Ninety-six per cent of graduates from University of Gloucestershire are employed or undertaking further study, according to the latest Graduate Outcomes survey.

The new survey showed further big improvements in successful job outcomes for University of Gloucestershire graduates.

The survey results, released yesterday (May 31), track the employment status of the cohort of UK students who graduated in 2020/21, 15 months after they completed their studies.

The results show:

• 96% of graduates from the university are employed or undertaking further study.

• This is an improvement for University of Gloucestershire graduates of 1.7% over last year - outpacing the improvement across the university sector, which is up 0.9%.

• The university's results for employment or further study are now 1.5% better than the university sector average.

• University of Gloucestershire ranks 21st out of 134 higher education providers in the UK-wide survey, and top in the South West.

• 71.5% of University of Gloucestershire graduates secured employment which is classified as "highly skilled" or went into further study.

• 100% of graduates from University of Gloucestershire adult nursing, journalism, primary education, and sound and music production courses are in graduate-level jobs or further study.

• 94% of sports therapy, 92% of sports journalism and 90% of cyber and computer security graduates are in graduate-level jobs or further study.

Stephen Marston, University of Gloucestershire vice-chancellor, said: "The university is delighted that our graduates have achieved such success. One of our top goals as a university is to support all our students to gain the skills and qualifications for successful careers and rewarding lives.

"It is tribute to the talent, commitment and hard work of our students and our staff that they have achieved this further improvement.

"These are our best results in the four years that the Graduate Outcomes survey has been running. We have seen improvements both in the university's own performance compared with last year, and when compared with the rate of improvement across the university sector.

"To have been ranked top in the South West on the indicator of employment or further study is a huge achievement, reflecting sustained focus and effort by the university to support our students to build successful careers."

Martin Perfect, director of student employability at University of Gloucestershire, said: "Graduate Outcomes aims to help current and future students gain an insight into career destinations and development, and the results from the class of 2021 show a very positive picture at University of Gloucestershire.

"The university places extremely high importance on developing employable and professional graduates. These results are a testament to the career development opportunities incorporated into the curriculum here at Gloucestershire, at course level and through work related learning and extra-curricular activities.

"Any recent graduate who is still looking for their next career step can continue to make use of the university's careers team, Your Future Plan."