Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey: Our analysis

This report provides an analysis of the latest data from HESA’s annual Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey which covers the period of 2016/17. The analysis focuses on the results from graduates in Business & Administrative studies.

The DLHE survey collects data from successful leavers of Higher Education six months after the completion of their studies.

Key findings include:

UK-domiciled first degree leavers and postgraduates in Business & Administrative Studies have good employment prospects

• Graduates from the Business & Administrative Studies subject area have the fifth highest rate of full-time employment six months after completing their course, with 67% of UK-domiciled graduates obtaining full-time employment.

• The outlook is even better for those completing postgraduate qualifications in Business & Administrative Studies, as this subject area has the third highest proportion of UK-domiciled postgraduates in employment six months after completing their course (82%).

• However, the DLHE data does not suggest that the employment prospects for first degree leavers and postgraduates from courses in Business & Administrative Studies have improved at a faster rate than observed for leavers across all subject areas.

The salary commanded by first degree leavers in Business & Administrative Studies has increased above the general level of increase seen across all subject areas

• The proportion of UK-domiciled first degree leavers in Business & Administrative Studies earning between £20,000 and £39,999 has increased from 19% for the 2011/12 cohort to 28% for the most recent cohort, which is above the increase observed amongst UK-based graduates overall.

• Business & Administrative studies has the fifth highest proportion of first degree leavers earning £40,000 or more six months after graduation.

The vast majority of UK-based first degree leavers do not choose further study, but a teaching-based higher degree is an increasingly popular choice for those that do

• In 2016/17 only 15% of UK-domiciled graduates in Business & Administrative Studies opted for further study compared to much higher percentages in subjects such as Law (44%) and Physical Sciences (36%).

• For those choosing further study, a taught higher degree such as a master’s has become a more common choice, with 9% of the 2016/17 UK graduate cohort in Business & Administrative Studies opting for this course, compared to only 4% in 2013/14.

• Across all subjects, the percentage of UK-domiciled graduates choosing to continue their studies via a teaching-focused higher degree has increased from 7% for the 2013/14 cohort to 11% for the 2016/17 cohort.

• The DLHE data would suggest that graduates in Business & Administrative Studies and most other subjects are at too early a stage in their career to seriously consider postgraduate or professional qualifications.

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