What are the benefits of Higher Education?

Adapting to life at university is one of the most rewarding challenges you will ever face. Among the reasons often given for going to University are to immerse oneself in a chosen subject, enhance career prospects, meet lifelong friends, explore extra-curricular activities and learn to live independently, but there are many more ! 

Career Prospects

Going to University and getting a degree will enhance your career prospects in a number of ways. Apart from demonstrating your commitment to your chosen subject, you will also show that you can flourish in new, challenging environments, and will develop useful skills to enhance your employability (see below). There are also financial benefits - it is also currently estimated that graduates will earn approximately £100,000 more over the course of their lifetime than those without HE qualifications (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 2009). A degree from the UK is still held in high regard all over the world, so no matter where you are from, or where you want to go in life, a degree will help you to succeed in your chosen career path.

Key Skills

At University you’ll develop valuable key skills which are much sought after by employers. Many courses at the RAC are vocational ie they are designed to prepare you for a particular area of work eg in business, or rural land management, but it’s worth remembering that overall, a large percentage of graduate-level jobs do not require a specific degree subject. As well as the technical knowledge learnt on a degree course, employers are interested in the important secondary skills developed such as communication, research, organisational and team-working skills. These are vital attributes for graduates entering today’s highly competitive and fast-moving jobs market.

Work Experience

Many courses at the RAC incorporate a work experience placement which offers the chance to put what you’ve learnt into practice and to try out a particular type of work for a short period. This can be an excellent way of testing your career plans, boosting your CV and having a `trial run’ with an employer you are interested in.

University Life

Above all, University is the opportunity of a lifetime to broaden your horizons, meet new people and enjoy yourself! You will have the chance to get involved with many groups and societies, sporting or otherwise, and in doing so may develop lifelong friendships. Coming to University and living away from home also allows you to develop a range of vital life skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting.

Careers Support at the RAC

Here at the RAC we aim to provide students with as much help as possible to assist them in their career planning and make a smooth transition from University to the workplace. We have a diverse student population studying at all levels and the employability support we offer our students reflects these diverse needs. As a small specialist College, there is a close relationship between students and academic staff, who are available to give advice and support, and the RAC’s Careers team can also offer help in a number of ways :

• Individual guidance interviews
• CV and application advice, and interview tips
• Annual Careers Fair
• Information on what other students have gone on to do
• Employer talks
• Online vacancy service, including opportunities overseas

We also have an extensive network of former RAC students, or Alumni, based in the UK and abroad, many of whom are now in key positions in industry and are often keen to use their knowledge and skills to support current students and in some cases to act as career mentors. 

What do RAC students go on to do?

At the RAC we are very proud of the excellent employment record of our students. In 2009/10, 98.4% were either in employment, further study or travelling/not seeking six months after graduation.

The type of work students go into clearly depends upon the course being studied and their particular area of interest and career plans. First destinations from the School of Business in recent years, for example, have included an Account Executive with Finsbury PR, a Property Consultant with Foxtons, a Research Internship with ITV, Agricultural Adviser with Field Science Ltd and Sales Associate with NFU Mutual. School of Agriculture First Destinations have included Farm and Herd Managers, Animal Handlers, an Education Officer with the UK Wolf Conservation Trust, and a Veterinary Assistant. Graduates from equine courses have gone on to positions such as an Events Assistant with Threshold Sports, Livery Yard Manager with Glevering Hall Livery Yard, Administrator with Weatherbys Thoroughbred Ltd and Farm Consultant with AKC Agriculture. Finally, land management graduates from the School of Real Estate and Land Management have predominantly gone into graduate rural surveyor posts with companies including Strutt and Parker, Savills, Fisher German, Bidwells, Smiths Gore, RH and RW Clutton and Grosvenor Estates. Graduates from property courses gained positions with employers such as Jefferson Commercial, Jackson-Stops and Staff, Knight Frank and Perry Bishop and Chambers.

The College has a well-established record for enterprise and entrepreneurship and is proud of the achievements of the many of our graduates who have gone on to set up their own successful businesses. There are many opportunities to explore self-employment, such as with the College’s own brand of beer `Muddy Wellies’. The College also has a successful enterprise society run by students, the RAC Entrepreneurs.