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New research suggests arts and humanities students often have no plans for after graduation and expect to earn less than those graduating from work-related courses.

The UK Graduate Careers Survey, based on material collected from 17,000 final year students, showed that nearly 50 per cent of arts students have no job plans for after university.

Many expect to travel or take temporary jobs instead while they decide what to do long-term.

Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers Research, which carried out the survey, said: "It is clear from our research that students studying for arts and humanities degrees are noticeably less proactive about job hunting than those in other faculties.

"They are the least likely to have done work experience during university holidays, the least likely to have researched their future career options and the least likely to have taken part in employers' on-campus recruitment events."

The survey found that in contrast, the areas most popular with students applying for jobs were the media, teaching and investment banking. Law has also seen a marked rise in student applications.

However, it's not all bad news for undecided arts students - the fact that their degrees are not career-specific doesn't rule them out of these high-paid jobs.

Mr Birchall emphasised: "Over 80 per cent of graduate vacancies in the UK are open to applicants from any degree discipline, so the subject studied at university is often largely irrelevant to employers."