Harper Adams graduate employment rate rises to 99.4 per cent

Posted 7 July 2016

Harper Adams graduates from 2015 have increased the university’s already-impressive employment rate – which now stands at 99.4 per cent; the second highest score in the country.

The rate, based on students completing full-time, first degree courses and sharing their employment status in the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, had been at 96 per cent and above for Harper Adams for several years. All students in work or further study are counted in the rating.

The only higher education institutions ahead of Harper Adams are: the Royal Northern College of Music, the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.

The leap this year for the university is accompanied by increases in average starting salaries in many subjects, and is based on a credible 94 per cent survey participation rate for full and part-time students; the second highest in the HE sector.

Vice-Chancellor Dr David Llewellyn said: “This is an outstanding performance for the university and a set of impressive outcomes for our graduates, which further reflects the strengths of our teaching and our strong connections with industry.

“These results also build on our recent Whatuni Student Choice Award for job prospects and show the importance of our sandwich degrees to graduate employment. I should like to congratulate our 2015 graduates for their hard work in gaining employment and to their employers for having such faith in the next generation.

“I am sure that our graduates will make a great contribution in their new roles and we wish them every success in their future careers.”

Agriculture graduates, 100 per cent of whom were in employment or education six months after graduating, are earning more than £21,000 pa.

Business graduates, also returning a 100 per cent employment rate – with 80 per cent in professional or managerial roles, were earning above £20,000.

One hundred per cent employment was also achieved by former food students – 90 per cent in professional or managerial roles – who were earning on average £21,650 pa.

Veterinary nursing students not only achieved 100 per cent employment but also saw their average salary increase by more than £1,000 compared to the previous year’s graduates. All bar one were working as veterinary nurses and the exception was in teaching/research.

Rural enterprise and land management students had 100 per cent of the class of 2015 in employment or further study, with 94.4 per cent in professional or managerial roles.

Engineering graduates had the highest starting salaries of those graduating in 2015, with pay starting at £24,700. Of the 97.78 per cent of engineers in employment, 90 per cent were in professional or managerial roles.

Countryside Management students’ prospects grew with a 96.55 per cent employment rate while for animal studies graduates it was 97.06 per cent.

At postgraduate level, former Harper Adams students achieved 96.39 per cent employment and other undergraduates, including those completing foundation degrees, achieved 95.9 per cent employment.