Benefits of getting a degree

There are obviously benefits to getting a degree, otherwise, no one would spend upwards of 3 years working towards obtaining one. In addition to this, some professions require a degree to even begin, for example, most jobs in medicine or education.

• More job opportunities for entry-level positions
• The median salary for working-age graduates in 2021 was £36,000 vs £26,000 for non-graduates.
• Connections within your field before even starting.
• Access to internship programmes etc.
• Typically lower rates of unemployment.

Alternatives to the traditional university route

Are you thinking you want a degree, but don’t like the idea of the traditional route? There are lots of ways to get a degree without the usual schedule.

Apprenticeships are a great way to get experience on the job alongside completing your degree. The majority of apprenticeships will not only pay for your studies, meaning you have no student loan debts, but also pay you to work for them.

In addition to this, the likelihood of being offered a full-time position upon completion of your degree programme is considerably higher, so you don’t have to go through the process of finding a graduate role.

Part-time courses are a lesser talked about option, but great if you are someone who doesn’t want to or can’t commit to full-time education. This could be due to financial obligations meaning you need to continue working, or a great opportunity for parents or carers to still obtain a degree alongside caring responsibilities.

Many businesses will also offer the opportunity to study on a part-time basis alongside their role, often with the costs covered by the business, assuming you complete the full course of study.

The only drawback for some is that a part-time course will take longer to complete. For example, a course that typically takes 3-4 years could take 5-7 years instead.

Usually, this sort of course is associated with bodies such as The Open University, but there are a variety of other universities now offering a remote option also. If you want to study with a particular university, take a look and see if this is an option.

Another benefit of this form of study is that some providers will offer the service at as much as 70% less than the price of other universities – currently at the cost of £9,250 per year.

Don’t know what you want to study? Or maybe you’re not ready to commit to a long-term course yet? Not going to uni directly after finishing high school/college doesn’t mean you can’t go later in life. The traditional ‘gap year’ can go on for as long as you like.

Lots of people start working, work out what they want to do and then decide if a degree is something they need to further their career (or simply something they would enjoy doing!).

Do I have to go to university to get a good job?

The simple answer? No.

There are lots of extremely successful people who didn’t go to university and (as long as you don’t want to be something like a doctor!) there is no reason you can’t do the same. You shape your future and have to make the decisions you believe are best for you and your family.

In addition to this, there are lots of people with degrees which are completely irrelevant to their current role. In fact, less than half of graduates are working in a job related to their degree.

Jobs you can get without a degree

Many professions may be easier to get into or benefit from a degree, but that does not mean they are required. Many employers will ask for a relevant degree OR previous experience.

Some of the highest-paying jobs you can get without a degree include:

Successful people who didn’t go to or dropped out of university

---

Similar articles…