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In case you missed it, this week we launched the Guardian University Guide 2015, our rankings of universities by subjects such as student satisfaction and employability. So who came out on top when it comes to graduates finding work or further study six months after university?
Imperial College topped the employability list this year with 87.8% of graduates being in work or study after six months. Next came Cambridge, who have risen four places since last year, with 85.8% of their graduates finding work or further study after graduating. Robert Gordon University rose six places, moving up to fifth for employability. Also new in the top ten this year is Warwick, with a score of 79.1%.
Health subjects remain one of the highest for employability, according to the Guardian University Guide. Medicine graduates are doing particularly well: 100% of graduates at 21 out of 31 institutions were in employment after six months, compared to 16 out of 31 last year. For veterinary studies Liverpool University and the University of Nottingham came out on top, with 95% employability rates. Queen Margaret University, Southampton and Liverpool reported 100% employability rates for nursing and midwifery.
Dentistry graduates also performed well for employability, with 100% employability at Queen's Belfast, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Glasgow - who also had a 100% course satisfaction score according to the National Student Survey. Keele University reported 100% employability for health professions (including oral and aural sciences and radiology).
Computer science and information systems graduates are also doing well, particularly at Bristol (97% employablity), Southampton (95%) and Bath (95%).
Art was perhaps one of the lowest performing subjects for employability, with the highest employability rating coming for Edinburgh, at 59%. Good news though for dance and drama students who are told they'll never get a job: 80% of graduates at Surrey, 78% at Birmingham and 77% at both Trinity Laban Conservatoire and Exeter found themselves in work or further study after six months.
In architecture employability ratings were mixed, but the top performers were Edinburgh (94%), Glasgow School of Art (93%), Cambridge (92%), Bath (90%) and Strathclyde (90%).
Top universities 2015 for employability
1) Imperial College, London – 87.8% (Second in 2014)
2) Cambridge – 85.8% (Sixth in 2014)
3) Bath - 83.4% (Seventh in 2014)
4) Durham - 83.2% (Eighth in 2014)
5) Robert Gordon University - 82.4% (11th in 2014)
6) King's College London - 82.2% (Third in 2014)
7) University College London (UCL) - 81.3% (Fifth in 2014)
8) Birmingham and Newcastle - 80.3% (Birmingham was ninth in 2014; Newcastle was tenth)
8) St Andrews - 79.6% (17th in 2014)
9) Bristol - 79.5% (Seventh in 2014)
10) Warwick - 79.1% (18th in 2014)
As well as the main Guardian University Guide tables we also have a ranking of specialist institutions – those that teach fewer than eight subject areas. The Royal Academy of Music was the top performer here, moving up from second position last year. Guildhall School of Music and Drama has dropped from the top ten for employability this year, with 70.6% finding work or further study after six months this year, compared to 85% last year.
Top specialist institutions 2015 for employability
1) Royal Academy of Music – 96.2%
2) St George's, University of London - 87.7%
3) Royal Northern College of Music - 87.1%
4) Trinity Laban Conservatoire - 86%
5) Courtauld Institute - 83.3%
6) Buckingham - 83.1%
7) Royal Veterinary College - 81.3%
8) Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - 81.1%
9) St Mary's UC, Belfast - 74.4%
10) Royal Welsh College - 73.3%
To find more rankings by subject, take a look at the subject tables.
• This article was amended on 9 June 2014 to remove an incorrect reference to the Royal College of Music; it should have read Royal Academy of Music.
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