As the Class of 2026 takes its next steps beyond St Catherine’s, we are delighted to celebrate the university destinations of our graduates. 

This year’s destinations tell an exciting story of academic achievement and very often international choice. Our graduates are progressing to an exceptional breadth of universities, specialist institutions and programmes across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia, reflecting the confidence of our students to look globally to find the destination that is right for them. 

International Destinations  

While the UK remains the largest single destination, this year’s outcomes demonstrate significant diversification beyond the traditional UK pathway, reflecting wider trends in international higher education and the growing confidence of our students in exploring opportunities across different countries and university systems.  In fact, 62% of applicants are pursuing pathways outside the UK, demonstrating just how global the university landscape has become for our students. 

Europe is an increasingly important part of that picture, with nearly one in three applicants, 32%, heading to universities across 10 European countries. At the same time, more than one in four, 26%, are progressing to North America, highlighting the breadth of opportunities our students are pursuing across different university systems. 

This diversification represents more than a change in geography. It reflects students who are prepared to explore different academic models, cultures and experiences as they consider where they will flourish after school. 

Excellence across institutions and disciplines 

Academic excellence remains a defining feature of this year’s outcomes. Nearly four in ten university-bound applicants, 38%, are progressing to a Times Higher Education World Top 100 university. 

Rankings, however, tell only part of the story. 

Alongside globally recognised research universities, St Catherine’s graduates have secured places at highly regarded specialist and subject-focused institutions in areas including business and economics, hospitality, art and design, theatre, architecture and engineering. 

STEM emerges as the most popular area of study this year, led by particularly strong interest in Engineering. Business, Economics and Finance also feature prominently, while Law, the Humanities and Liberal Arts remain important choices across the cohort. Beyond these areas, students are pursuing pathways as varied as Medicine, Architecture, Psychology, Hospitality and the Creative and Performing Arts. 

The diagram (seen in the Gallery below) is one of both academic strength and remarkable diversity. Rather than clustering around a small number of traditional degree choices, our graduates are pursuing courses that span leading research universities, specialist institutions and programmes offering distinctive academic experiences.

Finding the right ‘fit’

This breadth reflects an important principle of our Futures guidance. Students are encouraged to look beyond rankings and consider how their interests, strengths and ambitions align with the content of a course, the character of an institution and the wider student experience.

Reflecting on this year’s outcomes, Mrs Rebecca Demetriades, Head of Futures, said:

“The most gratifying outcome is a student moving forward with a clear sense of purpose. Success looks different for every young person; our role is to help each one make an informed and ambitious choice that is genuinely their own.”

The Class of 2026 embodies that philosophy, progressing to an exceptionally varied range of academic pathways with confidence and purpose.

Celebrating the Class of 2026 

These destinations are the culmination of years of learning, exploration and hard work, supported by a community of teachers, counsellors and families. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on their achievements and a huge appreciation to everyone who has supported them throughout their school and university application journeys, from teaching and mentoring to recommendation letters, counselling and application guidance. 

Most importantly, we celebrate our graduates themselves. 

92 students. An increasingly international range of destinations. Countless individual ambitions. 

As they begin this exciting next chapter, we wish the Class of 2026 every success and happiness. Wherever in the world their next destination takes them, they leave St Catherine’s ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.