First destinations of higher education students in the United Kingdom for the academic year 1999/2000

Introduction

This Statistical First Release (SFR) has been produced by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), in collaboration with Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) statisticians. It provides details of the first destinations of students obtaining higher education (HE) qualifications in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the whole of the United Kingdom (UK) during the academic year 1999/00. In addition, summary data for previous academic years from 1994/95 onwards are included for comparative purposes.

Key Points

Of the 231,000 former higher education students whose destination was known, 69% (159,000) reported their first destination as employment in 1999/00, the same as in the previous year. A further 20% (47,300) were continuing their education or training in 1999/00, the same as in 1998/99. In addition, 5% (10,900) were assumed to be unemployed in 1999/00, the same as in 1998/99.

In 1999/00, of the 177,300 first degree graduates whose destination was known, 119,500 (67%) reported their first destination as employment, 36,300 (20%) were continuing their education or training and 9,500 (5%) were assumed to be unemployed.

The percentage of students (of known destination) assumed to be unemployed among former postgraduates was 3% in 1999/00, the same as in 1998/99. For those who obtained undergraduate diplomas and certificates, the percentage in 1999/00 was 3%, the same as in 1998/99.

In 1999/00, 6% of males whose destinations were known were assumed to be unemployed compared to 4% of females, the same as in 1998/99.

Of those whose destination was known, 64% (113,500) of first degree graduates found employment in the UK in 1999/00, the same as in 1998/99.

Tables

Table 1a shows, for 1998/99 - 1999/00, the first destinations of full-time Home and EU domicile students obtaining HE qualifications at UK HEIs by level of qualification obtained. Table 1a also provides figures by gender for 1999/00.

Table 1b shows, for 1994/95 - 1998/99, the first destinations of all full-time students obtaining HE qualifications at UK HEIs by level of qualification obtained.

Unlike the previous First Destination SFR (41) published on Tuesday 27 June 2000, this SFR does not contain a Table 2 breakdown by Standard Industrial Classification and Standard Occupational Classification of the first destinations of full-time first degree graduates of UK HEIs entering employment in the UK.

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Notes to editors

1. The statistics in this SFR are derived from data collected by HESA from publicly-funded higher education institutions in the UK. The statistics therefore include first destinations of students awarded HE qualifications at UK HEIs but exclude those relating to qualifications obtained at FE colleges, the University of Buckingham and at private and independent HE colleges.
2. For 1994/95, the First Destination return included all those students obtaining relevant qualifications during the 10 month period 1 October 1994 to 31 July 1995. For subsequent years, the First Destination return includes all those students obtaining relevant qualifications reported to HESA for the reporting period 1 August to 31 July. Care should therefore be taken when making comparisons between data for 1994/95 and subsequent years
3. The number of qualifications awarded in 1996/97, as reported in PR20 and published on Friday 06 February 1998, was adjusted to include under-reporting by four institutions. Corresponding adjustments are not included in the First Destination analyses presented in this SFR due to the nature of the First Destination return. In particular, the figures published in this SFR and in PR20 for the total number of First Degree awards made in 1996/97 will not be identical.
4. The number of qualifications awarded in 1997/98, as reported in PR28 and published on Tuesday 02 February 1999, includes some adjustment to take account of under-reporting of qualifiers by one institution. Corresponding adjustments are not included in the First Destination analyses presented in this SFR due to the nature of the First Destination return. In particular, the figures published in this SFR and in PR28 for the total number of Postgraduate awards made in 1997/98 will not be identical.
5. For the 2000 and subsequent data collections the HESA First Destination Target Population excludes non-EU overseas domiciled students.

6. A statistical reference volume ‘First Destinations of Students Leaving Higher Education Institutions 1999/00’ setting out more information about the first destinations of students qualifying at HEIs in the UK will be published by HESA in July 2001.

   With reference to Notes to Editors 7, 8 and 9 below, figures published in this SFR might differ from those published elsewhere.

7. A change in classification of the data for some overseas students has reduced the percentage of qualifiers for whom destinations are known in both Tables 1a and 1b.

   To enable year-on-year comparison, in Table 1a the 1999 figures shown have been re-based to exclude Other Overseas domiciled students (see note 5 above).

   The 1999 figures shown in Table 1a will therefore differ from those in the previous First Destination SFR (41).

   In calculation of the number based on known destination, the category ‘overseas graduates returning overseas (no other information available)’ has been treated as unknown destination.

8. Some changes were made to the first destination collection methodology in the 1999/00 year to allow the data to be used for production of a performance indicator (PI). A single fixed reference date was adopted, the period over which data were collected and also the mechanisms used for its collection were restricted. In parallel with the 1999/00 collection a small pilot was carried out to test an alternative collection methodology. Together, it is thought that these changes may have contributed to the slight reduction in overall response rate seen in 1999/00 when compared with 1998/99 (see note 11 below).

