Many graduates are forced to return home and scrape a living as a waiter or bartender after getting their degree.
But those who go to Norland College get a guaranteed job and a £50,000 starting salary when they graduate.
Now the elite institution is seeking university status. The college has trained famous nannies including Maria Borrallo, who was hired by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Alumni are guaranteed a job through the college’s recruitment agency, which has five vacancies for every graduate.
Founded in 1892 and based in Bath, Norland College is expected to soon find out if its application to become a university has been approved, it was reported.
If approved, it would become a university in September. The college points out that nannying is ‘AI-proof’.
Elspeth Pitman, head of graduates at Norland, told The Sunday Times: ‘As long as there are children around, the likelihood of nannying jobs staying around is quite high.’
And while salaries in finance and banking for new graduates are an average of £45,500 this year, Norland nannies start on an average of £50,000 a year for jobs in Britain and overseas, or £46,500 for the UK only, according to the college.
Students take a three-year bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and care alongside a four-year diploma.
Norland College students. Applications to the college have risen sharply in the last five years
Join the debate
Is it fair that Norland graduates land £50k jobs while others with degrees struggle to find work?
The college charges £17,000 a year because it is offering two qualifications, but students can only borrow up to £6,185 a year.
If its university bid is approved it would be one of the smallest in England with only 400 students.
Imogen, a 2024 graduate of Norland College started her first job two weeks fter leaving. It was initially based in London but has taken her overseas to Dubai, commanding a salary just below £50,000.
She told the Sunday Times: ‘One of the reasons I joined Norland in the first place was because they always talked about how they have a 100 per cent success rate at getting Norlanders jobs.
‘Friends [not at Norland] have had to take part-time jobs in restaurants and stuff like that just to make some money while they are trying to find a full-time job in their particular profession. I do feel for them.’
Last year Norland recieved 230 applications for 100 places. Five years ago around 155 applied.
Their famous brown uniform costs £1,000 and is to be worn during lectures. It includes a beige crested dress and brown felt hat for women and tweed blazer, tie and chinos for men.
It’s strictly mandates, down to their tights (brown, 70 denier).
