AGCAS

82% of first year students aware of careers service

According to a new report, awareness of university careers services among students, even during the first year of their course, is high. 38% of those questioned had visited their service during their first year and another 45%, although they did not visit the service, were aware of it. About half took part in events run by their careers service especially for first year students. 50,000 students were interviewed as part of FutureTrack, a longitudinal study of applicants to HE in 2006.

Big users

Careers service usage was higher among mature students, international students, black students, males, those studying discipline-based academic subjects (such as Physical Sciences, Linguistics and Classics, Languages, History and Philosophical Studies) and those from higher tariff institutions. Medical, law and business studies students were among those least likely to use their careers service at this early stage.

The report gives a fascinating insight into student experience and attitudes both inside and outside university, including their changing career expectations, their use of information, advice and guidance services and their experience of paid and voluntary work, as well as their views on their course and attitude to debt.

Missing out on talent

The survey also found that students with the best qualifications did not always attend the highest tariff universities. Often locality or the attraction of a particular course was a deciding factor in choosing where to study. This suggests that employers who target only more prestigious universities are missing out on some of the best talent.

FutureTrack - Plans, aspirations and realities: taking stock of higher education and career choices one year on was published in November 2009. The research was undertaken on behalf of the Higher Education Career Services Unit (HECSU). The report is available to download below.

• FutureTrack 2 report downloads

  • FutureTrack report (2009) (6.1 MB)

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