In the latest Graduate Outcomes results for 2020/21 graduates, Queen’s University Belfast has both the lowest graduate unemployment rate and the highest percentage of graduates in employment and further study among 24 comparable world-class research-intensive UK universities.

The Graduate Outcomes survey is a national survey capturing information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after they finish their studies. In an initial analysis of the latest data collected from Graduate Outcomes 2020/21, Queen’s University Belfast came out on top of all the Russell Group Universities when it comes to graduate activity.

Queen’s has the highest percentage of graduates within the Russell Group who are in employment and/or further study (92%), outperforming graduates from comparable red brick institutions. The Russell Group comprises 24 world-class, research-intensive universities including the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Manchester.

Queen’s also has the lowest percentage of graduates within the Russell Group who are unemployed (2.6%).

Regionally, Ulster University also performed well with a graduate unemployment rate of just 2.8%.

The Graduate Outcomes survey is the biggest annual social survey in the UK and captures perspectives and current status of graduates. All graduates who completed a higher education course in the UK are asked to take part in the survey 15 months after they finish their studies.

The Graduate Outcomes survey is conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), you can find their description of the survey methodology and definitions here.

National data is available on the HESA website.