- Education Guardian,
- Wednesday July 2 2008
Graduates in mortarboards and gowns. Photograph: Corbis/Paul Barton
More than one in five of today's university graduates regret their choice of degree course, the Guardian's Grad Facts 2008 survey revealed today.
Some 20% of graduates from the elite Russell group of universities, which includes Oxbridge, Imperial College London and Manchester, said they now felt they should have chosen a different degree course. The figure compared with 22% of those graduating from newer, post-92 universities.
But most said they had no regrets about putting off starting work in order to go to university (80% of post-92 university graduates and 91% of Russell group graduates).
The survey of 3,000 final-year students, commissioned by the Guardian, reveals that fewer of today's graduates plan to go into graduate jobs on finishing university; the number planning to work in non-graduate jobs has risen from 10% to 17%.
Despite the credit crunch, the class of 2008 is far keener on taking time out to travel (42%, up from 31% two years ago).
Though 70% are worried about their debts and 60% fear they will never be able to buy their own home, more than two-thirds (68%) of graduates think their degree was a worthwhile financial investment.
Graduates who were privately educated before going to university have higher expectations of their first pay packet. On average, they expect 10% more than those who went to state schools (£23,322 compared with £21,190).
On average, graduates expect to earn £21,628 as a first annual salary, with Russell group graduates expecting to earn £23,050 and those at newer universities £20,844.
Graduates from Russell group universities also appear to be more satisfied with their university experience in general.
Only one in 10 graduates from Russell group universities said they wished they had chosen a different university, compared with 25% of graduates from newer universities - who were also more likely to regret having gone to university at all.
Many students worked their way through university, and those who had done so rated themselves more highly on 18 different skills and attributes they felt they could bring to their jobs after graduation.
This was true whether the jobs they had done were part of an official work experience programme or were more casual, in bars or restaurants.
Andre McGarrigle, the Guardian's research director, said: "A strong employer brand has never been more important for attracting top graduates.
"Today's graduates put work-life balance and an employer's ethical reputation ahead of salary and the prospect of early promotion when choosing where to work."
Dr Wendy Piatt, the director general of the Russell group, said the results backed up previous evidence.
"The National Student Survey in 2007 showed that the Russell group has higher levels of student satisfaction overall compared to the sector as a whole.
"Our universities also have, on average, the lowest drop-out rates, which is testament to the quality of teaching and learning students receive."
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