10 of the Best European Universities for Graduate Employability in 2020

In the release of the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020 today, 147 European universities are featured (excluding the UK) among the top 500 in the world for promoting the employability of their graduates.

The Graduate Employability Rankings are designed to help students compare universities across the world based on their graduate employment prospects. Several indicators are used to compile these rankings; employer reputation, alumni outcomes, partnerships with employers per faculty and employer/student connections. You can read more about the methodology here.

In case you were wondering, we have covered the top 10 UK universities in a separate article. Read on to find out about 10 of the best universities for graduate employability across continental Europe.

=10. KTH, Royal Institute of Technology

New to the top 10 this year is Sweden’s KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, which climbed four places in the QS Graduate Employability Ranking this year to rank 75^th, and also features in the top 100 of the .

KTH is Sweden’s largest and most respected technical university, and earns its highest score in the employer reputation indicator, which is based on the QS Employer Survey, which asks employers to identify institutions from which they source the most competent, innovative, effective graduates.

=8. Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres)

Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) is another new entrant when looking at the 10 top universities in Europe for graduate employability, rising an incredible 20 places to reach joint 71^st worldwide. PSL is a relatively new university, only fully formed in 2010, but has grown significantly to include nine academic and research member institutions and 10 affiliated institutions, with an aim to become one of the leading research universities in the world.

PSL scores extremely well in the employer reputation indicator, coming 13^th place worldwide, beating several leading institutions such as ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) and Princeton University.

=8. Universidad de Navarra

The next in our list of top universities in Europe for graduate employability is University of Navarra in Spain, which this year places joint eighth amongst European universities and joint 71^st in the world for graduate employability, down 10 places this year.

The university scores well in both employer reputation and employer-student connections. The university’s Navarra Business Foundation serves as a meeting point between businesses and the university and provides students and alumni to connect with the business world and gain valuable placement opportunities. 

7. CentraleSupélec

France’s CentraleSupélec claims 69^th place in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020 and seventh in Europe. Despite only being established in 2015, the university earns its highest score for the employer reputation indicator where it claims sixth place.

CentraleSupélec credits its excellent reputation to its combination of fundamental and applied sciences for innovation with societal impact, as well as its world leading research, where it’s a key founding member of the University of Paris Saclay (a group of research universities in France).

6. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen

Dropping three places this year, Germany’s Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen) ranks 63^rd in world in the graduate employability rankings. RWTH Aachen earns its best scores in the partnerships with employers and the employer reputation indicators and is one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and research.

5. Politecnico di Milano

The largest technical university in Italy, Politecnico di Milano falls five places this year to take 41^st place, but is still the highest ranked Italian institution for graduate employability. Founded in 1863, it is also the oldest university in Milan, and achieves its best score in the graduate employment rate indicator, placing in the top five worldwide. This indicator measures the proportion of graduates in full or part time education within 12 months of graduation. 

4. Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Up four places in the list this year is the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), ranked 37^th for graduate employability and first in the Netherlands. TU Delft earns its highest score in the partnerships with employers indicator, with its careers center offering many career workshops, training and programs to help students and alumni build their employability and career management skills. The university also works closely with employers, professional organizations and alumni to create connections between them and students.

3. KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

The highest ranked university in Germany in terms of graduate employability is Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). The university places 36^th in the world for graduate employability, down five places since last year, but is still one of the top universities in Europe, coming in at third.

Employer reputation and partnerships with employers are where KIT earns its highest scores. KIT prides itself on having strong links with many scientific and technological companies – the university’s careers center offers many careers events, including ‘company speed dating’ which consists of a series of eight-minute conversations between students and company representatives.

2. Ecole Polytechnique

Second best in Europe and top in France, Ecole Polytechnique places an impressive 18^th in the world for graduate employability in 2020. The employer reputation indicator is Ecole Polytechnique’s highest ranked indicator and is the top 15 in the world, which is hardly surprising due to the university being considered one of Frances most prestigious and selective grandes écoles in engineering.

It’s also worth noting that Ecole Polytechnique also has the best score in Europe for the alumni outcomes indicator, with the university’s notable alumni including three Nobel Prize winners, the former president of France, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH.

1.ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

Once again, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) continues to take the top place for graduate employability in Europe, featuring at 17^th place in the world, down slightly this year.

The graduate employment rate and the employer reputation indicators are where ETH Zurich earned its highest scores, with positions in the top 20 for both. ETH Zurich offers many opportunities for students to improve their employability, with the career center running year-wide careers events and company fairs to encourage students to network with employers.

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