The value of work experience in outcomes for students: an investigation into the importance of work experience in the lives of female undergraduates and postgraduate job seekers

This article presents findings from an investigation into the experiences of a single cohort of students, studying on a BA (Hons) degree in Britain. It examines the students’ attainment on the degree and relates this to their profile on entry, examining their previous work experiences taken as part of a vocationally focused entry qualification, and compares their progress to other students entering the same course of study with non-vocational traditional academic qualifications. The investigation assesses whether, if at all, students’ pre-entry experiences have an impact on their eventual qualification. The work then follows a sample of this cohort after they graduate and enter the world of full-time work or postgraduate study, relating these experiences both to their pre-university work experiences and qualifications, any part-time employment whilst at university and/or any work experience which they may have undertaken as part of their undergraduate studies. In essence, the investigation assesses whether work experience impacts on the final awards of students and/or upon their ability to find suitable careers as postgraduates. It uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the impact of previous work experience and/or vocational training and experience on eventual outcomes for the students.