Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) from Universities: 2019/20: Scotland

Sex

Figure 2 shows the median total earnings for UK-domiciled first-degree graduates from Scottish HEIs five years after graduation split by subject area and sex.

Median earnings can vary greatly between subject and sex, and some subjects are more commonly studied by either males or females. For example, the majority of graduates from ‘Engineering’ and ‘Physics and Astronomy’ - which are typically higher-earning subjects, are male, whereas the majority of graduates from ‘Health and social care’ and ‘Nursing and midwifery’ – which are typically lower-earning subjects, are female. This is not the case for every subject, however given there are proportionally more males than females graduating from high earning subjects, it is likely to contribute towards some of the variation in earnings.

It shows that male graduates from 2013/14 earned on average £2,500 more than female graduates, with male graduates earning £30,700 in 2019/20 compared to £28,200 for female graduates.

Comparing this to previous equivalent cohorts of graduates from Scottish HEIs, male graduates from 2012/13 earned on average £2,500 more than female graduates (£29,900 for males and £27,400 for females), and male graduates from 2011/12 earned on average £3,000 more than female graduates (£29,600 for males and £26,600 for females).

In 27 out of 35 subjects, males have higher median earnings than females five years after graduation. The largest difference is seen in ‘Pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy’, where male graduates had median total earnings of £36,200 compared to £31,500 for female graduates.

Female median earnings only exceed male median earnings in 6 out of 35 subjects five years after graduation. Of these subjects, the largest difference is seen in ‘Media, journalism and communications’ where females had median total earnings of £25,600 compared to £23,400 for male graduates.

Due to small numbers of male graduates for subjects within ‘Celtic Studies’, the figures have been supressed for both males and females.

‘English Studies’ was the only subject where the median earnings between males and females was equal, with those graduating in this subject earning £25,300.

*UK-domiciled first-degree graduates 2013/14.

(1) Hours worked are not taken into account.

(2) Celtic Studies not included due to small cohort size.

*UK-domiciled first-degree graduates 2013/14.

(1) Hours worked are not taken into account.

(2) ‘x’ denotes that data have been suppressed to prevent disclosure. All figures associated with cohorts smaller than 11 have been suppressed, and further suppression has been implemented to prevent disclosure by subtraction.

Disability

Table 2 shows the median total earnings for UK-domiciled first-degree graduates from Scottish HEIs five years after graduation split by disability (detailed level). It shows that graduates in 2013/14 with no known disability were earning £29,300 in 2019/20, compared to £26,400 for graduates with a disability. Graduates with no known disability also have higher earnings than graduates with any type of disability or impairment.

Graduates with mental health disability categorised as neurodivergent (such as ASD, dyslexia, or dyspraxia) earned £27,500, whereas graduates with a non-neurodivergent mental health disability (such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety) earned £23,800. Those with a physical disability earned £27,100, and those with another type of disability or multiple disabilities earned £24,200. Due to the data collection methods,where graduates have self-reported as having multiple disabilities, each condition will not be recorded separately. This may have an impact on graduates who have conditions that are associated with multiple disabilities or older graduates who may be more likely to have multiple disabilities.

*UK-domiciled first-degree graduates 2013/14.

(1) Hours worked are not taken into account.

(2) In line with HESA’s collection policy, where it is not known whether or not a student has a disability, the student will be recorded as ‘No known disability’.

See HESA’s website for HESA codes used and more details: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/collection/c13051/a/disable.

Table 3 shows the median total earnings for UK-domiciled first-degree graduates from Scottish HEIs five years after graduation split by sex and disability (high-level). It shows that those who are disabled earn less than those with no known disability for both males and females. Males who graduated in 2013/14 with no known disability were earning £31,100 in 2019/20 compared to £27,800 for male graduates with a disability. Females who graduated in 2013/14 with no known disability were earning £28,200 in 2019/20 compared to £25,800 for female graduates with a disability.

Disability status is determined by the graduates’ own self-assessment. See ‘Methodology’ section for more information.

*UK-domiciled first-degree graduates 2013/14.

(1) Hours worked are not taken into account.

(2) In line with HESA’s collection policy, where it is not known whether or not a student has a disability, the student will be recorded as ‘No known disability’.

See HESA’s website for more details: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/collection/c13051/a/disable.