physical sciences, computer science and business & administrative studies students, (23%, 24% and 26% respectively) were also the most likely to be continuing to study or train along with mathematical sciences at around 70% in each case. Former students of humanities (14%) have the highest unemployment rate.

These subject differences are influenced by the training structures of many professions. Since the number of medicine & dentistry students is strictly controlled and planned centrally to meet national manpower requirements, it is not surprising that very few of those qualifying in medicine & dentistry are unemployed. Some qualifications at both undergraduate (B.Ed., etc.) and postgraduate (PGCE) level in education lead directly to professional accreditation so qualifiers do not need to undertake further study. Similarly, many of the undergraduate qualifications in the subjects allied to medicine group lead directly to professional accreditation (nursing for example). Qualifiers in law, however, need to continue professional training after graduation for entry to the profession.

Table D relates to those in employment, the level of qualification to the type of occupation they entered (Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)).

Table D - UK Domiciled Qualifiers Entering Employment by Level of Qualification, Gender and Standard Occupational Classification 2001/02
    Managers & administrators Professional occupations Associate professional & technical occupations Clerical & secretarial occupations Craft & related occupations Personal & protective service occupations Sales occupations Plant & machine operatives Other occupations Unknown Total
Doctorate degrees
  Female 60 1110 185 20 0 5 5 0 0 15 1410
  Male 80 1365 200 10 5 5 5 0 0 35 1700
Other PG degrees
  Female 840 1930 1250 400 20 105 95 5 15 125 4780
  Male 1050 1845 1135 320 45 95 115 20 30 145 4800
PGCE
  Female 50 11425 65 50 0 35 20 15 5 5 11670
  Male 25 4155 35 15 5 15 10 5 5 10 4275
First degrees
  Female 10650 17260 14960 13035 275 4790 6085 195 770 685 68700
  Male 8190 12725 9945 7405 940 2785 4385 590 1520 870 49350
Other undergraduates
  Female 380 535 7130 365 30 275 260 15 50 40 9085
  Male 370 270 1380 255 135 160 285 55 125 70 3115
Total   21695 52625 36285 21865 1460 8270 11270 895 2520 1995 158885

At first degree level there is a fairly close parity between the proportions of males and females who entered the different occupation classifications although some 19% of females entered clerical & secretarial positions compared with only 15% of males. At this level there were also significant proportions entering personal & protective services and sales occupations which, together, accounted for 16% of females and 15% of males.

For those with undergraduate qualifications other than first degrees, there was generally greater diversity in the broad types of occupations entered by males and females than at the other levels although there was a concentration in the associate professional & technical grouping (79% of females and 45% of males).

