Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates and their First Destinations 1986-87 to 1996-97

1. Introduction and Main points

1.1 This bulletin contains information on students, from both Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Colleges, who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland. In particular, information is shown for the first destination of students after graduating. This bulletin updates information previously published in ‘First Destination of Graduates and Diplomates 1996’ published in March 1998.

1.2 The number of graduates and diplomates who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland in 1996-97 exceeded fifty thousand for the first time (52,175).

1.3 Male postgraduates out-numbered females in 1996-97, but there were more women graduates with a first degree or other higher education qualification than men.

1.4 Business Administration was the most popular subject for graduates and diplomates in 1996-97. There were more graduates in Creative Arts than in Maths and Computing.

1.5 Around half of all graduates and diplomates entered permanent or temporary employment after completion of their course in 1996-97. Students who completed sub degree qualifications were more likely to continue with full time study.

1.6 Around one in ten graduates and diplomates who had studied Languages obtained overseas employment.

1.7 The most common employment for graduates and diplomates continued to be the Commerce, Transport and Leisure sector.

2. Notes for Guidance

2.1 There was a change in the data collection arrangements between 1993-94 and 1994-95, resulting in a discontinuity in the series. This is represented by a dotted line in the tables. See Annex C, section 3 for details.

2.2 The ‘first destination’ information relates to the position at 31 December following the academic session of qualifying, and describes any arrangements for work, training or further study to start by 31 March of the following year.

2.3 For the purposes of this bulletin, the term ‘graduate’ refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above, and the term ‘diplomate’ refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at sub degree level, which is below first degree level. See Annex section 4 for details of the coverage of sub degrees.

2.4 Figures for the numbers of graduates and diplomates in 1994-95 and 1995-96 have been revised in this bulletin from those previously published. See Annex section 3.

3. Graduates and Diplomates

3.1 The total number of graduates and diplomates who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland in 1996-97 was 52,175, an increase of 5 per cent on the previous year, and 137 per cent since 1986-87 (Table  1).

3.2 There were 10,264 postgraduates who qualified in 1996-97, an increase of 4 per cent from the previous year. The number of postgraduates has more than doubled since 1986-87.

3.3 The most popular higher education qualification continued to be a first degree, with 23,928 graduates achieving this qualification in 1996-97. This was slightly less than the previous year, but still an 81 per cent increase since 1986-87.

3.4 The impact of the sub degree qualification has been substantial, with the numbers of students achieving these qualifications having risen from around 4,200 in 1986-87 to just under 18,000 in 1996-97.

3.5 In 1996-97, more women (28,096) than men (24,079) qualified from higher education, and this has been the case since 1994-95.

3.6 In the past, men have outnumbered women qualifying with postgraduate qualifications, but the gap has been narrowing over the years.

3.7 Women were more predominant in the achievement of sub degree qualifications in 1996-97 than at any time in recent history.