A recent survey has found that a majority of university students feel their institutions are not transparent about the employment prospects associated with their courses. Out of 1,054 undergraduates polled, 66% reported that their universities did not proactively provide information on the proportion of graduates in their subject who secure graduate-level jobs, with 34% saying they were not given this information at all.

The survey also revealed that 44% of students had never been informed about the average salaries for graduates in their fields of study. Concerns about the value of their degrees were widespread, with 61% expressing fear that their education would not lead to employment that justifies the cost; among these, 15% said they were “very worried.” These anxieties were more pronounced among students in certain disciplines, rising to 78% in social sciences and 69% among arts and creative subjects.

Duncan Verry, representing training organisation Bett, which conducted the survey, commented that while some student dissatisfaction centered on costs, the predominant issue was a perceived lack of honesty from universities. “A lot of these students do not feel their university has been straight with them,” he said.

In response, a spokesperson for Universities UK, which represents university vice chancellors, highlighted the availability of the government’s Discover Uni website. The platform allows prospective students to compare institutions and courses based on various criteria, including teaching quality, costs, and graduate outcomes.

The findings underscore ongoing debates about the transparency of higher education providers in informing students about the potential return on investment of their degrees, particularly in sectors where employment outcomes and salary prospects can vary significantly.