A significant majority of university students report that their institutions were not transparent about the job prospects associated with their chosen courses, according to a recent survey. Polling 1,054 undergraduates, the study found that 66% were not informed, unless they specifically inquired, about the proportion of graduates from their program who secure graduate-level employment.

Furthermore, 34% of students indicated they received no information whatsoever regarding post-graduation job outcomes. The survey also highlighted that 44% of respondents have never been informed about the average salary for graduates in their field of study.

Concerns about degree value are prevalent, with 61% of all students expressing worry that their degree may not lead to a job that justifies the financial investment. This anxiety is particularly acute among students in social sciences, where 78% share this concern, and among those in arts and creative fields, at 69%.

Duncan Verry, portfolio director at Bett, the organization that conducted the survey, commented on the findings. "I assumed the complaints would be about cost, and some are. But the louder one was about honesty," Verry stated. "A lot of these students do not feel their university has been straight with them about what happens after graduation."

The findings emerge at a time when concerns about youth employment are high. In late 2025, 957,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 in the UK were not engaged in education, employment, or training, representing 12.8% of that demographic.

While government websites offer data on graduate employment and salaries for various courses, many young people are reportedly unaware of these resources. Employment rates can differ substantially depending on the degree subject and the institution's ranking. For instance, degrees in medicine and economics from top universities tend to yield strong outcomes, whereas art degrees from lower-ranked institutions often show among the poorest results.

These sentiments echo earlier warnings from academics. In January, Professor Shitij Kapur, vice chancellor of King's College London, described a degree as no longer a