University of Queensland graduates under the age of 25 and available for full-time work have again achieved outstanding employment rates and high graduate salaries.
The Graduate Careers Council of Australia's Graduate Destination Survey 2000 released today reveals that University of Queensland graduates continued to perform well above the national average and were highly sought by employers.
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said that in the national performance figures compiled by DETYA, the University had achieved a full-time employment rate for 2000 of 88 percent against the national full-time employment figure of 83.6 percent.
UQ had averaged 86 percent over the past four years, a full 10 percent higher than the national figure of 76 percent in the same time frame.
Of the Year 1999 graduates surveyed in April 2000, the University had only 5.5 percent of its graduates recorded as unemployed and seeking full-time employment, compared with the national average of 6.7 percent.
"Over the past seven years the University has had only 5 percent or less of its graduates recorded as unemployed and seeking full-time employment," Professor Hay said.
"The survey shows that on the basis of graduate employment results alone, the University provides Queenslanders, in their own state, with educational opportunities second to none in Australia.
"While a degree is about more than just obtaining employment, it is rewarding for graduates to know there are direct and early employment benefits from their studies, as well as the acquisition of life-long skills."
UQ graduates reported high full-time employment rates in fields such as Medicine (100 percent); Dentistry (97.4 percent); Electronic Engineering (93 percent); Civil Engineering (100 percent); Mining Engineering (100 percent); Pharmacy (100 percent); Physiotherapy (100 percent); Occupational Therapy (97 percent); and Law (100 percent).
UQ graduates also reported above average starting salaries, receiving at least $1000 more in their pockets than the national average starting salaries of $34,000 for males and $32,000 for females. The higher end salaries included Mining Engineering and Dentistry, with one UQ Dentistry graduate reporting a salary of $120,000. The figures for UQ graduates in full-time study averaged 28 percent against a national figure of 22 percent.
Professor Hay said The University of Queensland had enjoyed the leading position in the country over a number of years for the rate of positive outcomes for graduates, as attested to by the Good Universities Guides University of the Year award for 1998-99.
People wishing to find out more about UQ courses can contact the UQ Admissions Office telephone (07) 3365 2203, email: AdmissionsEnquiries@admin.uq.edu.au or visit www.studyatuq.net or attend information nights at UQ St Lucia on December 20 or UQ Ipswich on December 18.
Media: Further information, contact Jan King at UQ Communications 0413 601 248 or email: communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au.