Table E - UK Domiciled Qualifiers Entering Employment by Level of Qualification, Standard Industrial Classification and Standard Occupational Qualification 2001/02
    Managers & administrators Professional occupations Associate professional & technical occupations Clerical & secretarial occupations Craft & related occupations Personal & protective service occupations Sales occupations Plant & machine operatives Other occupations       Unknown       Total
Postgraduate
  Agriculture & forestry 10 25 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50
  Fishing 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
  Mining & quarrying 10 85 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 110
  Manufacturing 225 490 280 30 20 0 40 10 5 20 1130
  Electricity, gas & water supply 35 55 25 10 0 0 5 0 0 0 130
  Construction 35 55 15 5 10 0 0 0 0 5 125
  Wholesale & retail trade/Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles & personal & household goods 140 30 40 35 10 5 145 5 5 15 420
  Hotels & restaurants 35 5 0 5 0 35 5 0 5 0 95
  Transport, storage & communication 95 75 55 35 0 5 10 10 10 15 310
  Financial activities 180 115 255 105 5 0 10 0 0 10 680
  Property development, renting, business & research activities 385 1670 775 175 10 15 30 5 5 95 3160
  Public administration & defence/Social security 510 895 320 175 5 80 0 0 0 30 2020
  Education 110 17270 310 75 10 60 0 10 5 35 17880
  Health & social work 175 790 390 55 0 30 0 0 5 35 1485
  Other community, social & personal service activities 125 230 350 80 5 20 5 0 5 70 885
  Private households with employed persons 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
  International organisations & bodies 25 10 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 65
  Not known 15 30 15 10 0 5 5 0 0 0 75
Total   2105 21835 2875 805 80 260 255 40 55 330 28635
First degree
  Agriculture & forestry 175 50 55 45 50 5 20 5 185 20 600
  Fishing 5 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 20
  Mining & quarrying 60 230 65 45 0 0 10 10 5 0 435
  Manufacturing 1740 2300 2235 1170 275 35 670 325 160 150 9055
  Electricity, gas & water supply 235 175 125 400 10 0 70 10 10 20 1050
  Construction 375 540 310 205 190 0 35 20 225 40 1945
  Wholesale & retail trade/Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles & personal & household goods 3355 1045 640 1635 155 120 7560 135 330 110 15080
  Hotels & restaurants 1310 35 85 395 5 2645 105 5 210 40 4835
  Transport, storage & communication 1045 310 380 1510 40 350 370 120 350 55 4525
  Financial activities 1735 590 1765 3715 15 5 430 0 75 110 8440
  Property development, renting, business & research activities 3845 5660 4775 4790 180 275 740 115 215 370 20965
  Public administration & defence/Social security 1875 1630 1780 2885 35 850 30 5 60 95 9240
  Education 635 9550 995 890 65 1505 20 10 50 75 13795
  Health & social work 870 6970 8320 1270 25 1060 60 10 90 85 18755
  Other community, social & personal service activities 1445 780 3235 1295 140 635 320 15 270 370 8505
  Private households with employed persons 0 5 10 5 20 65 0 0 5 5 115
  International organisations & bodies 15 30 30 20 0 10 0 0 0 0 110
  Not known 120 70 100 175 10 15 30 5 50 5 580
Total   18835 29980 24905 20440 1215 7575 10470 785 2290 1555 118050
Other undergraduate
  Agriculture & forestry 50 5 10 5 15 0 5 0 50 10 150
  Fishing 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Mining & quarrying 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
  Manufacturing 45 45 100 30 40 5 20 30 10 10 325
  Electricity, gas & water supply 10 5 0 15 5 0 5 0 0 5 45
  Construction 15 10 20 10 20 0 0 0 15 5 95
  Wholesale & retail trade/Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles & personal & household goods 150 10 25 65 20 10 425 10 35 10 760
  Hotels & restaurants 105 0 5 35 0 130 15 0 10 5 305
  Transport, storage & communication 40 10 45 50 5 15 20 15 15 5 220
  Financial activities 50 5 40 115 0 0 15 0 0 5 230
  Property development, renting, business & research activities 80 65 160 105 20 10 25 5 10 20 495
  Public administration & defence/Social security 65 225 135 85 10 45 0 0 5 5 575
  Education 25 85 45 25 10 55 0 0 0 0 245
  Health & social work 50 310 7770 35 0 100 5 0 5 5 8285
  Other community, social & personal service activities 60 30 130 35 20 50 15 0 15 40 395
  Private households with employed persons 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 15
  International organisations & bodies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
  Not known 5 0 25 10 0 0 5 0 0 0 55
Total   755 805 8510 620 165 435 545 70 175 115 12200
Total - All students 21695 52625 36285 21865 1460 8270 11270 895 2520 1995 158885

Table E maps qualifiers’ occupations by both the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) (the business sector of the organisation) and the SOC. At postgraduate level the figures are dominated by the education sector, which accounts for 17,880 of the 28,635 total; almost all (97%) of which were in the professional occupations classification. The next largest category, which is predominated by those from the business and computing subject areas, is property development, renting, business & research activities and employed 3,160 qualifiers, 54% of whom were in the professional occupations classification. Similar proportions of those employed in the manufacturing (44%), public administration & defence/social security (45%) and health & social work (54%) sectors, which are the other major employers of postgraduates, are classified as professional occupations.

