Graduate Destination Studies have the potential to provide detailed information about graduate
transitions to work that cannot easily be collected in household surveys. However, response rates are
typically very low and raise the concern that the nonresponse is not random and inferences using data
on those who respond will be inaccurate. This study examines response rates in the Western Cape
Graduate Destination Study where 22% of all 2010 university graduates from the four Western Cape
universities were successfully interviewed in 2012. We examine differences in observable baseline
characteristics, assess the extent of non‐response bias for a labour market participation analysis,
compared rates of continued study to those in the HEMIS database and implement a selection
correction methodology that usestype of email address as an exclusion restriction. We find that those
who successfully responded to the survey are more likely to be studying in 2012 and have some
systematically different baseline information that signals that response is not random. Our selection
correction methodology however finds limited impact for an equation of employment. This study
provides important input into plans for a national destination study. We recommend that focus be
taken in preparing and standardising the sampling frame and that detailed records of the survey
process be kept. In addition, we illustrate the potential benefits of linking graduate destination study
data with administrative resources to assess bias and supplement the survey information obtained.