Majority think university is not the best path into a career
Only a third of Scots believe university remains the best option for career prospects despite the costs, a new survey suggests.
YouGov research for the Bank of Scotland found 33% of those surveyed believe university is the best career path, down from two in five (38%) last year.
The proportion of people who feel on-the-job training or an apprenticeship offers the best career prospects rose from 29% to 32%.
Meanwhile, one in 10 Scots said they believe a university education is no longer financially viable.
Of those respondents heading off to university, more than half (58%) said they have enough money for their higher education, while 35% said they will need to find more.
The most popular source of funds is student loans (45%), followed by part-time work (30%) and savings (25%).
Only 15% of those heading to university said they have a partner, family member or friend who will support them financially.
Ricky Diggins, director at Bank of Scotland, said: 'While most young Scots still believe that a university education offers them the best career prospects, it's clear that a growing number are considering the wider range of options available, including less traditional routes into the workplace.
'For those who are heading off to university, managing their finances can be a big challenge.
'Therefore it's encouraging to see that a significant majority of Scottish students believe that they have access to the funds they need to complete their studies.'
YouGov surveyed 3,039 adults online between December 19 and January 4.