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Wed, 21 Oct 2026

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 The grads ditching the UK for a fresh start abroad

With graduate jobs hard to come by, more young adults are reported to be considering emigrating.
More than one in ten UK university students plan to move abroad after graduation in search of better opportunities, according to a survey of 15,000 final-year students. The number has increased from 7.8% two years ago. A separate study found that competition for graduate jobs in the UK is at a three-decade high, with employers receiving an average of 140 applications per graduate vacancy. Australia remains the most popular destination for British expats, attracting over 75,000 young adults between 16 and 34 last year alone. The country's visa-friendly policy allows British passport holders to live and work in Australia for up to three years. Rachel James, a 26-year-old from Surrey who moved to Sydney, says she has no regrets about leaving her corporate job behind, despite taking a pay cut. "The weather is beautiful, even in winter, and the walks on my doorstep are unmatched," she says. Charlie West, a 25-year-old from Cheshire, moved to the US for better pay and opportunities in academia. He is now two years into a six-year PhD course at Yale University, which includes teaching. "In the US I'm paid $51,000 a year, about to rise to $52,000, with many more opportunities to teach and travel," he says. The European Union remains popular with young Britons, although visa requirements have become more complicated since Brexit. International graduates can apply for permanent residence in EU countries after completing their degree. Immigration lawyer John Kiely says it's no surprise that UK graduates are looking abroad for better opportunities. "When you combine student debt, high housing costs, and weak wage growth, the willingness to roll the dice somewhere else becomes quite rational," he says. For many young Britons, the benefits of moving abroad outweigh the drawbacks. "I've found the perks in Sydney better than London," says Rachel James. "The quality of life is just so much better."