Science students from top universities earn the most

Science students from top universities earn the most

Graduates earn hugely different salaries depending on what subject they study and which university they attend, new research has found.

According to research into graduate employment and earnings by the 1994 group, science graduates from the old research-intensive universities will earn much more than graduates with arts and social science degrees from the newer teaching-led institutions.

A third (31.7%) of science and technology graduates from research-intensive universities (those in the Russell and 1994 groups) earn between £30,000 and £49,999 three years after leaving university. This compares with 12.4% of graduates from less prestigious institutions, the study found.

Just 16% of graduates in arts and social sciences from research-intensive universities expect to earn that amount of money and only 8.8% from other institutions.

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Graduates in almost every subject - apart from education - who study at research-intensive universities stand to earn more, the research found.

Three years after leaving university, the earnings of graduates from the 1994 and Russell groups universities are likely to be higher than those of graduates from the rest of the sector. The Russell group universities include Manchester, Cambridge and Leeds. The 1994 group is made up of universities including Bath, Durham and York.

Research-intensive universities have a higher proportion of graduates engaged in graduate-level jobs after three years than newer institutions including former polytechnics.

Graduates from research-intensive universities are likely to be happier retrospectively with their choice of institution but there is little difference in the career satisfaction of graduates.

Speaking at a Policy Exchange event to launch the report, Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of the University of Exeter and the 1994 group's chairman, said: "Students make very well considered choices when choosing institutions and courses – and these are decisions they don't regret further down the line.

"There is a strong correlation between what students expect and what they get as far as employment and earnings are concerned.

"The vast majority of students – regardless of institution attended and subject studied – find their employment prospects and earnings potential are significantly enhanced by their experience of higher education."

He said the report underlined the importance of universities' efforts to widen participation and improve fair access.

The president of the National Union of Students, Wes Streeting, said: "It is very pleasing to note the striking similarity in employment rates for graduates from all types of institution three and a half years after leaving university.

"It is no surprise that graduates from research-intensive institutions go on to earn more on average. However, we need to remember that these returns are far from guaranteed, so these figures cannot be used to back up the argument for institutions to set their own fees."

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