First jobs for arts and media-studies graduates are the worst paid, at £12,000 and £13,000 respectively, according to a newly-published league table.

Best-paid jobs go to Cambridge economics graduates - £38,000 - with computer-science graduates from Imperial College London a close second.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) figures reveal that after six months, graduates from other "elite" universities are earning an average £30,000.

The statistics also show that, despite the slowdown, last year's "elite" graduates were still able to find well paid jobs in the City.

This is thought likely to raise more questions about whether some of the less well paid graduates have added to their earning power by going to university.