The Graduate Outcomes survey is a statutory return for all Higher Education institutions in the UK. It plays a key role in helping us understand and support our graduates, as well as:

• Giving graduates the chance to reflect on their journey and share how their Manchester experience shaped their next steps,

• Helping future and current students make informed decisions about careers and further study,

• Informing how the University and external organisations - including the government, researchers, and journalists - evaluate and shape higher education. 

By encouraging more graduates to complete the survey, we can gain a clearer picture of graduate pathways, helping to inform and strengthen our student and graduate careers provision and employability initiatives in curriculum. 

It is important that all staff at the University take responsibility for raising awareness of the Graduate Outcomes survey among students and graduates. This toolkit is here to help you do this.

There are two key steps when promoting the Graduate Outcomes survey to students:

• Raise early awareness of the survey and its value before students leave University,
• Ask finalists to update their contact details before leaving so they can receive the survey after graduating.

For resources to promote the survey to students, please visit the Graduate Outcomes Survey Staff Toolkit. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Distribute postcards at events,
• Share slides in final year lectures or seminars,
• Highlight the survey in pre-graduation emails or graduation social media posts,
• Include a Graduate Outcomes banner in your email signature.

The ideal time to promote the Graduate Outcomes survey to students is in the second semester of their final year, as well as in any graduation communications you are sending.   

Currently, graduates who completed their course between May and July 2024 are now being invited to complete the survey. They have until 30 November 2025 to take part.  There are two key things you can do to encourage these graduates to complete the survey during this time:

• Share on social media, for example LinkedIn or WeChat,
• Reference the Graduate Outcomes survey as a low prominence item in a regular piece of communication, for example alumni newsletters.

For resources to promote the survey to graduates, please visit the Graduate Outcomes Survey Staff Toolkit. 

Across the University, Graduate Outcomes is promoted centrally through:

• Social media such as the Careers Service Instagram, University WeChat channels, the Recent Graduate Careers Network, and the International Careers Students and Graduates Network,
• Banners in student hubs and the Careers Service (the Atrium, first floor, University Place),
• Graduation brochures and speeches,
• Alumni newsletters.

However, staff who have regular contact with students and graduates are vital to promoting the Graduate Outcomes survey. For more information on how to do this, please visit our Graduate Outcomes Survey Staff Toolkit. Here you will find newsletter text, social media copy, graphics, PowerPoint slides and more.

All graduates who completed a Higher Education course are invited to complete the Graduate Outcomes survey 15 months after they finish their course. Graduates are invited to complete the Graduate Outcomes survey in one of four survey periods each year. Currently those who completed their courses between May and July 2024 are invited to complete the survey, and have until 30 November 2025 to take part.

Graduates are invited complete the Graduate Outcomes survey by HESA, not by universities directly. Each graduate receives a unique survey link. UK graduates are invited to take part by email, text and phone. International graduates are invited to take part by email and text.

However, graduates can are only contacted by HESA if we have accurate contact information for them, which is why it is important that we have up-to-date email addresses and telephone numbers for our graduates. Students can update their contact details via MyManchester, and graduates can refresh their contact information on YourManchester.

You can find more resources to help you encourage students to update their contact information before they leave the University on our Graduate Outcomes Survey Staff Toolkit. 

The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and asks about the graduate's activities 15 months after completing their course, whether that’s further study, self-employment, or work. There are also optional questions around general wellbeing and personal situation. All answers are confidential and secure.

Internally, the results are used to support the University in reviewing, improving and promoting courses and student offers, including for a number of information and regulatory purposes.

You can access the latest Graduate Outcomes data on PowerBi. Please note: when sharing data from previous Graduate Outcomes surveys, you must follow HESA's anonymisation and suppression guidelines using their Standard Rounding Methodology.

Externally, the results are used in various league table including the Times UK university rankings and therefore play a key role in providing a snapshot of the employment and further study outcomes of our graduates. 

If you have any ideas or questions, please get in touch with the Graduate Transitions Team at the Careers Service: graduatecareers@manchester.ac.uk