Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) from Universities: 2022-23: Scotland

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)

Table 4 shows the median total earnings for Scottish domiciled first-degree graduates from Scottish HEIs five years after graduation split by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles. It shows that median earnings typically decrease with each SIMD quintile, from the highest median earnings in Quintile 5 (20% least deprived areas) to the lowest earnings in Quintile 1 (20% most deprived areas). Graduates from Quintile 5 who graduated in 2016/17 earned £34,700 on average in 2022/23 compared to those from Quintile 1 who earned £31,400 on average.

These differences in earnings between SIMD quintiles are consistent for both females and males. Female graduates from Quintile 5 who graduated in 2016/17 earned £33,600 on average in 2022/23, compared to those from Quintile 1 who earned £31,000 on average. Similarly, male graduates from Quintile 5 who graduated in 2016/17 earned £36,500 on average in 2022/23, compared to those from Quintile 1 who earned £31,800 on average.

The differences in earnings between quintiles may be partially reflected by subject choice and higher education institution attended. Graduates from the 20% most deprived areas are less likely to study subjects like Medicine and Engineering which have higher median earnings. The Commissioner for Fair Access’s discussion paper on retention, outcomes and destinations provides evidence on subject and university choice for individuals from 20% most deprived areas: Commissioner for Fair Access - gov.scot

The quintile is determined by the SIMD rank associated with the graduates postcode when they enrolled into their studies, meaning that although the SIMD is based on the graduates’ HESA records in 2016/17 - the postcode associated with that record may predate 2016/17.

Table 4: Median total earnings of graduates* from Scottish HEIs by sex and SIMD five years after graduation, 2022/23 tax year

*Scottish-domiciled first-degree graduates 2016/17
[1] The table presents the total earnings for those in sustained employment five years after graduation. Hours worked are not taken into account.
[2] SIMD 2012 has been used in this release, as this was the index available during the 2016/17 academic year, SIMD 2016 was not implemented until the 2017/18 academic year.
[3] Graduates with a sex recorded as neither male nor female are not included to prevent disclosure given the small cohort size.