Leeds is now among UK’s top five universities for employers

We even beat Oxford


The latest study conducted by High Fliers Research has places Leeds in the top 5 universities in the country to be targeted by employers. The study highlights graduate vacancies, and starting salaries at employers such as Apple, the BBC, and the Bank of England, while the rankings are based on the numbers of top graduate recruiters at campus fairs and other local university promotions.

Jane Campbell, Head of Student Careers at Leeds, has said, “This is fantastic news, illustrating that students at the University of Leeds have a wealth of opportunities when it comes to finding a job and work experience with Britain’s leading employers. The proportion of our graduates achieving high-quality job outcomes is among the best in the UK, at more than 81%.” Other universities in the top 10 include Warwick, Manchester, and Bristol, and Leeds ranked higher than both Oxford and Durham.

Things are looking up for graduates, as the report also shows that employers are planning to increase their graduate recruitment by 4.3% in 2017, and 90% of the UK’s top graduate employers are shown to be offering paid work experience programmes for students and recent graduates in 2016/2017.

Competition for these opportunities still remains fierce, of course. Graduate job applications at top firms were up 9% last year, and employers continually stress the importance of work experience for applicants.

Jo Johnson, Universities Minister, said: “The fact that our country’s top employers are offering more graduate jobs is a clear sign that the UK’s higher education sector continues to be an excellent option for people looking to secure a rewarding career.”