2008 AUSTRALIAN GRADUATE SURVEY (AGS) *

A total of 3620 students who graduated at the University of Tasmania during 2007 were surveyed during November-January 2007 or May-July 2008 (depending on time of graduation) as part of the annual Australian Graduate Survey. Of these, information was returned either by questionnaire or from the University’s records for 2059 graduates, providing a response rate of 56.9%.  1577 (76.6%) had completed an undergraduate degree (associate diploma, diploma, pass or honours bachelor), 377 (18.3%) had completed a coursework postgraduate program and 102 (5.0%) had completed a research higher degree (there were 3 cases with missing data for this item). 1248 respondents (59.6%) were female while 804 (39.0%) were male (7 records contained missing data). 

Graduate Outcomes for Respondents Completing an Undergraduate Degree

The survey showed that of the 1577 respondents who had completed an undergraduate award:

• 639  (40.5%) were in full-time employment, of whom 56 were also doing further study
• 426 (27.0%) were in part-time employment, of whom 152 were seeking full-time employment (179 were also doing further study)
• 100 (6.3%) were not working but seeking employment either full-time or part-time, or both
• 199 (12.6%) were not working and not seeking employment
• 174 (11.0%) were not working but doing further study
• 209 (13.3%) did not respond to the question on work status

Of the 639 respondents in full-time employment who had completed an undergraduate degree 628 indicated their country of employment, with 601 (94.1%) being employed within Australia and 27 (4.2%) employed overseas.  Of those working in Australia, and with valid postcodes, 436 (76.5%) were working in Tasmania and 134 (23.5%) working interstate.  Of these, 566 also provided their sector of employment, distributed as follows:

The median salary (based on 601 responses) for all categories of full-time employment in Australia was $43,000 and the median salary (based on 413 responses) for all categories of full-time employment within Tasmania was $43,000.

Of those completing undergraduate degrees, a total of 605 respondents (38.7% of the 1564 who responded to the question) were enrolled in further study, 527 full-time and 78 part-time.

Of those respondents who were not working but seeking work, either part or full-time, 23 were enrolled in full-time study and 4 were studying part-time; 73 (4.6% of the total of 1577 respondents) were not enrolled in further study at all. This group appears to have had the least favourable outcome following their undergraduate degree.

Graduate Outcomes for Respondents Completing a Postgraduate Degree

The survey showed that of the 479 respondents who had completed a postgraduate degree and who responded to the relevant questions:

• 264 (55.1%) were in full-time employment, of whom 53 were also doing further study
• 107 (22.3%) were in part-time employment, of whom 39 were seeking full-time employment (35 were also doing further study)
• 50 (10.4%) were not working but seeking employment either full-time or part-time, or both
• 49 (10.2%) were not working and not seeking employment
• 28  (5.8%) were not working but doing further study
• 9 (1.9%) did not respond to the question

Of the 264 respondents in full-time employment who had completed a postgraduate degree 260 indicated their country of employment, with 233 (89.6%) being employed within Australia and 27 (10.4%) employed overseas.  Of those working in Australia, 189 (81.1%) were working in Tasmania and 33 (14.2%) interstate; 11 did not respond to the relevant question.  Of the 222 who responded, 219 also provided their sector of employment, distributed as follows:

The median salary (based on 248 responses) for those in full-time employment in Australia was $59,000 and the median salary (based on 180 responses) for those in full-time employment within Tasmania was $60,000.

Of those (472) who responded to the question, a total of 121 respondents (25.6%) who had completed postgraduate degrees were enrolled in further study, 52 full-time and 69 part-time. 

Of the 50 respondents who were not working but seeking work, either part or full-time, 9 were enrolled in full-time study and 1 was studying part-time; 40 (8.4% of the total of 479 respondents) were not enrolled in further study at all. This group appears to have had the least favourable outcome following their undergraduate degree.

Further study

726 respondents (35.3% of the total) were undertaking further study and 719 responded to the question on the level of study: 

• 208 (28.9%) studying pass bachelor or sub-degree programs
• 153 (21.3%) studying honours degrees
• 286 (39.8%) studying coursework postgraduate programs
• 67 (9.3%) undertaking research higher degrees

598 (85.7%) of the 698 respondents who were undertaking further study and gave relevant information, were enrolled at the University of Tasmania.

* Previously the Graduate Destination Survey or GDS