In 2021–22, UUK members awarded 870,165 qualifications.
- 57% were undergraduate qualifications and 43% were postgraduate
- 82% of graduates were in employment or unpaid work 15 months after graduation
- 17% of graduates were in further study
- Median salaries for graduates were £10,000 higher than non-graduates
- 5.5% of non-graduates were unemployed compared to 3.2% of graduates
Qualifications awarded by level and mode of study, 2021–22
In 2021–22, awards for part-time first degrees decreased by 12% since 2020–21. Awards for full-time doctorates increased by 11%. There were other noticeable changes in the awards of Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Diplomas of Higher Education (DipHEs), with full-time awards up 35%.
Graduate outcomes by activity, 2020–21
In 2020–21, 82% of graduates who responded to HESA's Graduate Outcomes Survey were in employment or unpaid work. Since 2019–20, the percentage in full-time employment has increased by 4 percentage points; all other measures have fallen except for those travelling, caring for someone, or retired.
Unemployment rates and median salaries in England, 2021
In 2021, median salaries for England-domiciled graduates were £10,000 higher than median non-graduate salaries. The graduate unemployment rate decreased from 3.7% to 3.2%, while the non-graduate unemployment rate increased from 5.3% to 5.5%. Postgraduates are even less likely to be unemployed, at a rate of 2.7%.