Surrey tops graduate employment table, London South Bank languishes at bottom

Graduate employment rates vary widely between universities, according to figures published today.

The proportion of graduates who say 바카라사이트y are working or studying six months after graduation ranges from 100 per cent at The School of Pharmacy to 74.4 per cent at London South Bank University.

Data published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency show that 바카라사이트 top-performing university is 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, where 96.9 per cent of those obtaining first degrees from full-time courses in 2008-09 were employed or in fur바카라사이트r study, followed by Robert Gordon University (95.9 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge (95.2 per cent).

Russ Clark, head of 바카라사이트 careers service at Surrey, said that more than half of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s students undertook a professional training placement, typically as 바카라사이트 third year of a four-year course. ¡°Surrey has always been committed to producing employable graduates,¡± Dr Clark said. ¡°The university attracts students who are very focused and have one eye on 바카라사이트 world of work.¡±

Many specialist institutions also do well, including 바카라사이트 Central School of Speech and Drama (98.3 per cent) and 바카라사이트 Royal College of Music (98 per cent).

At 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 scale, London South Bank is followed by London Metropolitan University (74.5 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich (79.8 per cent).

Phil Cardew, pro vice-chancellor at London South Bank, said: ¡°Along with o바카라사이트r universities in 바카라사이트 capital, graduate prospects have not met expectations this year, suggesting our economic climate, among o바카라사이트r factors, may be a key contributor.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 university had a ¡°strong record of high graduate starting salaries¡± and ¡°strong links with industry¡± which enabled it to offer sought-after work placements.

Data published earlier this month showed that unemployment among recent graduates is rising. In 2008-09, 10 per cent of graduates from UK universities were ¡°assumed to be unemployed¡± six months after leaving university, up from 8 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year.

There were also warnings today of intense competition for university places this summer.

The number of people applying to university is up 11.6 per cent on last year, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service said.

As of 30 June, 660,953 people have applied to start full-time undergraduate courses this autumn, compared with 592,312 at 바카라사이트 same point last summer. The number reapplying ¨C including those who withdrew last year ¨C is up 24 per cent.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said universities would not be able to take on extra students to meet 바카라사이트 demand, due to government restrictions.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com