Thousands of prospective students will receive first-round university offers today ahead of the 2019 academic year.

Key points: Pharmacy graduates were the most employed, while those who studied creative arts struggled

Pharmacy graduates were the most employed, while those who studied creative arts struggled The study found graduates were not always using the skills they acquired

The study found graduates were not always using the skills they acquired A university degree will "pay dividends", Universities Australia says

Many will have already made their minds up about their choice of study, with strong expectations of a job at the end of the degree.

But what are the realities of the job market for new graduates? And which degrees are likely to land you in a job that actually uses the skills you learned at university?

The Federal Government surveyed more than 120,000 university graduates last year and found almost three-quarters had gained a job four months after leaving university.

But there was wide variation between courses.

Pharmacy graduates almost universally got jobs straight out of university, with 97.2 per cent in full-time employment within four months of graduating.

Those who studied medicine were not far behind, with 94.9 per cent in full-time employment.

Graduates of degrees in rehabilitation, dentistry, veterinary science, and engineering also had strong job prospects.

But for some degrees, the job prospects were much poorer.

People who studied generalist degrees struggled to get jobs straight out of university.

Creative arts graduates were at the bottom of the list at only 52.2 per cent full-time employment in the short term.

People who studied tourism, hospitality, personal services, sport and recreation did not fare too much better at 59.6 per cent.

And despite the strong focus on STEM in schools, science and mathematics graduates had weak short-term job prospects, with 64.6 per cent in full-time employment four months after graduation. A third of psychology graduates also struggled to get work.

The Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018 found that while a university degree does result in improved job and salary prospects, especially for post-graduates, there is also a huge number of graduates not using the skills they acquired at university when they get a job.

Only 57 per cent of undergraduates who were employed full time following university felt their qualification was important for their current employment.

Overall, 39 per cent of undergraduates in full-time and part-time jobs reported that their skills and education were not fully utilised.

University education 'will pay dividends'

It is clear from the figures that many people who graduate from courses with lower job prospects end up working in different roles entirely.

Top five areas of study for full-time employment in 2018 Pharmacy — 97.2 per cent

Pharmacy — 97.2 per cent Medicine — 94.9 per cent

Medicine — 94.9 per cent Rehabilitation — 89.3 per cent

Rehabilitation — 89.3 per cent Dentistry — 86.8 per cent

Dentistry — 86.8 per cent Veterinary science — 84.7 per cent (Figures show the Labour Force Participation rate for each area of study.)

So how useful is a university degree in the long term in securing full-time, well-paid employment?

About 73 per cent of university graduates were employed four months after graduation in 2018 — the best result since 2014.

But 10 years ago, just prior to the global financial crisis, that number was 85 per cent. The survey report says that since the financial crisis, graduates have taken longer to gain a foothold in the labour market.

Longer-team, job prospects are stronger, with 89 per cent of students finding full-time work three years after graduation.

Despite pharmacy graduates obtaining jobs quickly after graduation, obtaining full-time employment as a registered pharmacist can be more challenging.

Pharmacy graduates must complete a one-year internship after graduation to become registered.

Universities Australia (UA) says the figures are reassuring.

UA acting chief executive Anne-Marie Lansdown said the strong results show university education continues to be a great investment.

Bottom five areas of study for full-time employment in 2018 Creative arts — 52.2 per cent

Creative arts — 52.2 per cent Tourism, hospitality, personal services, sport and recreation — 59.6 per cent

Tourism, hospitality, personal services, sport and recreation — 59.6 per cent Communications — 60.5 per cent

Communications — 60.5 per cent Humanities, culture and social sciences — 64.3 per cent

Humanities, culture and social sciences — 64.3 per cent Psychology — 64.5 per cent (Figures show the Labour Force Participation rate for each area of study.)

"As tens of thousands of student receive offers this week, they can rest assured that a university education will pay dividends — both professionally and personally," Ms Lansdown said.

"This survey shows that universities are preparing students well for the world of work, with a record number of employers satisfied with the quality of university graduates.

"These are the employers that work with graduates first-hand and their ringing endorsement is something that graduates and their universities should be proud of."

Longer-term, job prospects for university graduates were stronger, the study found. ( ABC News: Isabel Dayman )

Education minister Dan Tehan said a university education remained a strong path towards success and prosperity.

"Everyone who received a university offer today should see it as an incredible opportunity and a stepping stone to realising their ambitions," he said.

First-round offers will be received in NSW today, with some other states to follow next week. Queensland and WA issued their first round of offers in December.

The Federal Government has launched the Course Seeker website on which prospective students can research university courses further.