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FAQ ↓

  • What is the average graduate salary in Leeds in 2026?

    The average graduate salary in Leeds in January 2026 is £36692, based on analysis of all graduate jobs in Leeds the past 3 months. The average graduate starting salary across the UK in January 2026 is £29566.

    The latest graduate salary analysis 2026

  • How difficult / competitive is it to get a graduate job in Leeds in 2026?

    Based on data gathered in the past three months we estimate that it is challenging to get a graduate job in Leeds in January 2026, compared to other major locations.

  • Is Leeds a popular destination for UK students & graduates?

    Leeds is ranked 4 out of our 45 most popular location for graduates. Leeds is therefore ranked as 'popular' as a career destination for UK graduates and students.

  • What kind of graduate job can you get in Leeds ?

    In the past 18 months the Management sector has received the most job postings located in Leeds , followed by Science & Technology and Computing & IT .

    It could be suggested these are typically the type of graduate jobs you can get in Leeds.

  • Which companies are most active recruiting graduates in Leeds ?

    In the past 18 months TPP , Lloyds Banking Group and Forvis Mazars have advertised the most graduate jobs in Leeds .

Read more about working in Leeds ↓

Leeds

Leeds is a well-known student city, with many graduates passing through the West Riding. In such a busy and thriving milieu, graduates from Leeds are able to compete with graduates from across the country, but we wanted to know how they measured up in terms of ambition, experience and academic achievements compared to the rest of the country - and if there is anything about studying in Leeds which makes its graduates special.

We looked at the data submitted by graduates from Leeds in the last five years to find out if they have similar career ambitions to other graduates from around the country, whether it is harder for them to receive top grades, and how many take the chance to get some work experience alongside their studies.

The findings turned up some interesting trends - and show why employers look out for graduates from Leeds.

Sectors

Graduates from Leeds are not afraid to be different in their career ambitions. While the most popular sectors, Management and Marketing, are in line with national trends, it seems that Leeds graduates tend towards the more creative fields. Advertising and Public Relations is chosen by 29.3% of graduates - well ahead of the national average of 22.3%, while 24% of Leeds' graduates also choose Media, a sector that does not feature in the most popular five sectors nationally.

Notable and surprising omissions from Leeds' top five are the Banking and Finance sectors. This is especially surprising as both Banking, Finance and Accountancy are thriving sectors in the city itself.

Most popular sectors for Leeds graduates

Degree Classification

The universities in Leeds have a reputation for high standards, and the data on degree classifications supports this, with just 9% of graduates receiving the top classification of a First Class Degree (lower than the national average by 0.8%), indicating that Leeds' universities do not give out top marks easily.

That's not to say that graduates from Leeds aren't putting in the work - 56% receive a 2:1 degree, way ahead of the national average of 48.1%. Consequently, the number of those who receive a 2:2 (14.8%) and a pass (1.8%) are lower than UK-wide statistics.

Degree classifications for Leeds graduates

Work Experience

In terms of work experience, graduates from Leeds fare well - though not as well as the national average. 15.2% of graduates from universities in the West Riding city have undertaken some form of work experience, which is lower than the UK-wide 16.6%, but similar to other cities such as Manchester, also at 15.2%, and Newcastle, close behind at 15.1%.

Percentage of Leeds graduates with work experience