The Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) has published a longitudinal study which reveals the impact of part-time courses on career progression. The study reveals that levels of employment stability are particularly high for part-time students with four out of five working throughout their study and two years later, mostly full-time and with the same employer.

Jane Artess, director of research at HECSU said; “Part-time study clearly benefits both the employer and employee as well as wider society. Students quickly enjoyed the advantages that they had gained from their course after graduating, using what they had learnt very effectively – and to their advantage - in the workplace.

“Employers who support staff through their studies are set to gain the most, with a higher chance of retaining talented employees who are better engaged and equipped to do their job.”

The report’s co-author Claire Callender, Professor of Higher Education Policy at Birkbeck, University of London, said: “Our research clearly shows the value of part-time study – how it improves skills, leads to higher salaries, and boosts social mobility. As a result of their studies, 83 per cent of students surveyed, felt better qualified to do their jobs and 63 per cent had taken on more responsibilities at work.


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