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What 2012/13 graduates did next

HESA publication 'Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2012/13' released 

The publication, released on Thursday 24 July 2014, provides extensive coverage of the 2012/13 DLHE survey. The online introduction includes a variety of graphs and tables displaying the survey results.

Survey respondents are able to report all the activities they are engaged in six months after graduation, and to report which one was the most important to them.

The tree map below shows the most important activities of graduates from full-time first degree courses according to their own assessment. The area of each box indicates the relative proportion of leavers in that activity.

Most important activities of full-time first degree leavers 2012/13

Details

The table below shows the figures on which the graphic is based. The survey was changed in 2011/12 to capture more details of leavers activities. An equivalent table for 2011/12 leavers can be found in Press Release 194. When comparing the two press releases, the proportion of full-time first degree leavers in work has risen while the proportion unemployed and in further study has fallen.  

Most important activities of full-time first degree leavers 2012/13
Most important activity/detail No. of respondents % of total
Working 172640 70.7%
   On a permanent or open-ended contract 95720 39.2%
   On a fixed-term contract 44675 18.3%
   Self-employed/freelance 8180 3.4%
   Temping (including supply teaching) 6665 2.7%
   On an internship 5280 2.2%
   Voluntary work 3040 1.2%
   Starting up own business 1430 0.6%
   Developing a professional portfolio/creative practice 885 0.4%
   Other/unknown 6760 2.8%
Studying 41560 17.0%
   Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc) 20060 8.2%
   Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE) 9285 3.8%
   Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil) 4630 1.9%
   Professional qualification 3600 1.5%
   Other/Not aiming for formal qualification[6] 3985 1.6%
Unemployed 19060 7.8%
   Unemployed and looking for work 16315 6.7%
   Due to start a job in the next month 2745 1.1%
Other 10770 4.4%
   Taking time out in order to travel 6845 2.8%
   Something else 3925 1.6%
Total 244025  
Source: HESA DLHE record 2012/13. For previous year's figures see PR194

Destinations publication

Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2012/13 provides detailed information on the activities of students 6 months after leaving higher education. The 51 tables in the publication include activity and employment breakdowns by:

  • Institution
  • Level and mode of qualification
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Ethnicity
  • Class of first degree
  • Subject of study
  • Occupation
  • Industry
  • Location of employment
  • Salary.

Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2012/13 is available to purchase now

The free online introduction to the publication includes sector level tables and charts covering various aspects of the survey results.

More results of the 2012/13 DLHE survey can be found here.

Notes for Editors

  1. Press enquiries should be directed to:
    • Matt Clarke
    • HESA Press Office
    • 01242 211120
    • [email protected] 
    • 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ.
  2. In the above data 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Percentages are calculated on un-rounded numbers.
  3. Details about the HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, including the full survey questionnaire, can be found via this web page.
  4. The data tables above relate to all UK HE institutions. Figures for the individual nations of the UK are available below [EnglandWalesScotland,Northern Ireland].
  5. Definitions of the terms used in this press release can be found here.
  6. Other qualification aims include First degree (e.g. BA, BSc, MEng etc.), Other diploma or certificate, Other qualification, Not aiming for a formal qualification and unknowns.
  7. Equivalent data for leavers from 2011/12 can be found in Press Release 194
  8. HESA cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived from the data by third parties.

