More than 73% of international students graduating with a UK degree needed their qualification to obtain their current job, according to a new survey.
· 70% in a relevant job within six months
· 90% rated their qualification helpful for their professional journey
· 96% rate their UK education highly.
· 84% recommended studying in the UK
· 73% maintain connections from their UK studies.
UK qualifications have proved vital for careers of the majority of international students, according to a new survey, with more than 73% of them requiring their UK qualification to obtain their current job.
The British Council’s Alumni Voices report ‘Beyond Graduation: The Lifelong Global Impact of a UK Education’ found that international students overwhelmingly value their experience of UK higher education, both in employment and beyond.
4,140 UK alumni from 130 countries were surveyed for the report, underlining the continued importance of a UK qualification around the world.
The report found that more than a third of respondents (32.3%) found a job immediately. Another 40.7% found a job within 6 months, and only around 7% took over a year. 75% of those who already had a job stated that the new qualification improved their career prospects with their employer.
Some 90% of respondents rated their qualification helpful for their professional journey, with graduates describing the UK degree as giving them an edge in recruitment, especially for international, multinational, or prestigious employers.
Undertaken by the British Council’s Alumni UK programme, the survey found that 96% of alumni rate their UK education highly. Some 84% of alumni had recommended studying in the UK, and 73% maintain connections from their UK studies.
The high ratings of social aspects in the survey indicate that UK education’s impact is not limited to professional outcomes but also reaches into the personal and social lives of alumni.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents report that in the last 12 months they have maintained contact with people they first met during their UK studies. These findings highlight that social connection is central to sustained alumni advocacy, showing the importance of the student experience beyond academic delivery.
The report provides evidence of the enduring value of a UK higher education experience. Drawing on three years of data, the findings highlight how UK education continues to deliver skills, support professional progression, and foster long lasting international networks that extend well beyond graduation and national borders.
The study also highlights the range of shared skills gained from a UK education. Where students had taken up roles not directly linked to their subject of study, they highlighted the range of transferable skills gained from their UK education, and their perceived importance in enabling entry into the new sectors. This underscores the value of UK education beyond credentialism.
More than 140,000 international graduates of UK higher education institutions and transnational programmes across 208 countries and territories have joined the British Council’s Alumni UK programme since it was launched in November 2022, providing a global network for people who have experienced a UK education. Recognising alumni as influential leaders and ambassadors, the programme fosters lasting relationships between graduates and the UK, promoting shared values and collaboration.
Catriona McCarthy, Interim Director Education, British Council said: “A UK education is a long-term global asset that builds enduring skills, drives career success, and creates lifelong global networks. Alumni consistently describe their UK education as a formative experience that extends beyond academic learning. They highlight the combined value of skills developed during study, opportunities created through exposure to UK teaching and professional cultures, and networks built with peers, academics, and institutions that endure over time. At a time when prospective students are rightly weighing the investment involved in international study, these findings provide reassurance of the longer-term value of UK study.”
Martin Edmondson, CEO, Graduate Futures Institute said: “We were delighted to host the launch of the Alumni Voices: Beyond Graduation report at our Annual Conference this year, and we welcome its findings. We know that many of our members are delivering excellent support to international students and graduates, and we are pleased to see this reflected in this year’s results, with 75% of respondents reporting improved career prospects from qualification, and 90% rated their education as helpful for their professional journey. It is heartening to see how a UK education is highly valued by international alumni.”