University or Apprenticeships
With the rising costs of University tuition fees and the costs of living away from home, it can seem like university is an expense that can no longer be justified for many prospective students. Moreover, with the increased competitiveness for both skilled and unskilled jobs and the fact that there is no guarantee of a job after a university degree, it seems that many 18 year olds are looking at apprenticeships rather than splashing out the cash on university.
This is the first year that applications to University have fallen in around 20 years, which is not coincidental seeing as fees have reached their highest level in history.
But which option is the best? This is what we will be exploring in the rest of this article.
Firstly, there are plenty of jobs which require a degree to even apply for such as Doctors, Lawyers etc. However if you look past these jobs, there are plenty of well-paid jobs such as Plumbers and Electricians which do not require a university degree to enter the profession. These jobs are always in high demand and the skills required can be obtained via apprenticeships. These apprenticeships are inexpensive, are much shorter than most university courses and often you can be paid while you learn. Despite this, an apprenticeship still does not have the same prowess as a University degree and will not unlock the same salary potential as a degree course. For many this is seen as an attractive alternative to University study, however University has its merits.
University can be an excellent place for young people to be independent from their family and meet a plethora of interesting new people from different countries and backgrounds. It is a place where many of the influential people of the future go, but most importantly, where all the graduate employers are looking for the best new talent, for the best paid jobs.
Furthermore, there is a prestige and sense of achievement when you complete a University degree course and will always make you stand out against those without a degree when it comes to a job interview. However, most people live away from home when they go to University, which can often be costly, especially in a city such as London. Moreover with Tuition Fees as high as they are, it is not a decision that should be taken lightly.
My final point is that which University you go to is also a key factor. Going to a poor university may give you fewer job prospects than an apprenticeship, but top universities will open your job prospects widely.
As you can see, Apprenticeships offer a cheap and attractive alternative to University but may not offer the same potential job prospects as a university degree course. I encourage you to take a look at both of the options and see which one is best suited to you.