Rising numbers of graduates are choosing to work for themselves or take professional qualifications after leaving university, new figures suggest.

Data published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows that 4.4 per cent of those who left university last summer were self employed or working as a freelance six months after graduation.

This is an increase on the previous year, when the figure stood at 4.1 per cent.

The statistics also show that of last summer’s graduates that went on to further study, some 15.4 per cent chose to do a professional qualification. This is compared to 13.8 per cent in 2009.

The figures suggest that following the recession more graduates are looking to set up on their own, or boost their qualifications to help them in the job market.