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Summary
Statistics on higher education 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. This updates the publication issued on 4 th October 2006.
The main points are as follows:
Graduations
- In 2005-06, 74,515 students successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland, a rise of over 6.6% 4,630 graduates on 2004-05 (which showed similar increases on 2003-04) - compared to 1999-00 the increase is 9.9% ( table 1). Of the 74,515 graduates, 40% obtained a first degree, 37% obtained a sub degree and 23% obtained a postgraduate qualification. 58% of graduates from Scottish institutions were female and 42% male ( table 2).
- In percentage terms agriculture and humanities took the biggest losses with decreases of 10% and 14% respectively. The subjects areas with significant increases included languages (38%), architecture (18%), education (15%) and business, finance & administration (12%). There were small decreases in the core sciences but increases in graduates from engineering and technology ( table 4). 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%) reaching a similar level as in 1999-00 (55,475), the number of foreign graduates increased by 15% 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% on 2004-05 ( table 6b).
Destinations
- Over half of graduates from full-time courses at Scottish HEIs and FECs, 57%, 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 81% of postgraduates, 62% of first degree and 37% of sub-degree graduates. A further 3% obtained employment overseas. 29% of responding graduates continued in study/training. Unemployment among graduates remains stable at 5% ( table 9).
- 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% of sub-degree level graduates pursued further study/training ( table 8).
- The majority of graduates (64%) in permanent UK employment at the time of the survey were working as associate professional or technical staff or as professionals (this incorporates 85% of postgraduate and 64% of first degree graduates). Of sub-degree level graduates 42% were working as associate professionals or technical staff. 11% of sub-degree level graduates were employed as managers compared to 9% of first degree and 7% of postgraduate graduates ( table 11).
- Many postgraduates were working in finance and business services (47%). A high percentage of first degree and sub-degree level graduates worked in health, social and community work sectors (34% and 29% respectively) ( table 12).
- 91% of graduates of Scottish origin who were in permanent employment at the time of the survey were employed in Scotland. 41% 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% of EU domiciled graduates). 6% of Scottish domiciled graduates from Scottish HEIs gained employment in the rest of the UK and 3% overseas ( table 13b).
- 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%, 88% and 87% respectively, whilst veterinary science graduates were the least likely, at 30%, 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% ( table 14).
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