Ends

Annex - equivalent tables for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

England

Most important activities of full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in England 2012/13
Most important activity/detail No. of respondents % of total
Working 144450 71.0%
   On a permanent or open-ended contract 80790 39.7%
   On a fixed-term contract 35590 17.5%
   Self-employed/freelance 7170 3.5%
   Temping (including supply teaching) 5845 2.9%
   On an internship 4690 2.3%
   Voluntary work 2650 1.3%
   Starting up own business 1245 0.6%
   Developing a professional portfolio/creative practice 760 0.4%
   Other/unknown 5705 2.8%
Studying 33680 16.6%
   Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc) 16135 7.9%
   Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE) 7605 3.7%
   Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil) 3700 1.8%
   Professional qualification 3125 1.5%
   Other/Not aiming for formal qualification[6] 3115 1.5%
Unemployed 16215 8.0%
   Unemployed and looking for work 13905 6.8%
   Due to start a job in the next month 2310 1.1%
Other 9095 4.5%
   Taking time out in order to travel 5835 2.9%
   Something else 3260 1.6%
Total 203440  
Source: HESA DLHE record 2012/13. For previous year's figures see PR194

Wales

Most important activities of full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Wales 2012/13
Most important activity/detail No. of respondents % of total
Working 9350 67.9%
   On a permanent or open-ended contract 5080 36.9%
   On a fixed-term contract 2765 20.1%
   Self-employed/freelance 420 3.0%
   Temping (including supply teaching) 340 2.5%
   On an internship 135 1.0%
   Voluntary work 160 1.2%
   Starting up own business 65 0.5%
   Developing a professional portfolio/creative practice 50 0.4%
   Other/unknown 335 2.4%
Studying 2730 19.8%
   Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc) 1390 10.1%
   Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE) 670 4.9%
   Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil) 215 1.6%
   Professional qualification 185 1.4%
   Other/Not aiming for formal qualification[6] 265 1.9%
Unemployed 1040 7.5%
   Unemployed and looking for work 890 6.4%
   Due to start a job in the next month 150 1.1%
Other 655 4.8%
   Taking time out in order to travel 365 2.7%
   Something else 290 2.1%
Total 13770  
Source: HESA DLHE record 2012/13. For previous year's figures see PR194

Scotland

Most important activities of full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Scotland 2012/13
Most important activity/detail No. of respondents % of total
Working 14365 69.9%
   On a permanent or open-ended contract 7435 36.2%
   On a fixed-term contract 4790 23.3%
   Self-employed/freelance 505 2.5%
   Temping (including supply teaching) 320 1.6%
   On an internship 360 1.8%
   Voluntary work 180 0.9%
   Starting up own business 105 0.5%
   Developing a professional portfolio/creative practice 60 0.3%
   Other/unknown 610 3.0%
Studying 4095 19.9%
   Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc) 2040 9.9%
   Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE) 730 3.6%
   Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil) 560 2.7%
   Professional qualification 255 1.2%
   Other/Not aiming for formal qualification[6] 510 2.5%
Unemployed 1290 6.3%
   Unemployed and looking for work 1070 5.2%
   Due to start a job in the next month 220 1.1%
Other 805 3.9%
   Taking time out in order to travel 505 2.5%
   Something else 300 1.4%
Total 20555  
Source: HESA DLHE record 2012/13. For previous year's figures see PR194

Northern Ireland

Most important activities of full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Northern Ireland 2012/13
Most important activity/detail No. of respondents % of total
Working 4475 71.5%
   On a permanent or open-ended contract 2420 38.6%
   On a fixed-term contract 1535 24.5%
   Self-employed/freelance 80 1.3%
   Temping (including supply teaching) 160 2.6%
   On an internship 95 1.5%
   Voluntary work 50 0.8%
   Starting up own business 10 0.2%
   Developing a professional portfolio/creative practice 15 0.2%
   Other/unknown 110 1.8%
Studying 1055 16.9%
   Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc) 495 7.9%
   Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE) 280 4.5%
   Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil) 150 2.4%
   Professional qualification 35 0.6%
   Other/Not aiming for formal qualification[6] 100 1.6%
Unemployed 515 8.2%
   Unemployed and looking for work 445 7.1%
   Due to start a job in the next month 70 1.1%
Other 215 3.4%
   Taking time out in order to travel 140 2.2%
   Something else 75 1.2%
Total 6260  
Source: HESA DLHE record 2012/13. For previous year's figures see PR194
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