Graduate Outcome survey
The Graduate Outcomes survey is a national survey capturing information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after they finish their studies. All graduates who completed a course will be asked to take part in the survey, to help current and future students gain an insight into career destinations and development. Your responses will also help the university to evaluate and promote our courses.
The survey is also of national significance as it allows policy makers, charities, journalists, researchers, and others to understand the higher education sector and the state of the graduate labour market.
Who will contact me about the survey?
Who will contact me about the survey?
The Graduate Outcomes survey is delivered by HESA on behalf of the UK higher education funding and regulatory bodies working with the university. They will attempt to contact you in the following ways:
- Email: The survey will be emailed to you - the email will come from Graduate Outcomes with your university or college name in the email address. These emails will contain a link to the online survey. Graduates will receive an email from: universityofthehighlandsandislands@graduateoutcomes.ac.uk
- Text messages: You will receive text reminders from ‘GradOutcome’. These texts will contain a link to the online survey.
- Phone: If you receive a phone call regarding the survey, it will be from IFF Research. They have been appointed to capture survey responses by phone. They will introduce themselves as calling on behalf of the university. If you are not contactable, we may seek the information from a third party, such as a family member.
When will I be surveyed?
When will I be surveyed?
You will be surveyed approximately 15 months after you complete your studies. The table below will give you an idea of when you might be contacted.
| When did you finish your course? | When you will be invited to take part in the survey (15 months later) |
|---|---|
|
August – October |
December |
|
November – January |
March |
|
February – April |
June |
|
May – July |
September |
How will my responses be used?
How will my responses be used?
Your responses will be used by the university and by other organisations for research purposes. Before you start the survey, we will provide detailed information about how your data will be processed, who will receive it, and what they will use it for.
What if I don’t want to be surveyed?
What if I don’t want to be surveyed?
It is not compulsory to complete the survey. When you are contacted to complete the survey, you will be able to opt out and you will not be contacted again.
You have the right to object to HESA contacting you for the Graduate Outcomes survey. If you don't want to be contacted for the survey please email info@graduateoutcomes.ac.uk. The university cannot take you out of the survey, it can only be done by HESA.
How do I make sure I am invited to take part in the survey?
How do I make sure I am invited to take part in the survey?
The university will pass on your information to HESA. All you need to do is make sure we have accurate contact information for you – especially a valid email.
What do I do if I don’t think the university has my accurate contact information?
What do I do if I don’t think the university has my accurate contact information?
You can contact us at any point up to a week before the survey closes to give them revised contact information. We will provide this information to the contractor delivering the survey.
What do I do if I don’t want to give the university my contact information?
What do I do if I don’t want to give the university my contact information?
The contact details the university holds for you will be used by HESA to send you the Graduate Outcomes survey. The university can tell you separately about any other use of your contact information.
Who runs the Graduate Outcomes survey?
Who runs the Graduate Outcomes survey?
The Graduate Outcomes survey is owned by HESA, the Higher Education Statistics Agency. HESA supports the advancement of the higher education sector by collecting and publishing timely and reliable data about the sector.
The administration of the Graduate Outcomes survey is undertaken by a third-party survey contractor who works in collaboration with HESA and the university.
Where can I find further information?
Where can I find further information?
The university will provide you with further information about the survey shortly before you are invited to complete it.
If you have any other questions about HESA and data protection, please see the data protection section of the HESA website or contact HESA's Data Protection Officer:
- Email: data.protection@hesa.ac.uk
- Tel: 01242 211135
- Address: HESA, 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1H