News

Durham University secures top position in North for graduate employability

(28 September 2012)

Durham graduates

Durham University has the highest success rate in the North for leavers securing graduate-level jobs, according to the prestigious Sunday Times University Guide 2013.

More than four in five (84.5 per cent) of Durham graduates get a graduate-level job when they leave, with an average starting salary of £23,000 compared to the national average of £20,000.

The new guide comes after Durham recently cemented its place as a World Top-20 university globally for employer reputation as part of the 2012 QS World University Rankings.

The all-round education experience offered by Durham’s academic departments and colleges helped the University secure a top 5 position overall amongst UK universities in the current Sunday Times Guide.

The guide uses a wide range of information including student satisfaction, teaching and research quality, entrance qualifications held by new students, degree results achieved, student/staff ratios, graduate unemployment levels and university drop out rates.

Professor Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor, Durham University, said: “This latest ranking recognises our strengths in combining world-class research-led teaching with a unique student experience.

“Our collegiate system provides endless opportunities and extensive support for students to develop wider skills, to network, volunteer, to participate in arts and sports, and to learn and to grow in ways that complement their academic studies, which is valued immensely by leading employers.

“All of this is supported by work across the University and with external partners, which is enhancing the employability of our students by providing professional advice together with opportunities and links with leading employers.

“This all-round experience has once again been reflected in the reputation of our graduates among leading employers who clearly value the benefits of a Durham education. This is why our graduates are among the most sought after in the UK and across the world.”