Study shows almost two-thirds of students didn’t visit careers service in first year

As the number of unemployed 2009 graduates is likely to hit 30,000 six months after graduating, research by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) has revealed that almost two-thirds – 63% – didn’t visit their university careers service at all.

HECSU’s Futuretrack surveyed 49,555 students as they were finishing their first year or starting their second year in higher education. Undertaken by the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick, it also revealed that friends and family were a popular source of careers information for all students, with 42% seeking guidance from this group.

As far as plans for further study were concerned, fewer than a third of degree students did not plan any further training or education after completion of their course expecting instead to go straight into employment on graduation.

The full report will be published in November, but early findings also provide new students and their families with some insight into what life as a first year at university will be like:

• First generation to enter university: 48% of students are from families where parents do not have degrees
• Our tutors are great…mostly! 80% agreed their tuition learning, and support was excellent
• Some students are surprised about their workload: 53% cited the amount of work as excessive
• Students favour home comforts: 57% lived in university student accommodation and over a quarter (31%) at home
• Four days study a week: average student workload was 15 hours a week spent in class-room-based or other formal teaching sessions and 13 hours on non-timetabled coursework
• Hard work for architecture, building and planning students: over 55% found the work for those degrees harder than expected (just ahead of medicine and law, both 52%)

Jane Artess, director of research at HECSU commissioned the research. She said: “Students usually have a pretty rosy outlook when starting university, with their initial focus on making friends, social activities and generally having fun.

“We’ve surveyed them as they reach the end of their first year to provide insight into their actual experiences; painting a more accurate and rounded picture of university life. It’s concerning to hear that despite the importance of early career planning being extensively reported and the wide availability of resources, the majority of students lack a long-term perspective.

“We can now see those same students entering the workplace; immensely underprepared for a job hunt during a recession.”

Have you just started University this year? Are you already thinking three/four years ahead? Would you even know where to look for careers advice and forward planning? Let us know below.

Image kind courtesy of Kennuff