Pay gap between women widens

It has been revealed that female students who obtain a first-class degree do not earn any more than those with a 2:1.

In contrast to this, men with a first earn on average six percent more – which is an extra £1,780 a year.

The Centre for Economic Performance has been investigating this gender gap and say that they “cannot explain it”.

Anita Chagar, first-year English Literature student, commented: “I was shocked and angry at the news that there is a noticeable pay rise between men getting a 2:1 and a first, whilst women don’t see such a change in their pay.

“Generally, we all put the same effort, time and most of all, money, into our university education so why should our future pay cheques have such disparities?

“I aim to be successful based on my own merit and not my gender. These statistics are yet another blow to the female population – we just won’t have equality amongst men in the work place.”

First-year Philosophy and English Literature student Rebecca Hart said: “I don’t think it will affect morale throughout the University as it seems that most people here want to get their best possible grade anyway.

“However, it is unfair as it is an example of inequality in modern society. Unfortunately that is often how things are.”

Andy Feng and Georg Graetz from the London School of Economics analysed the exam marks of 2,649 LSE undergraduates between 2005 and 2010.

They filtered in data from the Labour Force Survey and the Destination of Leavers of Higher Education survey to estimate where graduates were working and their hourly wages.

They suggested: “Perhaps men are more likely to ask for or be given a higher wage offer. We honestly don’t know.

“Our study is probably the best evidence available that exam results matter, but there’s a lot more work to be done in understanding what drives the gender split and figuring out if the differences in pay-offs by degree result eventually go away.”

George Beadle, first-year Engineering student told the Boar: “I don’t believe the problem is that women aren’t being paid as much as men, as nowadays when women have the same job as a man they are usually always paid the same.

“I think that it is actually that not enough women are getting the higher-paid jobs in the first place.”

They also found that graduates with a first, on average, earn three percent more than students who got a 2:1.

Those who have a 2:1 however earn seven percent more than those with a 2:2.

Mr Feng and Mr Graetz further looked at the significance of degree classification.

They investigated 1,136 students who achieved results just above and just below the boundary for a first.

The researchers believe that the only difference between these marks is luck.

They said: “Remember this is not a pay-off to anything you might have learned at university or even your natural brilliance that the degree just puts a stamp on.

“It is the pure fortune of being lucky enough to get a first rather than a 2:1.

“Of course, the bonus for a first or upper second may actually wear off over time as employers figure out you are really a bit of a duffer. Or it may be that it gives you a leg up the greasy career pole.”