Several British universities advise students to consider Universal Credit as courses end if paid work has not begun. King's College London's blog says graduates may claim even if living at home or with a job lined up, but KCL says its guidance is for those without enough income.
The University of Stirling says Universal Credit may be claimed from the day after a course's official end date. Loughborough says people not starting paid work immediately may apply and can begin an application a week or two early because the process takes time. The advice comes amid a difficult jobs market: official figures put unemployment among 16-to-24-year-olds at 16.4% in the three months to July, its highest in more than a decade. Adzuna counted 8,383 graduate roles advertised in July, down 45% year on year and its lowest total since 2016.
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott called the advice “madness,” saying universities should prepare young people for work, not welfare. Higher Education Policy Institute director Nick Hillman said graduates have the same right as others to use benefits in uncertain times, noting maintenance loans are typically lower in students' final year. KCL said 86% of its graduates are in highly skilled employment or study 15 months after graduation.
