SHORT ANSWER: University can be worthwhile if you have a career in mind that requires a specific degree, but if that's not the case, you may want to consider alternative paths that will improve your employment prospects without all that student debt.

Many young people today think of uni not as an option, but as mandatory—the default next step after leaving school at 18. With more and more people applying for fewer and fewer vacancies, you might think that a university degree is essential if you want to compete in the modern job market.

But is the experience of university worth the enormous tuition fees and oppressive debts that come with it? Is university really the surest route to a successful career?

The answer is: no it isn't, at least not for everybody. Many other equally viable options are often overlooked by parents, teachers and students alike.

What does university cost?

In 2012, university tuition fees in England almost tripled, going from £3,375 per year to £9,000 per year. At the time, students were promised better value for money, a higher quality of university teaching, and far better future prospects—and had those promises come true, then perhaps this could be seen as a fair deal. But with the number of students increasing each year, the value of a degree has if anything fallen since 2012.

And that's not the only problem. A recent report on student debt by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) revealed that graduate students are currently facing a lifetime of debt, averaging around £57,000. On top of tuition fees, which are continually increasing, this extortionate lifetime bill is made even heftier when maintenance fees and general living costs are taken into account.

So unless a university education is undoubtedly, unquestionably what you want to pursue—for example, because your dream career demands a specific degree qualification—why saddle yourself with such a huge amount of student debt?

Is uni worth it?

Many students who started university courses after fees were increased have now completed their degrees, but a lot of them are not doing too well. According to the National Union of Students, nearly half of all students who attended university as undergraduates in 2012 were back to living with their parents five years later.

And the struggle to find employment is only going to become more difficult—that's according to Sharon Walpole, the Chief Executive of Not Going To Uni (an organisation devoted to spreading awareness of options other than university to help young people secure a strong future). Walpole warns that graduate intakes for large employers will be reduced when an apprenticeship levy is passed in 2017. This levy will include an investment of £2.5 billion into funding apprenticeship training, resulting in an influx of apprenticeship placements and less room for graduates.

With more and more graduates achieving university degrees, things are only likely to become worse, with more competition, fewer opportunities, and less room for work. Read this Guardian article to find out how newly-graduated students are finding life after university, and how successful they have been in finding work.

Alternatives to university

Leaving university owing £40,000+ is no way to enter the world of work. A debt of that scale can be a huge financial and mental burden, not only for the students themselves but for the families who then have to support them. With far less priority now being made for graduate employees, finding work is becoming extremely difficult.

If you are thinking of attending university but aren't 100% certain about this choice, we implore you to consider all the available options. If academia is not your forte—if you are better with physical, hands-on work—then you may wish to learn a trade instead of going to uni.

Access Training is the best establishment in the UK for aspiring tradespeople who want to learn the skills and earn the qualifications that will enable them to succeed. Please get in touch today and enquire about the courses we have on offer. Our course advisors will be happy to give you all the information you require.

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PAGE UPDATED 13 AUGUST 2024

So you’ve dropped out of university – now what?

It is completely valid if you feel lost or confused after making the decision to drop out of uni - it is a decision that takes a lot of courage and maturity! So before anything else, give yourself a big pat on the back and take a deep breath, everything will work out.

It’s perfectly natural to decide that your course wasn’t what you expected, or to find living away from home too hard or expensive, or maybe you simply didn't enjoy the university lifestyle. There is nothing undignified about changing your mind once you’re there. In fact, more than 40,000 undergraduate students dropped out of university in 2022/23, so you aren’t alone!

Whatever the reason, it isn’t the end of the world. University is not the only path to a successful life and career. However, with so much pressure from schools and parents put on students to attend uni, many students do not even consider the other career routes you can take which will provide you with just as prosperous a future.

If you are one of the thousands who discovered that university doesn’t necessarily give you ‘the best three years of your life' and are searching for a new direction to go in, then read on - there is something better suited for you out there somewhere.

Dropped out of uni...what now?

1. Apprenticeships
2. Choose a Different Course
3. Take a Gap Year
4. Work Full-Time
5. Learn a Trade

1) Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are in many ways a better alternative to university. As opposed to a long, drawn-out university course, an apprenticeship is like a paid work placement where you learn valuable new skills and gain experience while you practise them. Apprenticeships can provide routes into various different industries and careers just as well as university courses can, from social care to engineering and IT.

Apprenticeships are also much more cost-efficient than university, as you can earn while you learn. This means you won’t have to suffer crippling debts brought on by years in university, with the added insecurity of having to find your own job after the course. So, if you're not sure what to do after dropping out of uni, why not consider an apprenticeship?

2) Choose a Different Course

Unless you’re certain about choosing a particular university course, it can be difficult to know for sure if you’ve picked the right one. You might find that a few weeks into the course it doesn't feel right for you or it wasn’t what you expected - this is natural and a problem easily solved.

If the course isn’t your cup of tea, but you enjoy the university lifestyle, it’s never too late to simply apply for a different course. If anything, it might give you a fresh start, a new boost of energy and make you think about your future in a completely different way. Changing course is a great alternative to dropping out of uni completely, just make sure you choose your replacement course carefully!

3) Take a Gap Year

Lots of people that aren't sure what to do after they've dropped out of university opt to take a gap year. This is a great option if you can’t decide what course to re-apply for or the timing is not quite right for you. Perhaps you just need a chance to find what direction you want your life to take.

In this case, taking a gap year might be a chance to take a well-earned break, reconsider, and plan ahead. With so little time between secondary school and university to decide what you want to do next, it’s hard to be sure that university is the right option until you’re actually there.

Leaving university and taking a gap year to travel, work, think, and enjoy yourself is a great way of biding time to carefully consider your options, and perhaps an entirely new and unexpected route will open up before you.

4) Work Full-Time

While in university, you might become restless and feel an urge to get out into the working world as soon as possible. This is especially true if you aren’t happy with your chosen course, and is definitely a common motive for dropping out of university.

Working full time with the qualifications you gained from school is certainly a rewarding experience and can help make you into a self-sufficient, independent adult. That being said, there are a lot of jobs that will require education of A-level standard or higher. If you have dropped out of uni and are finding it hard to find work, it could be really beneficial to gain some additional skills for your CV.

You could try learn a new language, sign up for an art class, take a marketing course - the list goes on! Getting stuck back into learning on your own terms is great to build your confidence and boost your CV for future employers.

5) Learn a Trade

An increasingly popular and stable route for university dropouts is pursuing a career in the trade industry. Perhaps, after having gone to university, you realise that your particular skills are better suited to practical, hands-on work, rather than the tedium of academia. Learning a trade is a great way to harness those skills and turn them into a lucrative career.

Private colleges like us at Access Training provide a wide range of training courses from plumbing and gas engineering to electrical and tiling, all designed to produce highly qualified tradespeople.

With expert tutors, excellent facilities and well-designed courses, Access Training provide the best preparation for working in the trade industry.

Although university is a great opportunity for a large portion of young people, and it’s true that picking the right course can excel you through the working world, this isn’t the case for everybody.

If you have just dropped out of uni and are thinking 'what now?', contact us to enquire about a trade skills course with Access Training today. Our course advisors are always available to talk you through your options.