Washington, DC, 20th January 2012 -- The British Council is releasing the results of new research on US and Canadian employers’ perceptions of degrees earned in the UK. The data shows that most employers are positive towards UK-earned degrees, but lack detailed knowledge of the UK higher education system.
Three-quarters of employers (73%) in the US consider degrees earned in the UK to be the same as or better than those earned in the US. Employers look for applicants who are well-rounded, with a relevant degree from a reputable university or program, and they perceive these things to be generally characteristic of candidates who have studied at UK universities.
Employers cited ‘an international perspective’ (26%) and ‘cross-cultural understanding’ (24%) as the greatest benefits of a degree from a UK university. They also linked desirable attributes such as ‘good communication skills’ (22%) and ‘self motivation’ (16%) to job applicants with a UK degree. One small retail business, based in Michigan, said “Students who study in other countries seem to bring different perspectives and a little more polish”.
However, there was also evidence that employers lacked detailed knowledge about the UK higher education system as a whole. The survey suggested that employers’ positivity towards UK degrees is the result of a ‘halo effect’ created by the top British universities, Oxford and Cambridge, and perhaps of Anglophilia more generally. While employers were positive about UK degrees, they admitted that they found it difficult to assess their quality.
“The results of this survey are good news for UK universities,” said Richard Everitt, Deputy Director of the British Council in the US. “Universities can help international employers assess the relevance of UK degrees by making more information available online.”
According to the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), 15,060 US students studied for full degrees at British universities in 2009-10, a 5% rise over the previous year.
The data is the result of an online survey of 411 employers in the US and 436 in Canada, followed by four in-depth interviews in each country. It was carried out by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the British Council. The survey was screened to reach HR decision-makers and exclude employers who did not require at least 50% of employees to have a college degree.
For more information, please contact:
Alexandra Dimsdale
Head of Press and Communications
alexandra.dimsdale@britishcouncil.org
+1 202 588 7837
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas and strengthen links that results in mutual benefits between the United Kingdom and the countries we are present. We work in over 100 countries and among our partners are governments, non-governmental organisations and private institutions. For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org/usa
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