This page provides guidance to the HEIs on how the survey should be carried. This includes codebooks, the survey questionnaire and files required for uploading the data.

• What stage of the process are we in now?

  Last updated: 14 July 2025

  The Graduate Outcomes Survey – Class of 2023 is available here.

  Guidance for the 2026 survey (for 2025 graduates) is set out below. Please read the guidance carefully as there are some changes to the survey.

Guides, documentation and resources are available under various headings below. The most recent student data collection notice can be found here: 2025-2026 HEA Data Collection Notice. For previous reports, see Graduate Outcomes: Data & Reports.

• 1. Social Media Resources

  A social media toolkit has been developed for the Graduate Outcomes Survey. This includes banners, logos, PPT templates and an email signature. These are available in varying colours and sizes. HEIs are welcome to add their own logos onto these social media resources.

  Find out more here

• 2. Survey Guidance

  The below outlines some background information on the Graduate Outcomes survey, detailing guidance for the Institutions.

  Download Guidance for Institutions (2026)

• 3. Cohort to be surveyed

  Details on the cohort to be surveyed are provided in the below document. This details definitions for “Continuing Graduates”, and the criteria for inclusion / exclusion of graduates in the survey.

  Download Guidance on Cohort to be surveyed (2026)

• 4. Guidance on Occupation and Sector Coding

  This document provides further guidance for survey respondents in employment relating to their occupation and sector of employment

  Download Guidance on Occupation and Sector Coding (2026)

• 5. Graduate Outcome Survey

  This is the revised survey questionnaire for 2026 (2025 graduates).

  Download 2026 Survey Questionnaire

• 6. Data Items

  These are the data items that will be required. See also survey codebook (below) and XSD file (pending Q3 2025)

  Download List of Data Items

• 7. Graduate Outcomes Survey Codebook (2026)

  This is the codebook for the 2026 Survey.

  Download 2026 Survey Codebook

• 8. Change Log

  This document lists the changes to the 2026 guidance, cohort to be surveyed, graduate survey, code book, and data items with comparison to the 2025 graduate survey.

  Download 2026 Change Log

• 9. Upload Instructions

  The Upload Instructions provide detailed guidance for uploading data to the HEA. A link to an updated XSD file alson with an audit checklist will be provided in Q3 2025. For any support required, contact graduatesurvey@hea.ie.