Scots graduates do better on jobs than Oxbridge

Published on Thursday 16 July 2009 22:02

SCOTTISH universities have topped Oxbridge for graduate job prospects.

Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) figures show 98 per cent of last year's graduates at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen were in employment, or further study, six months after completing their course.

Edinburgh Napier and Aberdeen also rate highly, with 97.4 and 96.7 per cent, respectively, of graduates in work or studying. In comparison, Oxford and Cambridge had just 92.2 and 91.8 in work or study.

UK-wide, 91 per cent of graduates had found work or further study, the remaining 9 per cent are considered unemployed.

The report comes two weeks after Hesa figures showed 16,835 students leaving full-time first degree courses last year were not in employment.

The figures are expected to soar as the recession forces employers to stop recruiting thousands of graduates.

Dr Wendy Piatt, the director-general of the Russell Group, which represents a number of research-intensive universities said: "Now more than ever, employers want graduates who are good at problem-solving, entrepreneurial and able to handle uncertainty."