As students consider where to study and launch their careers, luxury student accommodation is playing an increasingly influential role in shaping their experience. Providers such as Study Inn offer not only premium living spaces but also position graduates in cities with exceptional career opportunities, making them an ideal bridge between university life and the professional world.
● With an outstanding score of 9.5 out of 10, London ranks as the premier UK city for obtaining high-quality jobs. The capital establishes the standard, providing the highest average salary (£51,662), an admirable graduate retention rate (84.2%) and a wealth of job openings, solidifying its lead over all competitors.
● Manchester takes second place with a score of 8.7, offering a wealth of graduate-level roles, solid earnings and a buoyant economy.
● Liverpool follows in third, earning a score of 8.5, supported by its notable graduate retention (76.3%), steady salary levels and robust employment options.
● Brighton rounds out the list at number 20 with a score of 6.5/10. While its graduate retention rate is lower at 23%, it still presents a moderate outlook for salary and job market growth, making it a viable option for 2025 graduates.
● Additional notable cities include Exeter, Leeds and Nottingham—all of which appear in the top 20—providing encouraging employment pathways for graduates and gaining traction across various industries.
Study Inn’s analysis identifies the most and least promising UK locations for graduate employment, drawing on eight critical metrics such as average salary, job availability, graduate retention, wage progression, number of graduate positions, volume of businesses and a composite score out of 10.
This research brings to light both the most favourable and most challenging environments for those seeking rewarding and secure employment in the UK.
Top Cities to Build a Career in the UK
London tops the list with a near-perfect score of 9.5, cementing its role as the country’s prime job hub. It leads the nation in the number of graduate job openings and pays the highest average salary of £51,662. London also retains the most graduates, with 84.2% choosing to remain.
Next is Manchester with a total score of 8.7. It offers a thriving job market, an average salary of £33,715 and graduate retention matching Liverpool at 76.3%.
Liverpool secures third place with an 8.5 score, offering graduates strong salary prospects (£34,172) and a thriving business climate supporting high retention levels.
Top 20 UK Cities to Launch a Career
Rank | City | Overall Score (out of 10)
- London – 9.5
- Manchester – 8.7
- Liverpool – 8.5
- Newcastle – 8.3
- Birmingham – 8.2
- Sunderland – 8
- Glasgow – 7.8
- Edinburgh – 7.7
- Leeds – 7.6
- Sheffield – 7.5
- Nottingham – 7.4
- Bristol – 7.3
- Southampton – 7.2
- Cardiff – 7.1
- Leicester – 7
- Coventry – 6.9
- Reading – 6.8
- York – 6.7
- Exeter – 6.6
- Brighton – 6.5
Reading, achieving a 6.8 rating, continues to perform well for recent graduates. It combines competitive pay (£35,000), a dense business presence and strong salary growth trends.
Southampton, Cardiff and Coventry rank close behind, scoring between 7.1 and 6.9, all offering balanced employment prospects underpinned by stable economic structures.
While London and Manchester still dominate, cities where Study Inn operates luxury student accommodation are proving increasingly attractive to graduates seeking well-rounded career foundations.
Spotlight on Emerging Graduate Cities
● Leeds (Rank 9) – A solid average salary of £32,000, high demand for graduates and strong salary progression make Leeds a major employment centre in the North.
● Nottingham (Rank 11) – With an average salary of £33,722 and excellent wage growth, Nottingham ranks among the most supportive graduate cities. Study Inn operates two premier locations—Talbot Street and Triumph House—ideal for students transitioning into professional life.
● Bristol (Rank 12) – Renowned for its innovation in tech and the arts, Bristol offers a strong salary base (£34,412) and ample career opportunities, making it a standout city for job growth.
● Leicester (Rank 15) – With a respectable average wage of £31,000 and a healthy business environment, Leicester continues to grow in appeal for those starting out in their careers.
● Exeter (Rank 19) – Valued for its quality of life, Exeter offers moderate employment opportunities, a solid salary average (£28,500) and strengths in education and public sector employment.
● Loughborough – Although not individually listed in the top 20, this university town is a key hub for graduates. Thanks to Loughborough University’s industry collaborations—especially in engineering and sport science—it maintains high employability rates and benefits from close ties to Leicester and Nottingham.
These cities strike a compelling balance between career prospects, affordability and lifestyle—making them smart choices for long-term professional growth.
UK Cities with the Weakest Job Markets
Not all UK locations are equal when it comes to career potential. A number of cities still face considerable obstacles, including low wages, limited graduate opportunities and weaker employment rates.
Bottom 10 UK Cities for Career Prospects
Rank | City | Overall Score (out of 10)
- Blackpool – 1.77
- Derby – 2.38
- Huddersfield – 2.53
- Sheffield – 2.65
- Peterborough – 2.65
- Ipswich – 2.68
- Portsmouth – 2.68
- Doncaster – 3.14
- Bradford – 3.19
- Preston – 3.21
Derby ranks second from the bottom, scoring just 2.38. With only 460 graduate jobs available, minimal business activity (40,165 registered companies) and poor salary growth (5.9%), it offers limited prospects.
Huddersfield follows, burdened by one of the UK’s lowest average salaries (£21,100) and a weak employment rate (93.3%).
Sheffield also ranks low with a 93.2% employment rate—the second-lowest in the UK—and a lacklustre business ecosystem.
Peterborough fares no better, suffering from the UK’s worst graduate retention rate at 46% and ranking fifth-lowest for employment (93.4%).
Additional cities in the bottom tier include Ipswich, Portsmouth, Doncaster, Bradford and Preston.
Surprisingly, Liverpool and Manchester, despite their high rankings overall, posted the weakest salary growth rates at 4.6% and 4.7%, respectively.
Lucia MacKinnon, Lettings Director at Study Inn, remarked:
“These results highlight how regional cities are playing an increasingly vital role in shaping graduate careers. At Study Inn, we serve cities with prestigious universities—including Russell Group members—giving our residents a strategic advantage in securing graduate roles.
We’re particularly excited about cities like Leeds, Nottingham and Bristol, which are becoming increasingly compelling alternatives to London and other traditional graduate destinations. These places combine top-tier education with vibrant career opportunities, making them standout options for new graduates.”
To explore Study Inn’s luxury student accommodation options in any of its top-tier UK locations, visit studyinn.com.
