University really can pass you by in a blur. Before you know it, you’ve graduated, and you’re faced with the reality of looking for a job. You have all the skills, but where do you take them?

A recent study has asked just that. Liberty Living spoke to 2,000 recent graduates to see where they moved after graduation, and why. The results revealed which cities currently have the best student retention rates in the UK, and what influences make the crucial difference when it comes to where students decide to settle.

Students are a valuable resource to local economies, and insight into how to retain the best graduates could make an important difference for cities in the UK.

How Do Students Choose Where to Live After Uni?
Several personal and practical factors come into play when deciding where to live after uni. In some cases, you may have established a strong friendship base who are all remaining in your uni city. Alternatively, your friends might have their hearts set on a job elsewhere or the pull of your family could make you return home.

Whatever the reasons, 58% of recent graduates leave their university city when they graduate. A third (33%) of those who leave return to the place they grew up, and a quarter (25%) decide to take on somewhere brand new.

Family, friends and relationships had the biggest impact, with 36% of grads wanting to move to be closer to parents, siblings and grandparents. Almost a quarter (24%) reference a relationship as their reason for choosing where to live after uni.

Alongside these personal reasons, a number of practical reasons cropped up. Housing and rent prices came into play, with 24% saying this had an influence on where they choose to settle. And, of course, jobs – the main reason we go to university in the first place. 27% had their career firmly at the forefront of their mind, citing job availability, graduate schemes and internships as a key factor when choosing where to settle down after their degree.

The Best 5 UK Cities for Student Retention
While many students make the big move home or someplace new after uni, the research found that over a third (36%) of students stay and work in the city they studied.

So, we’re curious. Where are people the most likely to stick around? And why?

Taking into account job opportunities and the various appeals the city still holds for its former students, here are the top 5 UK cities for student retention after graduation.

1. Glasgow
Flying in at the top of the list is Glasgow, where 51% of graduates stay put for work after uni. This is largely due to atmosphere and culture; Glasgow was voted the best city for culture in the whole of the UK, with 78% rating it as good or excellent, and the second-best city for atmosphere (79%).

It’s not difficult to see why. Glasgow offers a whole host of cultural attractions including the Scottish Opera, the Scottish Ballet, and over 20 galleries and museums. Sports fans aren’t left out either – Glasgow is home to famous rivals Celtics and Rangers, making it a great place to catch a game. On top of this, Glasgow is an incredibly green city with an abundance of parks and leafy areas to enjoy.

Friendly, vibrant, thriving, and packed full of opportunities, it’s no surprise so many graduates are choosing to call Glasgow home.

2. Edinburgh
In terms of student retention, Scotland really is coming out on top! Coming up close behind Glasgow is Edinburgh, with 51% also choosing to remain in the Scottish capital.

So, what’s keeping students in Edinburgh once their studies are over? The beauty of the city, the amazing atmosphere and abundance of culture all spring to mind.

Edinburgh is a truly stunning place, boasting castles and cobbled streets, alongside the world’s largest arts festival, Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh Zoo and the iconic Edinburgh Christmas markets. With 71% rating the city atmosphere as good or excellent and 73% saying the same of city culture, it seems Edinburgh’s graduates agree!

3. London
It’s unsurprising to see London featuring so highly on the list. A huge city packed full of opportunities, London is a great place to establish yourself and advance your career after uni – and 47% of London grads are staying in the city and doing just that.

67% of London graduates rated the city culture as good or excellent. Creative, fashionable, fast-paced and with famous landmarks and attractions around every corner, one thing’s for sure – in London’s many and varying districts, there really is something to suit everyone.

77% of the graduates surveyed said the transport and accessibility in the capital is good or excellent. London’s vast underground system means it’s quick and easy to travel around its sprawling metropolis, and there’s excellent national and international rail and air links too. With 73% of graduates praising the plethora of things to do in London, it comes as no surprise that many students can’t bring themselves to leave!

4. Birmingham
Next on the list is Birmingham, where 41% of graduates choose to remain for work after completing their studies. The UK’s second city scored highly for a variety of appealing factors, with 66% of graduates rating the city atmosphere positively and 74% scoring the cities amenities as good or excellent.

And it looks to only be getting better! There have been masses of regeneration projects in Birmingham over recent years, with even more planned in the near future. We’ve seen the opening of a brand-new train station, the revamp of Centenary Square, and the proposal of the Birmingham Smithfield project, which will create a new civic green space in the city, to name a few.

If that’s not enough, the HS2 rail project due for completion in 2026 will cut journey times to London to just 49 minutes. We imagine the already positive rating for the cities transport links (74% good or excellent) are going to rocket further still over the next few years.

5. Leeds
Leeds is fast becoming the place to be in the north, with 39% of graduates deciding to stick around in the Yorkshire city.

The recent Channel 4 move has solidified Leeds as a major economic, tech, media and digital hub, bringing a multitude of exciting prospects for recent graduates. Throw in the excellent city atmosphere (Leeds scored as highly as Glasgow at 79% excellent or good), and it’s no wonder so many young professionals are staying put.

As well as being an incredibly friendly city, Leeds boasts an abundance of restaurants, bars, shopping districts and cultural hotspots in the city centre, alongside the stunning Yorkshire countryside right on your doorstep if you fancy a change of scenery. Plus, finding somewhere to live isn’t a chore: 66% said the ease and availability of renting accommodation was excellent or good, highlighting Leeds as one of the top three cities for this in the UK.

Of course, every city has its appeals and there is no set answer when looking at where to live during or following your degree – it all completely depends on what you’re specifically looking for. But, in terms of graduate retention and city atmospheres, you definitely can’t go too far wrong with any of the above choices!