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• Government statistics (2023) show graduates have a higher employment rate (88%) than non-graduates (70%); 67% of graduates were in high-skilled employment compared to 24% of non-graduates
  
  
• Government statistics (2023) also show graduate salaries are on average £10,500 higher than non-graduates
  
  
• A recent UK survey reveals that 97% of business leaders agree that graduates reach managerial positions faster than non-graduates; 78% of graduates say the support they received at university helped them gain employment (Universities UK, 2023)
  
  
• Many university courses include practical industry experience and work placements, giving students the chance to make professional contacts and build their CV. Many of our graduates find permanent jobs within their work-placement organisations
  
  
• Students can get university-based work experience. At the ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ, we've got a number of paid roles open to students: our Student Ambassadors, for example, gain skills such as time management, customer service and teamwork, and use this work as a reference for their first job out of university
  
  
• Once your child graduates, university careers' advisers – at Beds, our Careers and Employability Service - actively assist in finding them employment, and continue to assist them as alumni

As a parent or carer, you would probably be anxious if your 18-year-old moved out to set up independently: are they ready for that kind of life challenge? Would they cope?

Going away to university is a half-way house where your child can learn to live independently – juggle a budget, cook for themselves, get up on time in the morning – in a supported environment. It helps young people think for themselves, build their independent decision-making skills and makes them more self-reliant – and, as a result, they become more confident in life.

University isn't just about study – it allows students to meet people from many different countries and backgrounds. At Bedfordshire, we have a vibrant, cosmopolitan student population with more than 20,000 students from around 115 countries. So university is a melting pot of cultures, points of view and ideas, all of which broaden your child's mind and understanding.

Because everyone is finding their feet together, it's also the place many students make life-long friends who offer support for your child in the future, in both their personal and professional life. The 'uni network' really isn't just a movie cliché!