Understanding the HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey
The Higher Education Statistics Agency, known as HESA, conducts the Graduate Outcomes survey annually to capture what graduates from UK higher education providers are doing 15 months after completing their qualifications. This census-style survey replaced the earlier Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey and provides the most comprehensive picture available of employment, further study, and other activities among recent graduates. Universities and colleges across the United Kingdom rely on these findings to refine course offerings, support career services, and demonstrate value to prospective students and regulators such as the Office for Students.
Data collection involves contacting approximately one million eligible graduates each year through email, telephone, and other channels. Responses are aggregated into official statistics released each June, covering national trends as well as breakdowns by provider, subject, and graduate characteristics. The survey asks about current activities, salaries, job roles, and reflections on whether those activities feel meaningful.
Key Findings from the 2023/24 Cohort
The latest release, published on 4 June 2026, covers graduates who completed qualifications in the 2023/24 academic year. Overall, 81 per cent of respondents were in paid or unpaid work, a modest decline from 82 per cent the previous year and 83 per cent the year before that. Full-time employment stood at levels consistent with recent cycles, while unemployment rose to 7 per cent, up one percentage point from the prior cohort.
Median salaries for UK graduates in full-time paid employment reached £30,000, an increase from £28,500 in the preceding release. Graduates from medicine and dentistry recorded the highest median at £43,749, while those from media, journalism and communications fields reported the lowest at £25,938. High-skilled employment accounted for 75 per cent of UK graduates working in the United Kingdom, slightly below the 76 per cent figure from the 2022/23 cohort.
Five per cent of graduates entered full-time further study, a figure that has remained stable in recent years after earlier declines. Response rates reached 353,755 completions out of roughly one million eligible participants, maintaining the survey’s position as one of the largest annual social surveys in the country.
Regional and Institutional Variations
Outcomes vary significantly across institutions. University of Staffordshire graduates outperformed sector averages in several key metrics, highlighting how individual providers can achieve strong results even amid broader economic pressures. Russell Group universities and other research-intensive institutions often report higher proportions of graduates in high-skilled roles, while post-92 universities frequently show strengths in employability within specific vocational fields.
London-based providers continue to benefit from proximity to major employment hubs, though graduates from all regions report meaningful activities at rates above 80 per cent. Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish institutions contribute distinct patterns influenced by local labour markets and funding arrangements.
Subject-Level Insights
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects generally deliver stronger high-skilled employment outcomes, with 81 per cent of graduates in such roles. Non-science subjects show slightly lower figures but still demonstrate robust transitions into professional positions. Media and creative arts fields face more variable salary outcomes, yet many graduates report high levels of job satisfaction and alignment with personal values.
Charlie Ball, head of labour market intelligence at Jisc, noted that most subjects experienced modest rises in unemployment, pointing to a general economic malaise rather than subject-specific weaknesses. Arts and humanities graduates, contrary to some public narratives, show little evidence of systematically poorer outcomes in the data.
Economic Context and Expert Perspectives
Analysts describe the modest decline in employment rates as a cooling rather than a collapse in the graduate labour market. Broader economic conditions, including subdued growth and cost-of-living pressures, appear to be the primary drivers. Jisc’s accompanying early careers survey found that 20 per cent of recent graduates applied for more than 100 roles, underscoring the competitive environment.
Forty-four per cent of polled graduates expressed concerns that artificial intelligence is threatening career prospects and reducing available positions. These views align with wider discussions in UK higher education about preparing students for an evolving workplace.
Stakeholders including university careers services, the Office for Students, and sector bodies such as Universities UK emphasise that the data remains a vital tool for continuous improvement rather than a cause for alarm.
Implications for Universities and Colleges
UK higher education providers use Graduate Outcomes data to benchmark performance, inform curriculum design, and strengthen employability support. Many institutions have expanded work-placement opportunities, alumni mentoring programmes, and skills workshops in response to previous releases. The latest figures reinforce the importance of embedding career development throughout degree programmes rather than treating it as an add-on.
Providers are also examining how to better support graduates during economic downturns, including enhanced mental-health resources and guidance on navigating competitive job markets. Collaboration between universities, employers, and government bodies continues to grow as a result.
Guidance for Current and Prospective Students
Students considering higher education in the United Kingdom can access detailed provider-level data through the HESA open data repository and the official Graduate Outcomes website. Comparing outcomes by subject and institution helps inform choices about courses and universities. Prospective students are encouraged to look beyond headline employment rates and consider factors such as salary progression, high-skilled job proportions, and graduate reflections on meaningfulness.
PhD-track applicants and early-career researchers benefit from understanding how different disciplines translate into academic and research roles. The survey highlights strong pipelines in medicine, dentistry, and certain STEM fields while showing diverse pathways in social sciences and humanities.
Future Outlook and Policy Considerations
The stable proportion of graduates entering further study suggests sustained demand for postgraduate education, even as employment rates fluctuate with the wider economy. Policymakers in the Department for Education and devolved administrations continue to monitor these trends when shaping funding, visa rules, and skills strategies.
Longer-term data series will clarify whether recent shifts represent temporary economic effects or structural changes in graduate demand. Sector leaders remain optimistic that UK higher education continues to deliver strong value, particularly when institutions adapt proactively to labour-market signals.
Photo by Charles DeLoye on Unsplash
Accessing the Full Dataset
Summary statistics and interactive tables are available on the HESA website. The open data repository allows users to create custom tables by provider, subject, and graduate characteristics. Accredited official statistics ensure high standards of quality and transparency for researchers, journalists, and institutional planners.
Universities publish their own analyses alongside national figures, often highlighting standout results for specific courses or demographic groups. These resources support evidence-based decision-making across the higher-education sector.
Stakeholder Reactions and Broader Impact
University leaders welcomed the detailed insights while acknowledging the need for continued investment in student support. Student unions and representative bodies stress the importance of addressing cost-of-living challenges that can affect graduate transitions. Employers value the survey for understanding the skills profile of recent entrants to the workforce.
The data also feeds into league tables, regulatory assessments, and public discourse about the value of a degree. Balanced interpretation remains essential, recognising both achievements and areas for development.
