More students starting degrees in January to give them edge in jobs market, university says

‘You hear all the time that there are more jobs available at the start of the year’

In November, university bosses admitted that a continued rise in the number of top degrees could undermine confidence in the value of a degree, making them less useful for students (Rex)

More students are starting degrees in January to give them an edge in the jobs market.

A number of universities across the UK have seen a rise in students applying for courses starting in the new year, rather than September – with some applications increasing by a fifth in a year.

The University of Buckingham has seen a 14 per cent increase in applications for its postgraduate January courses for this year – and a battle for jobs is partly fuelling the rise in interest, it says.

Some students are opting for January starts so that they can finish their courses at a different time to the majority of their peers, increasing their chances of entering a less competitive jobs market.

James Seymour, director of admissions at the university, said: “Many students who choose to start at Buckingham in January are aware of [a competitive jobs market].”

He added: “Our students are competing against a much smaller competitor set because they are coming out of their degree in January, while everyone else is coming out in June or July.

“Students tell us that graduate employers engage during the winter period ready to recruit.”

Max Cawthorne, a former Buckingham student who is starting his course in January, said: “You hear all the time that there are more jobs available at the start of the year.

“I didn’t want to feel as if I would be waiting around for a few months looking for a job if I did a course graduating in the summer.”

London Metropolitan University has seen a 20.8 per cent rise in applications for undergraduate courses for January this year – and a 16.3 per cent rise in applications for all courses for 2019.

Phil Blakeman, deputy head of academic services at London Met, said a January start has become attractive to mature students and those who want “more time to consider their options”.

He added: “Those that start in January normally have smaller class sizes and more lecturer contact time so they definitely benefit from that.”

Statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) show that the proportion of full-time undergraduates starting in January has risen in universities over the past few years – from 0.5 per cent in 2010 to 1.2 per cent in 2017.

The findings come ahead of the Ucas university application deadline for undergraduate courses on Tuesday, which the majority of prospective students use for degrees that begin in September.

But more universities are keen to increase the number of courses starting in January due to demand.

The University of Portsmouth is planning to boost the number of programmes – which includes degree apprenticeship courses – after its new year-start numbers have almost doubled this year.

Shakira Martin, president of the National Union of Students (NUS), said: “That institutions are offering courses with greater flexibility is of course a good thing, and reflects a willingness to cater for the variable needs of a diverse student body.

She added: “Essential provisions, such as those for accommodation, are often still geared towards traditional courses. Students choosing alternative routes will expect the same quality of experience as those on traditional programmes – therefore providers must ensure they are able to deliver it.”