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1. Data Sources
Students in Scotland can undertake higher education courses in either Higher Education Institutions or Further Education Institutions.
The information on the numbers and characteristics of graduates and diplomates, and their destinations after qualification, are collected from these two sectors separately:
2. Information Collected
2.1 Graduates and Diplomates
The Scottish Executive (formerly The Scottish Office) has collected annual information from Further Education Institutions (FEIs) in Scotland on all full time students who achieved a higher education qualification.
HESA collects information from the Higher Education Institutions on qualifications obtained in the end of academic session student record. This is collected for both full-time and part-time students. The analysis is based on those students who are recorded as receiving a qualification, but is not restricted to those with a ‘date left institution’ field completed. The numbers therefore include intercalculate degrees awarded. It highlights some problem areas in earlier years, which have been resolved since by HESA, where interim qualifications have been incorrectly recorded in the HESA record by some institutions, and where ‘date left institution’ information is incomplete.
2.2 Destination of Graduates and Diplomates
Information is collected only on the destinations of full time graduates and diplomates from FEIs.
The collection of destinations for graduates and diplomates from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is based on a population target of primarily full time (including sandwich students and those writing up thesis) during the academic year.
Information is collected by the colleges and universities through a voluntary survey to individual students of all nationalities who have successfully completed their course. Details are requested about the graduate or diplomates' destination on 31 December (or any definite arrangements starting by 31 March) following the end of the academic session in which they qualified.
The survey is intended to obtain the destination of graduates and diplomates from full time courses only. However, some institutions were able to obtain the information for students who had been on part time courses.
Around 80 per cent of the responses received were from students who had been on full-time courses.
Information on the destinations of graduates and diplomates shown in this bulletin has been collated from all responses to the survey.
HESA is currently carrying out a fundamental review of their first destination survey.
2.3 Data Quality and Coverage
The structure of the higher education sector in Scotland changed as a result of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. The 8 universities previously funded by the Universities’ Funding Council, the SOEID-funded central institutions, the teacher education institutions and the Scottish Agricultural College, funded by Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, are now grouped together under the heading 'Higher Education Institutions' (HEIs). The other institutions offering higher education courses in Scotland are the FEIs and the Open University. Throughout this bulletin, the term 'higher education in Scotland' denotes provision by HEIs and FEIs only and excludes figures for the Open University in Scotland.
In 1994-95, HESA assumed responsibility for the collection of information on students at all HEIs in the UK. With this change in administration came an inevitable change in coverage. For example, for the first time continuing education courses and those students engaged in distance learning at the 8 universities previously funded by the Universities’ Funding Council were captured in the figures. This improvement in coverage can also be seen to affect some of the tables showing level of study - while all undergraduate students were assumed to be on first degree courses at the 8 universities formerly funded by the Universities’ Funding Council, it can now be seen that many of the courses are at Sub Degree level.
Over the period covered, 3 institutions have changed sector. All the data in this bulletin have been back-dated to show all the institutions in their present sector. The institutions concerned are: Leith Nautical College which transferred to the further education college sector in 1987-88; Napier University and the former Glasgow Polytechnic (now part of Glasgow Caledonian University) which transferred in 1985-86 from the further education college sector to what is now termed the 'Higher Education Institutions'.
While subject classification changed in the 8 universities previously funded by the Universities’ Funding Council in 1985-86, it did not change in the other HEIs and FECs until 1988-89. Data have been shown by subject from 1986-87, with the college sector data re-coded to the revised classification for the early years.
Data on students on non-vocational courses and those attending continuing education courses in universities were not previously collected and therefore are not included in the data up to 1993-94. From 1994-95, those on continuing education courses are included but cannot be separately identified in order to extract them.
This bulletin gives data for a number of years to allow trends to be identified more easily. In doing this, some data have been reclassified, so may no longer agree with previously published data. Where this is the case, this bulletin should be assumed to supersede any previous publications. Also, in doing this some anomalies in the data are apparent. These have been resolved or explained as far as possible but some still exist. Some of these may be due to changes in definitions over the time period.
Where a breakdown of data was unavailable certain assumptions have been made. Where a student's sex was unknown, the figures have been apportioned pro-rata to known, where available, otherwise a 50:50 split has been assumed. Where length of contract of employment is unknown, it has been assumed to be permanent.
There is a small amount of double counting in the figures in 1989 and 1990. It is not possible to give exact numbers for each table but it is estimated that 251 graduates (of whom 68 are postgraduates) were double counted in 1989 and 216 (65 postgraduate) in 1990.
Information on students completing teacher training courses were included in the figures from the 1995 bulletin onwards. For years prior to 1995, all figures for the destination of teacher training graduates have been estimated. This means that figures given here are not directly comparable with information contained in bulletins prior to 1995.
2.4 Response Rate for Destinations Survey
Response rates for 1994-95 to 1996-97 have been calculated as the percentage of all graduates and diplomates in the target population who were sent a questionnaire who replied to the destinations survey.
Not all graduates and diplomates were part of the destinations surveys, as noted in section 2.2 above.
It is recognised that estimates from surveys of this type will be subject to an unknown non-response error : non-respondents may not have the same characteristics as those who responded.
The overall average response rate to the first destination survey has stayed relatively constant since 1995 at 75 per cent (see Table A1). There is a discontinuity of comparisons with response rates prior to 1995 due to the change in data collection from 1994-95 onwards.