9. The population base of this SFR differs from that of the PI to be published by HEFCE, in that the PI is UK domicile, full-time first degree only and excludes the pilot sample.

   The figures published in this SFR are therefore different from those that will be published in connection with the PI.

Definitions

1. HE students are those students on programmes of study that are of a standard that is higher than the Advanced Level of the General Certificate of Education, the Higher Grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education, or the BTEC or SCOTVEC National Certificate/Diploma.
2. The HESA First Destination Target Population contains all HE students for whom first destination data was sought. 77.0% of students for whom first destination information was sought had data returned to HESA by institutions (79.5% in 1998/99). The percentage of data returned for HE students for whom destinations are known, but excluding overseas qualifiers returning overseas for whom no other information is available, is 76.3% (80.5% in 1998/99) (see note 7 above). The HESA First Destination Target Population includes all students obtaining relevant qualifications (see note 13 below) during the reporting period whose study was primarily full-time (see note 15 below).
3. The reference date of this First Destination return was 3 January (see note 8 above).

4. Relevant qualifications for the First Destination return include postgraduate degrees, Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCE), first degrees (including intercalated first degrees in 1994/95 only), Diplomas of Higher Education, Certificates of Higher Education, Higher National Diplomas or Higher National Certificates.

   The First Destination survey does not cover students who have gained a number of other qualifications, examples of which include; postgraduate diplomas and certificates (other than PGCE), professional qualifications (for example; associate membership or membership of a body such as the Institute of Bankers), and undergraduate diplomas and certificates (other than HND, DipHE, HNC and CertHE).

5. Level of Qualification Obtained.

   Doctorate degrees and PGCEs have been tabulated separately; masters degrees and higher bachelors degrees have been combined to form the category “Other Postgraduate Degrees”.

   First degrees include first degrees, first degree with eligibility to register to practice (doctor/dentist/veterinary surgeon), first degrees with qualified teacher status, enhanced first degrees and first degrees obtained concurrently with a diploma. For 1994/95 only, intercalated first degrees were also included in the first degree category.

   Undergraduate diplomas and certificates include all higher education qualifications not included above which are within the scope of the return.

6. Full-time (for the purposes of the First Destination return) includes full-time and sandwich modes plus those students writing up theses (from 1998/99 only those writing up who had previously studied full-time).

7. Table 1a includes students who are normally resident in the United Kingdom, including those living in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (Home), and those students who are normally resident in countries which were European Union (EU) members, or in their designated territories, as at 1 December in the relevant academic year.

   Table 1b includes Home and EU domiciled students as described above, plus Other Overseas, those students whose normal place of residence prior to commencing their programme of study was outside the EU.

8. Location of main activity.

   Respondents to the HESA First Destination survey were asked to supply the location of their employment or education/training. Where this was unknown, a United Kingdom location has been assumed.

9. Unemployment.

   The category “Assumed to be unemployed” includes those students who gave their main activity as “Seeking employment or training” and “Looking for a job or course”, or “No other activity” as their secondary activity.

   In Table 1, students whose main activity was given as “Seeking employment or training” and who had employment, study or training as a secondary activity are included within the category “Others”.

10. In the table, ‘1995’ refers to the academic year 1994/95, ‘1996’ refers to the academic year 1995/96, ‘1997’ refers to the academic year 1996/97, ‘1998’ refers to the academic year 1997/98, ‘1999’ refers to the academic year 1998/99 and ‘2000’ refers to the academic year 1999/00.
11. Press enquiries should be directed to the Data Provision Team at the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA); 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ, Tel: 01242 211133. General enquiries about the data contained within this SFR should be addressed to Rachael Millichope, Data Quality Manager, HESA (at the same address), Tel: 01242 255577.

Ends

Table 1a - First Destinations of Full-time Home and EU Domicile Students Obtaining HE Qualifications by Level of Qualification Obtained and Gender 1999 - 2000

• (1) Includes those students whose main activity was given as "Seeking employment or training" and who had employment, study or training as a secondary activity.
• (2) Number based on known destination excluding Overseas graduates reported as returning overseas (no other information available) - see 'Notes to Editors' 7.

Table 1b - First Destinations of All Full-time Students Obtaining HE Qualifications by Level of Qualification Obtained 1995 - 1999

• (1) Includes those students whose main activity was given as "Seeking employment or training" and who had employment, study or training as a secondary activity.
• (2) Number based on known destination excluding Overseas graduates reported as returning overseas (no other information available) - see 'Notes to Editors' 7.