At first degree level, the property development, renting, business & research activities sector employed the largest number of graduates (20,965 or 18% of the total) but with a wider spread of occupations represented, 27% professional, 23% associate professional & technical, 23% clerical & secretarial occupations and 19% managerial & administrative. At 70%, education again employed the highest proportion in professional occupations, followed by mining & quarrying (54%). Health & social work along with other community, social & personal service activities employed the highest proportions in associate professional & technical posts (45% and 40% respectively). Graduate employment in manufacturing, agriculture & forestry and transport, storage & communication was more broadly spread across the occupational classifications. Two sectors, electricity, gas & water supply and financial activities stand out as employing the largest proportions of their first degree graduate employees in clerical & secretarial posts, at 39% and 45% respectively.

Among those with other undergraduate qualifications, 69% were working in the health & social work sector of whom 94% held associate professional & technical posts. Other features of the industry/occupation matrix at this level are; 52% of those working in the financial activities sector had clerical or secretarial occupations, 35% of those working in hotels & restaurants held managerial or administrative posts and 57% of those working in wholesale & retail trade were in sales occupations.

Table F - All UK Domiciled Qualifiers Entering Employment by Level of Qualification, Gender, Employment Category, Mode of Employment and Duration of Employment 2001/02
          Employment in the UK    
          Paid employment                
    Full-time   Part-time            
    Terminates in the period up to 31 March 2003 Terminates between 1 April & 30 Sept 2003 Terminates after 30 Sept 2003/ Not fixed term Not known   Terminates in the period up to 31 March 2003 Terminates between 1 April & 30 Sept 2003 Terminates after 30 Sept 2003/ Not fixed term Not known   Self-employed Unpaid employment   Employment overseas Total Employed(1)
Postgraduate                    
  Female 430 2760 10620 1500   110 320 665 205   250 50   460 17860
  Male 270 1140 6655 960   50 105 265 85   295 30   540 10775
First degree                    
  Female 4395 7870 38160 5835   685 805 4980 1350   1040 680   2150 68700
  Male 3375 4525 28080 4335   380 360 3145 855   1475 425   1725 49350
Other undergraduate                    
  Female 160 245 6670 740   40 55 745 120   75 25   60 9085
  Male 100 95 2040 305   15 15 245 75   110 20   45 3115
Total 8730 16630 92225 13675   1285 1665 10050 2690   3240 1230   4980 158885
(1) Includes all unknowns.

Table F analyses employment primarily by duration of contract and mode of employment. Some 58% of those who were employed were in UK full-time paid work and were on contracts that terminated after 30 September 2003 or were not fixed term; for those with other undergraduate qualifications this figure rose to 73% for females and 66% for males. At both first degree and postgraduate levels, females working full-time were slightly more likely to be employed on contracts that terminate between 1 April 2003 & 30 September 2003 than males. Females with qualifications at all levels were also more likely to work part-time (and on contracts that terminate after 30 September 2003 or are not fixed term) than men, while males with undergraduate qualifications were more likely to be self-employed than females.

Table G - UK Domiciled Qualifiers Entering Further Study or Training by Level of Qualification, Gender and Type of Study 2001/02
    Higher degree (research) Higher degree (taught) Dip/Cert/ PGCE/prof. training course First degree Private study Other study or training Total
Doctorate degrees
  Female 15 5 15 5 0 10 55
  Male 40 10 25 0 5 30 105
Other PG degrees
  Female 620 80 200 20 10 25 960
  Male 770 95 170 10 15 25 1085
PGCE
  Female 15 25 15 5 0 5 70
  Male 10 30 10 0 0 0 50
First degrees
  Female 1750 6285 9405 850 140 690 19115
  Male 2495 5870 4150 760 140 480 13890
Other undergraduate
  Female 5 110 180 3360 10 120 3785
  Male 10 120 115 3815 10 115 4185
Total 5725 12635 14280 8830 325 1495 43290

Table G takes a closer look at qualifiers going on to further study or training. Three quarters of these are first degree qualifiers of whom 58% are female. These females form the largest single group going on to further study or training (19,115) and were most likely to study postgraduate diploma and certificate courses, including PGCE courses or undertake professional training (49%). Male first degree qualifiers were slightly more likely than females to study for higher degrees.

90% of the 7,970 qualifiers with other undergraduate qualifications who went on to further study or training were studying for first degrees. As might be expected, postgraduate qualifiers formed a relatively small proportion of those continuing with further study or training (2,320 or 7%).