The response rates for each institution are given in Table A2.
| Response rate to first destination survey: 1986-87 to 1996-97 |
Table A1 |
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Response rate (%) |
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Year |
Total |
Postgraduate |
First Degree |
Sub Degree |
|
1986-87 |
90 |
93 |
92 |
79 |
|
1987-88 |
90 |
91 |
92 |
83 |
|
1988-89 |
88 |
90 |
90 |
82 |
|
1989-90 |
90 |
90 |
92 |
83 |
|
1990-91 |
88 |
89 |
90 |
80 |
|
1991-92 |
88 |
90 |
90 |
80 |
|
1992-93 |
87 |
91 |
89 |
77 |
|
1993-94 |
87 |
90 |
89 |
81 |
|
1994-95 |
75 |
73 |
79 |
69 |
|
1995-96 |
76 |
78 |
82 |
65 |
|
1996-97 |
75 |
83 |
84 |
61 |
| Response rate to first destination survey by institution and level: 1996-97 |
Table A2 |
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Response rate (%) |
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Total |
Postgraduate |
First Degree |
Sub Degree |
|
|
Total |
75 |
83 |
84 |
61 |
|
University of Abertay, Dundee |
31 |
47 |
52 |
8 |
|
Edinburgh College of Art |
85 |
72 |
89 |
0 |
|
Glasgow School of Art |
49 |
43 |
49 |
0 |
|
Moray House Institute of Education |
71 |
69 |
74 |
0 |
|
Northern College of Education |
61 |
59 |
67 |
46 |
|
Queen Margaret University College |
69 |
33 |
71 |
38 |
|
Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama (RSAMD) |
88 |
100 |
88 |
78 |
|
St Andrews College of Education |
45 |
52 |
34 |
0 |
|
The Scottish College of Textiles |
90 |
84 |
93 |
81 |
|
The Robert Gordon University |
86 |
81 |
88 |
80 |
|
University of Paisley |
86 |
84 |
85 |
88 |
|
Glasgow Caledonian University |
74 |
80 |
73 |
77 |
|
Napier University |
87 |
45 |
88 |
84 |
|
University of Edinburgh |
83 |
86 |
82 |
0 |
|
University of Glasgow |
94 |
92 |
94 |
0 |
|
University of Strathclyde |
92 |
90 |
93 |
100 |
|
University of Aberdeen |
93 |
94 |
92 |
0 |
|
Heriot-Watt University |
84 |
77 |
88 |
0 |
|
University of Dundee |
91 |
83 |
91 |
97 |
|
University of St Andrews |
91 |
92 |
91 |
45 |
|
The University of Stirling |
91 |
95 |
90 |
87 |
|
Scottish Agricultural College |
88 |
38 |
82 |
92 |
|
Further Education Institutions |
64 |
32 |
68 |
64 |
3. Revisions to Previously Published Figures
Figures for 1994-95 onwards have been revised to include graduates and diplomates recorded under writing-up codes, but exclude any qualifications or credits gained that are leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification.
They have also been revised to show the qualifications obtained by the graduates and diplomates; previously published information had shown the qualification aim.
4. Definitions
4.1 Level of Study
The three levels of study used are:
Postgraduate - students successfully completing courses where a first degree qualification is an entry requirement. This includes students gaining higher degrees, postgraduate diplomas or equivalent.
First Degree Graduate - students successfully completing courses leading to a first degree or equivalent.
Sub Degree Diplomate - students successfully completing courses classified as higher education but not classified as postgraduate or first degree. These qualifications include the Certificate of Higher Education and Diploma of Higher Education, and Higher National Diplomas and Certificates (HNDs/HNCs).
The term 'graduate' refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above; the term 'diplomate' refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at below first degree level.
4.2 First Destination of Graduates and Diplomates
Full-time Study - graduates and diplomates who are taking another course leading to a higher education qualification or who are undertaking teacher training or other training, e.g. Law Society and Bar exams, excluding those training whilst in employment.
Permanent Home Employment - graduates and diplomates who gain employment or return to a previous employer in the UK.
Temporary Home Employment - graduates and diplomates who gain employment which is expected to cease within 3 months.
Overseas Employment - graduates and diplomates who gain employment working exclusively overseas or who expect to spend the major part of their time working abroad.
Believed Unemployed - graduates and diplomates who are available for employment or study and have no firm arrangements to start employment or study by 31 March.
Other - graduates and diplomates who are: returning to an employer overseas; overseas students leaving the UK; and those not seeking employment for whatever reason.
4.3 Type of Employer
This shows the type of business of the employer rather than the graduates’ or diplomates’ occupation.
Public Service - international organisations, central and local government, police, fire service and other public and voluntary bodies.
Education - teaching and lecturing in educational establishments.
Engineering and Industry - all engineering and manufacturing industry, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food and drink, gas, electricity, water and nuclear industries.
Commerce, Transport and Leisure - finance, legal, private health practices, consultants, transport, leisure and other professional and commercial services.
Self Employed - excludes those working in private health practices.
4.4 Type of Work
This shows the nature of the occupation carried out by the graduate and diplomate.
Administration and Personnel - general administration, hotel, catering and leisure management, personnel.
Buying Marketing and Selling - purchasing, selling, marketing and market research, advertising and public relations.
Management Services - operational research, computer programming, economics and statistics.
Financial and Legal - accountancy, actuarial and insurance work, stockbroking, banking and legal work
Science, Engineering & Technology - scientific research and development, engineering, technology, aircraft and ships officers.
Environmental Planning - architecture, civil engineering and town and country planning.
Education - teaching and lecturing.
Social Services - medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, police, fire service and other social and welfare work.
Leisure and Recreation - journalism, art, fashion, acting, music and sport.
Clerical - secretarial and other related clerical work.
Other - information science, librarianship, other non-professional and non-managerial occupations.
4.5 Symbols
The following symbol has been used:
" -" indicates nil or insignificant.
5. Enquiry point of contact
For further information and enquiries please contact:
Richard Kay (address on back of bulletin)
Further information about HESA can be found on their website www.hesa.ac.uk
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