26/08/2003

Gap year gaining popularity among graduates

More than one in 10 of this summer's graduates are planning to follow in Prince William's footsteps and take time out to travel the world, according to new research commissioned by Graduate Prospects, a UK provider of graduate careers and recruitment advice.

The study, carried out by MORI on campuses throughout the UK earlier this year, revealed that 13% of final year students who did not already have a job lined up were expecting to be travelling after the summer.

A third (31%) thought they would be in a graduate level job, while a fifth (19%) were planning to continue their studies on a postgraduate course.

Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects, said: "The fact that so many graduates are planning to go travelling demonstrates the increasing popularity of a gap year. Whether taken before or after university it can be extremely valuable. If it is well planned it can enable a student or graduate to learn and develop skills which will help them in their future careers."

The research, which surveyed over 1,000 students, also revealed that the internet is the most popular source of careers information with 78% saying they have used it to search for details about different career options, job vacancies or postgraduate courses.

Two in five finalists consider the internet to be the most useful general source of careers, job vacancy and postgraduate course information and this remains the case after graduation with 72% saying they expect to continue to go online to access careers advice and information.

(gmcg)

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