Deciding whether to study at university

Deciding whether to study at university is a personal choice for your students. Arguably, the decision has never been more difficult given the rise in the cost of living. This article is designed to help your students explore the benefits, weigh up their options, and make an informed decision.

In a 2019 report, published by the Department for Education, as many as 38% of jobs required a degree qualification. This suggests that having a degree will most likely lead to better career prospects and increased earnings. Research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies has also shown that graduates are around £100,000 better off throughout their working life by going to university.

University lecturers are experts in their field. Many will be actively working and researching in the areas they’re teaching. University is an opportunity for your students to learn from, and be inspired by, academics who are leading the way in their discipline.

University is also an opportunity to study and delve deeper into a subject they’re passionate about, through their own independent research, and with the guidance of an academic tutor.

University is a fantastic environment to gain personal and professional independence. Your students will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn new skills, meet new people, and build valuable skills that employers value, such as confidence and resilience. Joining a society through the Students’ Union is also a great way to meet like-minded people and try new activities.

To keep costs down, many students are now choosing to commute to university rather than move away from home. This is very much an increasing trend, and your students wouldn't be on their own should they decide to attend a local university. They will still have plenty of opportunities to socialise and gain independence, even if they live at home.

There are now many ways to get a degree. A popular option is the degree apprenticeship route. This is where your students ‘earn and learn’ by gaining a degree qualification whilst working full-time. A big advantage of this route is that there are no university fees involved. However, degree apprenticeships are very competitive and limited in certain industries.

The student loan system in the UK means that attending university is more affordable than many people think. In most cases, the benefits detailed above outweigh the cost. Student loans are very different to other types of commercial debt. They are designed to be manageable.

Monthly repayments are based on how much a graduate earns, not how much they’ve borrowed. Loans are written off after 40 years, even if the graduate hasn’t repaid it in full. The debt also won't affect the student’s ability to obtain credit.