According to the latest High Fliers Research 2024 report, the top universities most targeted by graduate employers are the University of Birmingham, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Leeds, and University of Bristol — with Birmingham ranked first for employer engagement.

While Oxford and Cambridge are highly prestigious, they are not always the most targeted for direct recruitment. In the latest rankings, Oxford placed 15th and Cambridge 13th, behind universities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Nottingham, which have strong employer partnerships and larger graduate cohorts.

Globally, the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford lead for graduate employability, ranking in the top 10 worldwide. Imperial College London, LSE, and University College London also appear strongly in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings.

Graduate employers use careers fairs, assessment centres, guest lectures, sponsored projects, and networking events to connect with students. Many companies run tailored programmes at universities where they hire the most talent.

Not always. While a high-ranking university can boost your CV, job outcomes also depend on your degree subject, grades, work placements, and networking. Some lower-ranked universities excel in employability for specific industries.

Yes. Many top employers run on-campus recruitment events such as insight days, career talks, and networking evenings. These visits are especially common at universities with large graduate populations in fields like business, engineering, and tech.

Finance, consulting, technology, healthcare, law, and engineering are among the biggest recruiters. However, creative industries, start-ups, and the public sector are also growing employers for graduates from a variety of universities.

Absolutely. A placement or sandwich year provides real work experience and industry contacts, making graduates stand out to recruiters. Universities like Bath, Surrey, and Aston are well known for strong placement opportunities.

Not necessarily. While larger universities often attract more employer events, smaller universities with niche strengths or specialist courses can be highly valued in certain industries such as healthcare, design, or tech.

Students should use their careers service, attend employer events, complete internships or summer schemes, build a strong LinkedIn profile, and develop soft skills such as communication and teamwork to stand out in competitive fields.