Milkround News, 01 December 2008
A third of graduates can expect to earn more than £25,000 when they have been in the job market for three-and-a-half years.

And nine out of 10 graduates are either employed or in further study three-and-a-half years after graduating.

A study by the 1994 Group has found 80 percent of graduates are happy with their careers and can expect good earning power despite the credit crunch.

The group which represents 18 research-intensive universities analysed existing data to compare students' expectations of employment and earnings when they begin university with the reality, after they graduated and started work.

It found that after three-and-a-half years, 80 percent of those in employment were in graduate level jobs. More than eight in 10 graduates were either "very satisfied" or "fairly satisfied" with their careers.

The report also highlighted differences between different types of institution, finding a perception among students at research-intensive institutions such as Manchester, Oxford, Cambridge, York and Durham that their university will provide them with good employment and earning prospects.

It said: "For those studying at research-intensive universities, perceived benefits are brought about by the connection to the university itself, whether because of the national and international reputation the university has obtained or because of the type of academic environment and teaching within which the student will learn."

The study concluded that 90 percent of graduates from all universities were either employed or undertaking work or further study three-and-a-half years after graduating. But just over 80 percent of those at research-intensive universities were likely to be in graduate-level jobs, compared to around 75 percent of those at other universities.

In both groups, graduates were more likely to be in graduate-level jobs if they had studied science or technology subjects.