Bright prospects for graduates

New figures showing Scottish university graduates have brighter prospects than their UK counterparts have been welcomed by Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville.

According to the Higher Educations Statistics Agency (HESA), more than 94% of students who left a Scottish university with a first degree in 2012-13 are in work or further study. This is higher than the UK average. The analysis also shows that three and a half years after graduating, former students of Scottish universities are earning £27,500 – which is also the highest in the UK.

It comes just days after a record number of students from Scotland’s most deprived areas secured a place at university, according to admissions service UCAS.

The Minister said:

“I very much welcome these figures, which show the value of a Scottish education and our world-class universities. More of our graduates, three and a half years after graduating, are in positive destinations and earning a higher median salary than graduates in the UK as a whole.

“I want everyone with the talent and ability to have the chance to go to university and get the same opportunity in life, no matter their background. Our efforts to widen access to university are undoubtedly going in the right direction and I look forward to seeing further progress.”