The gap between male and female graduate earnings has widened in the space of two years, figures show.

The average pay of men five years after leaving university has risen by 5 per cent, or £1,300.

For women it rose by 2 per cent, or £600 – meaning the rise for men was more than double that of women.

The average pay of men five years after leaving university has risen by 5 per cent, or £1,300. For women it rose by 2 per cent, or £600 – meaning the rise for men was more than double that of women [File photo]

Department for Education data shows the average men’s salary at five years was £27,000 in 2014/15, 12 per cent higher than that of women, at £24,100.

In 2016/17 the gap rose to 15 per cent, with men earning £28,300 and women on £24,700.

It is thought women are over-represented in areas with low earnings, such as nursing.

Nicola Dandridge, of the Office for Students, said while a rise in earnings was ‘good to see’, ‘gaps remain between more and less disadvantaged groups’.