A recent news article reported that some students will spend as little as 8% of their university time in lectures and seminars, despite the hefty £9,000 a year price tag. This works out as less than 100 hours of contact time per year with tutors.
So the big question is: is university actually worth it?
The recent statistics are quite astonishing. Under the new tuition rules, you may be paying roughly £100 an hour for a lecture or seminar, and universities often express little concern if students don’t attend. University is an expensive choice and fundamentally it’s probably not going to guarantee you a job at the end of your three year degree. So – what are the alternatives?
Study abroad
It’s becoming a more popular choice amongst Sixth Formers and the number of enquiries made at foreign universities by British students is now higher than ever. Cheaper fees, offers of scholarships and the allure of travelling abroad are some of the reasons why some find studying abroad much more appealing than staying at home.
Get a job
Of course you can forgo the university experience altogether and just jump right into the job market instead. However, as up to 25% of graduates have been unemployed in recent years, competition for jobs is tough. Those who have a degree may have an advantage over those who don’t.
Apprenticeships
If you’ve a clear idea about what you want to do then apprenticeships may well be worth researching. Many employers consider them to be just as important as degrees, and they can save you a lot of time as the duration of an apprenticeship is shorter. They can also save you money – in apprenticeships, you earn while you learn.
Volunteer abroad
This was always going to get a mention, but for the price of your tuition fees, you could learn just as much travelling and volunteering abroad. You can learn new languages, meet people who will teach you their wisdom and gain some great work experience that will stand you in good stead in the job market back home.
There are plenty of people that haven’t gone to university and have done just as well as those who have. University is not for everyone. Studying can help shape you as a person, but it might be important to weigh up your options before committing a lot of time and money to something that might not be as worthwhile as it used to be.
