UK universities urge fresh graduates to apply for welfare support - Punch Newspapers
Several UK universities have advised students to apply for welfare benefits after completing their courses, with some guidance telling graduates they can make claims even if they have jobs lined up or are living with their parents. King’s College London, Loughborough University and the University of Stirling are among institutions that have published guidance encouraging students to apply for benefits after their studies, GB News reported on Friday. King’s College London published guidance on post-university life telling students they “shouldn’t feel bad” about claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance. The guidance said: “As a graduate, these benefits are in place to help you transition from full-time study to work, even if you are living at home or have [a] job lined up in a few weeks. This is an important safety net, which you should claim just in case anything changes.” The University of Stirling told students they could submit claims “from the day after your official course end date”. Loughborough University’s financial advice page for departing students similarly advised: “As a general rule, do not delay in making any claim for benefits.”See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google The university also specified a date in June from which this year’s cohort would become eligible. The guidance comes amid concerns over the UK’s graduate jobs market and rising youth unemployment. The unemployment rate among 16-to-24-year-olds stood at 16.4 per cent in the three months to July, according to figures cited by GB News, its highest level in more than a decade. Data from recruitment platform Adzuna showed that 8,383 positions aimed at university leavers were posted in July, a 45 per cent decline from the previous year and the weakest figure since tracking began in 2016. Nigeria’s education system not meeting job needs — NESG As 2027 approaches, Gombe battles new face of political thuggery FG concession: King’s College shut, resumption uncertain The guidance has drawn criticism from Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, who described it as “madness”. “Universities should set young people up for the world of work, not fast-track people to a life on benefits,” she said. She also argued that too many graduates were moving directly onto welfare, increasing the burden on taxpayers. However, Nick Hillman of the Higher Education Policy Institute defended graduates’ access to welfare support. He told the Telegraph: “Higher education works out for most people most of the time, but that does not mean that all new graduates are able to walk straight into well-paid work.” He noted that final-year maintenance loans were often smaller than students expected, leaving some graduates without enough money to bridge the period between completing their studies and starting work. King’s College London said it continued to have high graduate employment rates while defending the guidance provided to students. A spokeswoman told GB News: “We are proud of our world-leading employment rates for graduates, 86 per cent of whom are in highly skilled employment or study 15 months after graduation. “For a small number of our students who do not have savings or alternative means of support, we offer advice on how to seek additional assistance whilst they look for work – as is our duty of care.” GB News said it had approached King’s College London, Loughborough University and the University of Stirling for comment. Tosin Oyediran Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.
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