Nearly two-thirds of graduates feel confident that they will achieve their goals after leaving university, but just half say they feel prepared for life post-degree, according to new research.

Graduates from English universities were asked for their opinions on progression amid national discussions over the value of the a university degree.

The Office for Students (OfS) found that those who studied a humanities, arts or social science subject had the lowest perceived preparedness, with those on science courses or taking more vocational subjects feeling better prepared.

Financial challenges, lack of relevant work experience and lack of a professional network were identified as the three biggest challenges by those polled.

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Securing employment was the primary goal of most respondents (76 per cent), while 16 per cent aimed for further study.

Most felt that their college or university had helped prepare them for life post-graduation but there was a tendency to rely on informal support or specific elements such as careers fairs or help with CVs and applications, while only a third had used in-depth support systems such as a career service.

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“This may mean that the extent of careers support is not widely understood”, a report says.

Away from university-specific services, 69 per cent of the graduates said they had found support from family and friends about next steps after graduation useful, although this advantaged those who had a parent with a higher education qualification over those who didn’t.

“We are publishing this research at a time of national discussions on education and skills, the value of the graduate premium, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the role of higher education in addressing skills shortages and meeting employer demand,” says an OfS discussion paper on the results.  

“Our findings show the importance of university or college support in guiding students’ next steps in the unfamiliar and challenging landscape that follows higher education, and in so doing help meet national policy goals.”

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Josh Fleming, director of strategy and delivery at the OfS, said “life after higher education can feel like challenging and unfamiliar territory, and today’s students are graduating at a time of significant change”.

He said most graduates will go on to have successful careers and “many institutions are doing impressive work to support students to achieve their goals”. 

“This research identifies ways students’ experiences could be improved even further, for example by increasing students’ awareness of the opportunities available to them and supporting those who may not have access to advice from friends or family,” added Fleming.

“It’s important that we and the institutions we regulate have a good understanding of how students feel about life after graduation. We hope today’s research will be useful to universities and colleges as they continue to ensure every student is supported to succeed in higher education and beyond.”

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tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com