Pass by University On The Way To Success

Pass by University On The Way To Success

September 2012 marked the beginning of the first educational year in which University tuition fees rose to a maximum of £9,000.  Whilst the average annual fee was £8,507 for 2012/2013, the Office for Fair Access predicts that 2013/2014 applicants are more likely to be paying £9,000 as 3 in 4 universities are set to charge the top figure.

The increase in tuition fees undoubtedly changed the plans of some school leavers as the total number of students who applied to study at University during the first year of the higher fees was almost 10% less than in the previous year.

How can it be that we live in a society lacking skilled professionals, yet we hinder the process of anyone gaining the necessary qualifications? Students are encouraged to go to University to better their chances of getting employment in their dream job, so why should attaining our dreams come at the cost of well over £27,000? Well now, it doesn’t have to.

Although it seems alien to some eighteen year-olds, there are alternatives to University which can still pave the way to a dream career. Whilst professions such as dentistry or medicine will require a degree, there is a plethora of other careers which do not, including accountancy, retail management and some law positions.  Choosing training for a specific career instead of University is an option relieving young people of the prospect of debt from extortionate tuition fees and student loans and shows dedication to a certain field of work.

In response to the increasing number of young people who are choosing not to go to University, many employers have started to provide apprenticeship schemes offering on-the-job training in over 1000 professions, in everything from plumbing to sales; an opportunity some employers see as just as beneficial as an undergraduate degree.

Lewis Taylor, aged 19, said: “I've started my job now instead of going uni. I've found it amazing so far-much better than I expected. It's giving me qualifications so I’m training and getting paid, which is a massive bonus. And I'm getting work experience, so in my opinion not going to university is the best decision I have ever made!”

University has traditionally been used as a bridge to get to an ultimate goal. However, today a significant amount of students admit to going to University without even a final career in mind. In such a way, young people choosing work or an apprenticeship after school instead of University could be three years superior on the career ladder to those of the same age who continued into higher education, as employers stress the need of a strong foundation of work experience in a specific field in contrast with class-based learning on a general subject.