Third of uni students don't think it's worth the money, says new poll
We've been speaking to some of those studying at University of Birmingham to see if they think university is worth the money.
Last updated 1st Aug 2024
Is university really worth the hype?
A new poll conducted by the Policy Institute at Kings Collage London found that one third of students do not think University is worth their time and money.
Just under 4,000 people took part in the poll this year. 31% of them said that university wasn't worth it. This is a huge increase from the 18% of people who wouldn't recommend university in 2018.
This shift in opinion has had a knock-on effect on the way young adults are shaping their future.
However can we really put a price on the university experience?
This year, nearly half of those polled said they would prefer to do an apprenticeship as it would provide them with greater opportunities.
Students at the University of Birmingham (UoB) believe that university has taught them so much, beyond education.
Owen Milton, 22, studies English Literature at UoB. He said: "I loved university. I feel like I got a real taste to what real life was for the first time. I was able to make friends in a place that was completely new, it was so much more than just learning."
Cossima, 22, spoke on how university shaped her outlook on life. Cossima said: "I am a very different person from the person who started university. It has given me direction, which I don't think I would have had without a university experience."
Yet, some young people are not worried about the experience university will provide them, rather the debt that they will be in at the end of their studies.
Universities are struggling with the financial costs.
University leaders have been calling on the new Government to raise the annual tuition fee for domestic students in line with inflation to help institutions struggling financially.
The current course loan for students is ÂŁ9,250 each year.
When students at UoB were asked about the debt they will leave with, they believed they could not put a price on the experience they have had at university.
Jamie McMillan, 28, recently studied psychology at Exeter University and is coming to Birmingham for his Masters. He said: "You get a lot of debt, but it's not just about the course and the certificate you have. It's also about the life experiences you have, the people you meet and the societies you take part in. It can really open up your world."