Engineering graduates doing well, but foreign student numbers cause concern

London – Engineering and Technology graduates to be highly employable, with 94% in work three years after graduation, according to a new report by EngineeringUK finds. The median salary for engineering and technology graduates three years on is £28,000, while 74% of engineering and technology graduates who enter employment, go into in Engineering and Technology related occupations, the study also found.

EngineeringUK’s report, ‘Where Do Engineering Graduates Go?’ also found that one third  of engineering and technology applications in 2007/08 were from non-UK domiciled students, up five percentage points since 2001/02 when 28% of applicants were from non UK domiciles. This was about double the proportion of overseas applicants  across all subjects, with the average being 15%.

This long-term rising trend of increasing engineering applications  from outside the UK is particularly prominent at higher degree level, where only 27% are UK domiciled compared to 45% across all subjects, according to the engineering body.

“Whilst numbers of engineering graduates continue to increase due to strong employability and salary levels, there remains a rising trend in overseas engineering applications compared to home students,” said Paul Jackson, chief executive of EngineeringUK.” The implications for UK the business and education systems are as yet undetermined but we must work together to investigate this trend and its potential effect on the UK’s technological competitiveness.”