Fewer graduates from Brighton and Sussex universities find work than those from some of their rivals, it was revealed today.

The Higher Education Funding Council has for the first time published a league table of how graduates fare in the jobs market.

Brighton found itself in the middle of the table - with 95 per cent of its 1,229 graduates landing jobs.

Sussex was lower, with 92 per cent of its 925 students walking in to jobs.

The surprise name at the top of the list was Luton University.

The survey found 100 per cent of last year's graduates were employed by the turn of the year.

Surrey University was in second place with a success rate of 99 per cent.

The research, requested by the Treasury, took more than a year.

It found little difference between most universities. Only eight had more than ten per cent still unemployed at the turn of the year.

The HEFC said it was confident the data was reliable although it did not take into account the type of job graduates accepted.