Bristol has a long track record of high rankings in the ‘Graduate Market’ report, consistently ranking among the top tier of universities that employers are drawn to. This year is no exception, with High Fliers Research noting that Bristol graduates were the fifth most targeted.
The ‘Graduate Market in 2025’ report is based on an independent assessment of the graduate market. It draws on feedback from the UK’s top 100 graduate employers across multiple sectors including banking and finance, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, engineering and industrial, media, law and the public sector.
The report also examined the starting salaries available to new graduates who began their first jobs this year, and reviewed the number of graduate job applications received by employers in the 2024-2025 recruitment season.
Stuart Johnson, Director of Careers and Skills at the University of Bristol, said: "It’s encouraging to see Bristol graduates continuing to stand out as top talent for leading employers, even in a challenging recruitment climate.
"Bristol has remained in the top-10 most-targeted universities for over a decade, and this year is no exception, securing a top-5 position. That consistency speaks volumes about the calibre of our students and the dedication of our staff who support them throughout their journey."
Each year around 350 employers come to the University of Bristol to recruit students and build their skills. Students can sign up for the Employer Showcase careers fair on Wednesday 1 October and Thursday 2 October.
The University’s Careers Service provides extensive support to students, including help getting jobs, access to internships (including some funded by the University) and funding and expertise to set-up their own businesses.
Other key findings from the report show that this year’s average graduate salary went up by £1,000 from the previous year to £35,000, indicating a 16.7% rise since 2021.
The top five universities currently targeted by the largest number of the UK’s leading graduate employers, in order from first place, were Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Warwick and Bristol. They attracted the most employers to their careers fairs, on-campus employer presentations, virtual tours and local events.