Course Map uses two official datasets: Graduate Outcomes (GO) surveys graduates 15 months after finishing, and Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) tracks earnings via HMRC tax records at 3 and 5 years post-graduation.
Median vs Mean
We show the median salary — the middle value. This is more reliable than the average because a few extremely high or low earners cannot skew the figure. The lower and upper quartiles show the range most graduates fall within.
Why some courses show N/A
Data is suppressed when fewer than 52.5 graduates responded, or when the response rate is below a threshold. This protects individual privacy. It does not mean the course is bad — it may simply be small.
Regional context matters
A £25,000 salary goes further in Newcastle than London. Consider living costs when comparing salaries. The salary map on Course Map helps you see regional differences clearly.