King’s College London (KCL) is one of several British universities advising graduate students to apply for benefits.
KCL recommended that graduates from the university ‘shouldn’t feel bad’ about claiming benefits post-degree. Adding that ‘these benefits are in place to help you transition from full-time study to work’, including schemes like universal credit and jobseekers allowance (JSA).
According to jobs website Adzuna, 8,383 job vacancies were listed in July 2026, down from 15,397 the previous year. Likewise, unemployment figures rose to 16.4% from 14.3% in the past annum.
KCL is the UK’s 11th most targeted university by top graduate employers, with 86% of graduates either in high skilled employment or further study within 15 months.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, said that the advice was ‘madness’ and that ‘universities should set young people up for the world of work, not fast-track people to a life on benefits’.
A spokesperson for KCL said:
“We’re proud that our students go on to pursue meaningful and successful careers in their chosen fields: 86% of King’s graduates are in highly skilled employment or study 15-months after they graduate. Our world-leading teaching and research, industry partnerships, and award-winning careers and employability service, equip students with the knowledge, skills and experiences to build fulfilling careers.
We know that a small number of our students do not have savings or alternative means of support, and so we do offer advice on how to seek additional financial support during the transition from studying to employment – this is part of our duty of care.
Our Careers & Employability service is available to students from day one of their time at King’s, and for up to two years after graduation. They offer one-to-one career coaching, interview preparation, employer networking and learning opportunities and we encourage all students to make the most of the support available (kings.ac.uk/careers).”
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