Leeds University graduates are among the country’s top graduate earners, according to new research.

Leeds has been ranked in the top 20 for graduate salaries in the UK, and students are expected to earn an average £40,500 salary within five years of leaving the University.

London Business School graduates can expect to be the richest, earning an average £69,000 salary after five years. Leeds falls behind rival Sheffield University whose recent graduates earn on average £49,000 and ahead of Nottingham, at £40,000.

Statistics from salary researcher Emolument Alumni also ranked Leeds in the top ten UK universities most targeted by Britain’s leading employers.

The news comes as the number of graduate positions available is expected to reach a 10-year high in 2015.

Jane Campbell, Head of the University’s Careers Centre told The Gryphon, ‘Our position amongst the top ten universities targeted the most by the UK’s leading employers is a credit to the calibre of our students and of the work that goes on by staff in the Careers Centre, colleagues in Student Opportunity, Faculties and across the University.’

The study asked 35,000 graduates from various sectors about their earnings.

Lucy Connolly