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Higher Education Graduates and Graduate Destinations 2005-06
02/10/2007
Statistics on graduates from Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Scotland's colleges for 2005-06 are released today along with survey information on the first destinations of full-time, EU domiciled graduates in the same year.
The publication reports on all graduations, including those at HNC/HND level and students that upgraded their previous higher education qualification.
Higher Education Graduates and Graduate Destinations 2005-06
The main points are:
Graduations
- In 2005-06, 74,515 students successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland, a rise of over 6.6 per cent 4,630 graduates on 2004-05 (which showed similar increases on 2003-04) - compared to 1999-00 the increase is 9.9 per cent. Of the 74,515 graduates, 40per cent obtained a first degree, 37 per cent obtained a sub degree and 23 per cent obtained a postgraduate qualification. 58 per cent of graduates from Scottish institutions were female and 42 per cent male
- In percentage terms agriculture and humanities took the biggest losses with decreases of 10 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. The subjects areas with significant increases included languages (38 per cent), architecture (18 per cent), education (15 per cent) and business, finance and administration (12 per cent). There were small decreases in the core sciences but increases in graduates from engineering and technology. Most of the rise in languages is explained by an increase at two colleges in passes in higher education units not leading to a national certificate
- The number of graduates of Scottish origin has risen by 3,125 to 55,640 since last year (an increase of 6 per cent) reaching a similar level as in 1999-00 (55,475), the number of foreign graduates increased by 15 per cent on last year to 12,725 - almost double the number since 1999-00. The number of graduates from the rest of the UK dropped by 4 per cent on 2004-05
Destinations
- Over half of graduates from full-time courses at Scottish HEIs and FECs, 57 per cent, had obtained permanent or temporary employment in the UK 6 months after graduating (a rise of 1 percentage point since 2004-05 and 3 percentage points since 2003-04). This represents 81per cent of postgraduates, 62 per cent of first degree and 37 per cent of sub-degree graduates. A further 3 per cent obtained employment overseas. 29 per cent of responding graduates continued in study/training. Unemployment among graduates remains stable at 5 per cent
- For all levels of study women were slightly more likely than men to be in employment, while men were slightly more likely to be in further study/training. 54 per cent of sub-degree level graduates pursued further study/training
- The majority of graduates (64 per cent) in permanent UK employment at the time of the survey were working as associate professional or technical staff or as professionals (this incorporates 85 per cent of postgraduate and 64 per cent of first degree graduates). Of sub-degree level graduates 42 per cent were working as associate professionals or technical staff. 11 per cent of sub-degree level graduates were employed as managers compared to 9 per cent of first degree and 7 per cent of postgraduate graduates
- Many postgraduates were working in finance and business services (47 per cent). A high percentage of first degree and sub-degree level graduates worked in health, social and community work sectors (34 per cent and 29 per cent respectively)
- 91 per cent of graduates of Scottish origin who were in permanent employment at the time of the survey were employed in Scotland. 41 per cent of graduates who came from the rest of the UK to study in Scotland and subsequently found permanent employment remained in Scotland to work (as did 23 per cent of EU domiciled graduates). 6 per cent of Scottish domiciled graduates from Scottish HEIs gained employment in the rest of the UK and 3 per cent overseas
- Graduates from Scottish institutions in medicine, subjects allied to medicine and law who found permanent work were the most likely to work in Scotland, 90 per cent, 88 per cent and 87 per cent respectively, whilst veterinary science graduates were the least likely, at 30 per cent, to work in Scotland. Of graduates in permanent employment at the time of the survey graduates from language courses were most likely to be employed overseas, 27 per cent