SCOTTISH universities are outperforming the rest of the UK in terms of the proportion of graduates who get jobs or take on further studies, according to the latest figures.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) found 92.2% of Scotland’s 16,605 graduates from full-time courses went into work or further study.
The figure is slightly less than the 94.3% who went on to jobs or education in Scotland in 2005.
But it compares to more than a fifth of students at some of England’s universities who failed to find work after graduating last summer.
Overall, 90.4% of UK graduates were employed or studying after leaving higher education last year.
Among the highest performing bigger institutions was Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen which, with 95.7% of graduates in work or studying after leaving last year, was the highest in Scotland.
The universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen also scored highly with 95.5% and 94.4% of students respectively working or studying after graduation.
Glasgow University was also high with 92.9% finding a career move.
The relatively young institutions of UHI Millennium and the University of the West of Scotland had 78.3% and 86.9% moving on to work or studies.
Edinburgh College of Art showed that 51.6% found work or went on to do more study and Glasgow School of Art 64.9% – but both of these figures were not comparable to other institutions in Scotland because of the number of students who responded to the HESA survey.
Graduates north and south of the Border face wildly differing job prospects depending on the university they attend, the official statistics show.
But most Scottish universities were better than or on a par with Oxbridge. In total, 90.2% of Oxford’s 2010 graduates were working or studying, down from 92.6% in 2009.
For those leaving Cambridge University last year, 93.6% were employed or studying, compared to 95.2% the previous year.
Robert Gordon University has two campuses in Aberdeen offering courses including Law, Architecture, Construction and Surveying, Art and Design, Business, Management and Accounting and Laboratory, Biomedical and Sports Sciences.
Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, RGU principal and vice-chancellor, said: “Over the last decade we have consistently had one of the best records of any UK university for graduate-level employment. While such accolades are pleasing there is never scope for resting on our laurels.
“The next stage in our development will see a £170 million construction project at our Garthdee campus which will provide our students and staff with state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities.”
RGU was also top university for graduate employment five years ago when it had 97.8% finding jobs or going back into education.
Peculiarly, south of the Border, all graduates at the Royal College of Music, Ravensbourne, which specialises in digital media and design, and the School of Pharmacy, found work or went into further study last year.
The private University of Buckingham also had a 100% employment or study rate.
For the remainder of Scotland: University of Abertay Dundee had 87.1%, University of Dundee 91.8%, Edinburgh Napier University 93.2%, Glasgow Caledonian University 91%, Heriot-Watt University 91.9%, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh 92%, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 93.8%, University of St Andrews 92.4, University of Stirling 90.5% and University of Strathclyde 92.7%.
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