Did you look at league tables, The Guardian University Guide, or Prospects Career Guides to help you choose where and what to study?
If you did, then Graduate Outcomes data would have helped you get where you are today.
Around 15 months after you graduate, you will receive an email from angliaruskin@graduateoutcomes.ac.uk inviting you to take part in the Graduate Outcomes survey. It will take about 10 minutes to complete and will provide valuable insight into higher education for the next generation of students. Sharing your perspectives and outcomes builds a national picture that UK universities and colleges use to innovate their services.
Make your voice count and help influence the next generation of students.
Find out more about the survey
What Questions Are Asked?
The survey includes a set of questions asked of all graduates, focusing on what you are doing 15 months after completing your studies – this is referred to as Census Week. There are both mandatory questions and a set of opt-in questions.
The two main questions in the survey focus on the following:
- What activities were you doing in Census Week?
- Which of these activities do you consider to be your most important activity in Census Week?
The answers you give to these questions will then open a subset of questions related to the activity you have selected.
The survey aims to capture three main areas:
- How meaningful or important you feel your activity to be
- Whether you are using skills you gained at university
- How you are progressing towards future goals
About the Graduate Outcomes Survey
Graduate Outcomes is built for the change-makers.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited (HESA) works with UK universities and colleges to enable all graduates to make their voices heard, using the Graduate Outcomes survey to share perspectives. Through data collection and analysis expertise, they reveal the bigger picture of the career paths and opportunities taken by recent graduates, to drive innovation in higher education.
Data from graduates today, empowering the students of tomorrow.
Why do we do it?
Legally, all universities have to provide results of the survey to HESA, but we also want to do it. Your answers help us when we’re reviewing courses and developing our services, and they’re useful to you because they allow you to see how successful students are after completing specific courses.
Who can participate?
We ask anyone who has recently completed a course with us at ARU to take part in the survey. The Graduate Outcomes survey covers all full-time and part-time courses and qualifications from HNC level.
You’ll be asked the same questions, even if you’re studying for a postgraduate degree or are working at ARU.
By completing the survey, you’ll be helping future students make choices about which university to attend and which course to study.
You can find out more about how HESA uses the data on their website.
How do I complete the Graduate Outcomes Survey?
You’ll receive an email with a unique link so you can complete the survey online, but you may also be contacted by telephone and asked to complete the survey over the phone. If you’re not contactable, information may be sought from a third party, such as a family member.
While we encourage you to complete the survey, you’re not obliged to. If you don’t want to take part, just let the survey organisation know, and they’ll stop contacting you.
If you’re having any issues completing the survey or think you may be eligible to take part in this year’s survey but haven’t yet received an email link, please contact employability@aru.ac.uk.
For further information, please see graduateoutcomes.ac.uk/student-q.
Will I be contacted by anyone else prior to or after the survey?
The Employability Service and Alumni Team at ARU will stay in touch with you after you graduate and continue to support you:
- 1 month after graduation: You will receive an email welcoming you to the alumni community, including details about the Graduate Outcomes survey and lifetime graduate careers support.
- 6 & 12 months after graduation: You will receive an email reminder about the graduate careers support available to you together with a reminder about the Graduate Outcomes survey.
- 2 weeks before contact period: You will receive a final reminder email that the Graduate Outcomes survey will be landing in your inbox soon.