Graduates analysis by subject area, destination and industry
First degree graduates by subject area
The number of graduates completing their first degree in the core STEM subjects areas, from the UK higher education system in 2020/21, was 82k. This was an 1% decrease on the previous academic year output. number graduating from computing rose by 4% YoY, however, and by 16% between 2019/20 and 2021/22.
82k graduates completed their first degree in the core STEM subjects in 2020/21
Computing graduates year-on-year
Increase 2019/20 - 2021/2022
82k graduates completed their first degree in the core STEM subjects in 2020/21
Computing graduates year-on-year
Increase 2019/20 - 2021/2022
Number of graduates completing their first degree, by subject area, 2019-20 to 2021/22
From the class of 2020/21, where a destination was known 15 months after graduating, the proportion in employment varied significantly by subject area. The highest employment rates were amongst those who had studied Architecture, Building & Planning, whilst the lowest rates were amongst those graduating from the Physical Sciences. This was largely courtesy of a decision to pursue further academic studies, however. One in five (20%) Physical Sciences graduates moved on to full-time further studies compared to just 3% of Architecture, Building & Planning graduates.
The proportions combining employment with further study ranged from 7% of Engineering & Technology graduates to 11% amongst Mathematical Sciences graduates.
Of additional note, a significant proportion (6% in all subject areas, apart from Architecture, Building & Planning (4%)), were unemployed 15 months after graduating.
Known destination of graduates
Known destination of graduates completing their first degree from the class of 2020/21
And in terms of into which industry destination of class of 2020/21 graduates studying a first degree in a STEM subject, distribution is wide and diverse.
For those studying Mathematical Sciences, four industries were the key beneficiaries, securing 69% of graduates: Finance & Insurance (19%), Professional, Scientific & Technical (18%), Info & Comm (17%) and Education (15%).
In contrast, two industries were the key beneficiaries of Engineering & Technology first degree graduates (Manufacturing: 31% and Professional, Scientific & Technical: 21%) whilst, unsurprisingly, just one industry (Info & Comm) dominated as a destination for Computing graduates, securing 42%.
