Students are studying less but working more ...

A major study, involving 36,000 students at 42 universities, has found that the amount of time they give to study has fallen but the amount of time they spend on paid work has risen. The ‘UK Engagement Survey’ found that only 48% of participants spent 11 hours or more a week on independent study, a drop from 52% in 2016. The amount of time spent on timetabled classes has also fallen, with 51% saying they spent 11 hours or more, down from 55%. In contrast, 52% said that they worked during term time, up from 45% last year. The proportion of people who took part in university sports and student societies has also fallen, from 60% to 54%.

Which degree subjects lead to employment?

An Office of National Statistics survey has found that medics are the most employable graduates, with 95% of recent graduates employed, followed by engineering, at 92%. Engineering had the highest average salary, £44,980, up from £42,016 in 2013. Average pay for languages graduates fell from £30,420 in 2013 to £25,012 in 2017. Professor Alan Smithers (head of the centre for education and employment research at Buckingham University) has commented that engineering was becoming "increasingly important in its new forms within our economy.” He said that civil engineering, with the launch of HS2 and the other infrastructure projects, and electrical engineering’s role in building computers, has “moved engineering away from the image of someone in overalls with greasy hands”. The figures also show that male graduates had an average employment rate 7% higher than females. Overall, 11% of female graduates were out of the workplace because they were looking after the home or family, compared to 2% of men. Male graduates were also more likely to be in high-skilled jobs and less likely to be working part-time.

UK universities ranked for employability

The Times Higher Education Global University Employability Ranking is a table of 150 universities producing the best graduates according to employers. This year, UK universities have fallen, with only one left in the top ten, raising fears that Brexit is damaging the reputation of the sector. Edinburgh University, the only Scottish institution recorded, fell 46 places, from 32nd last year to 78th, with US-based institutions taking the top four slots and Asian universities growing in influence. Cambridge fell from 4th to 5th, Oxford fell from 7th to 15th, Imperial College fell from 16th to 17th, King’s College from 23rd to 25th and Manchester from 24th to 34th. The rankings are based on the views of 6,000 recruitment managers from large international companies. Other British universities in the top 100 included the LSE, UCL and Bristol, all of which fell one place.

Consequences of low productivity in the UK workforce

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has released figures showing that the productivity of the UK workforce fell in the three months to June. It said that low business investment, due to concerns over Brexit, was one of the main reasons for falling productivity,and predicted that this low investment outlook would persist for a number of years. 

The average German worker produces more in four days than their counterpart in the UK does in five. The result is that UK workers work longer hours for lower pay than many of their peers in other countries. In addition, the UK has a rapidly aging population which will require a much stronger tax base. With fewer young immigrants coming in, it will mean that the productive population that pays for old age care will shrink, meaning poorer services or (and) higher taxes.

The pay "Gender Gap"

This infographic from the i newspaper shows the differences between pay for women and men around the UK. Looks like recent initiatives to "narrow" the gap have a little way to go ...

Growth in European degrees taught in English

The number of degrees taught in English in the European Continent has grown from 55 in 2009 to around 2,900. Switzerland and the Netherlands are leading the way. The major areas taught are Business & Management (26% of all courses), Social Sciences (15%) and Engineering & Technology (14%).

Find out more here.

Graduate earnings study

Research data from graduates 3.5 years after leaving university has found that 93% of graduates from the 2012/13 leavers were in employment or undertaking further study, with 87.5% of graduates living in the UK in employment. The median salary was £27k. 88% of graduates said that they were satisfied with their careers to date, with 76% saying that their degree has prepared them well for their career. The median salary for graduates from Russell Group universities was £30k. Durham University had the highest employment rate (97.9%) followed by Warwick and St Andrews (both 97.7%). Of the 25 universities with the highest employment rate, 15 were from the Russell Group.