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Is a higher education university degree important for a career?





Ipsos MORI conducted a survey on whether higher education – a university degree – was important to gain a career?

The survey, conducted on behalf of the Sutton Trust, involved 2,381 youth in Great Britain aged 11-16 years.

In 2013, 86% of survey respondents thought that it was important to enter higher education to do well in professional life. The recent survey showed that 75% think that it is important to get a university degree to get a good job. 

The survey showed that 77% of respondents think they are likely to go to university, but 46% were worried about the cost.

The cost of university education in Great Britain is about £50,000-£60,000, and a bank loan could mean that they will be paying back their loans for many years. Also, in a number of cases, they may gain degrees that don't lead to graduate jobs.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust and chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, said: "Degree-level apprenticeships are almost non-existent with less than 10,000 available each year compared with over 300,000 university places.There is effectively no viable alternative to university."

However, students are now considering apprenticeships because, for the on-the-job training, students earn a small amount as they learn. The Sutton Trust, established in 1997, with the aim to improve social mobility through education, now has a campaign to "dramatically increase the number of degree-level apprenticeships by working with government, for-profit and not-for profit organisations and universities."


MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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