What is it?
The Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) captures information about graduate activities (employment / further study etc.), approximately 15 months after they finish their course. The survey is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), which is part of Jisc. It has been run since 2017/18, when it replaced Destination of Leavers from HE (DLHE) survey.
Who is surveyed?
GOS is a nationwide survey of all graduates from higher education courses at UK universities and colleges. It includes graduates from all levels of study (foundation / first-degree / PGT / PGR) and all domiciles (UK / EU / non-EU).
What are the typical response rates?
Response rates differ by cohort and, in particular, by domicile. Response rates for overseas students – many of whom return home after their studies – tend to be lower than home students. Nationwide, 51% of UK domiciled graduates fully completed the 2021/22 survey. This figure drops to 46% for EU domiciled graduates, and to 11% for non-EU domiciles. Non-EU response rates have declined since the change from DLHE to GOS. The paucity of data non-EU data domiciles is compounded by less reliable employability data1. For these reasons, indicators derived from GOS data typically focus on UK domiciles only.
How is the survey data used?
The survey results help students make decisions about their future and universities understand the outcomes of its graduates and identify where targeted support might be required. The survey data is also used by several third parties, such as the Office for Students (OfS), who use it for regulatory purposes (e.g. Teaching Excellence Framework - TEF). It is also used by league table compilers such as the university guides published by Complete and The Guardian etc.
What metrics are derived from the survey data?
The survey provides a rich dataset with information on graduate activities (such as employment, further study etc.), as well as employer names and job titles. It also captures graduate reflections on how their activities compare to their original plans and the extent to which they’ve developed relevant skills whilst studying.
There are many ways that the data can be analysed and each of the league table compilers calculate their own bespoke metrics. These are typically restricted to a specific graduate population, according to their mode / level of study, or their domicile. Some of these metrics are described further below.
Where can I access the data?
The University has a Power BI report for its own GOS results, accessible by staff with a legitimate interest. Access can be requested.
Prospective students can see summarised results through Discover Uni.
HESA publishes summary data on its website.
The Office for Students publishes its Progression measure on its website.
Progression
The Progression measure is calculated and used by the OfS for regulatory purposes such as TEF. In simple terms it represents the proportion of graduates who have progressed to professional or managerial employment2, further study3, or other positive outcomes4, 15 months after gaining their qualification. Only UK domiciled qualifiers are included in the population. OfS calculate it for all levels of study, though for TEF it is restricted to undergraduates.
There is further information about the progression measure here.
Progression is currently used as the basis for one of Bath’s institutional KPIs which are monitored by the University Executive Board and Council.
Graduate Prospects
The Graduate Prospects measure is defined and used by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. Similar to Progression, it’s focussed on the proportion of graduates who entered high-skilled employment and / or graduate-level further study. Unlike Progression it does not include travelling, retired or caring as a ‘positive’ outcome within the numerator. Only full-time, first-degree, UK domiciled qualifiers are included in the population. This measure was previously published internally on the Graduate Outcomes wiki page under the name ‘vital statistics’. It is now included within the new Graduate Outcomes Power BI report.
The Complete University Guide has a very similar measure called Graduate Prospects – Outcomes. Likewise, the Guardian University Guide has a very similar measure called Career Prospects.
Graduate prospects – on track
Defined and used by the Complete University Guide, this measures the proportion of graduates who agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘My [activity] fits with my future plans’.
Percentage in high-skilled employment
This measure is defined and used internally by the University of Bath. It was previously used as the basis of an institutional KPI but was subsequently replaced by Progression (see above). It includes within the population only full-time, first-degree graduates whose main activity is paid employment in the UK. Of those, it counts as a positive outcome those in high-skilled employment (approximated by SOC groups 1-3). Due to low response rates and a lack of robust employability data, non-UK domiciled graduates are excluded.
Bath graduates targeted by employers
The latest Graduate Market 2024 Report confirms Bath graduates are actively recruited by many of The Times Top 100 Graduate Recruiters and continue to maintain a top spot amongst UK universities.
Conducted by High Fliers Research the Graduate Market Report provides useful insights on UK graduate recruitment, including salary data, sector trends and vacancies.
Median starting salaries for graduates from the UK’s leading graduate employers has risen for a third consecutive year, reaching £34,000. This represents an increase of 13.3% in graduate salaries since 2021.
Investment banking continues to pay the highest graduate premium with a sector median of £55,000.
The UK graduate job market remains competitive and has seen a surge in applications this year. Bath graduates compete and succeed in this market securing employment outcomes within the Top 10 of UK universities.