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Your guide to: The pros and cons of university
University can be an amazing experience, but it’s not for everyone. It’s also one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life – so it’s important to think carefully before taking the plunge.
In this guide, we explore the pros and cons of university to help you make up your mind.
'Weighing up the pros and cons of university? Check out this guide'
Pros
1. You can become an expert in a subject you love
If you’re the person who has to know everything there is to know about a subject, then uni could be for you. Over the three or four years of your undergraduate course, you’ll become an expert in your chosen subject. The chances are you’ll get to choose a number of specialist areas of study as your interests develop.
2. University can prepare you for a specific career path
Some jobs require a university degree. For example, if you want to be a doctor or a vet, you’ll need to go to university. Other career paths typically start out at university – such as engineering, nursing and laboratory science. However, more and more apprenticeships are opening up – in fact, apprenticeships are available in all three of these professions today. If you’re considering a career in one of these areas, university may still be the best way in, but research all your options before making up your mind.
3. Graduates earn more
Graduates earn more than non-graduates. According to government data, graduates earned on average £6,500 more than non-graduates in 2023. Don’t forget that number is a headline – there are lots of factors which can make a difference. These include the course and university you choose and the career path you’d like to pursue.
4. Uni gives you time to gain work experience
Going to university means you’ll be very highly qualified come graduation day – but it doesn’t guarantee you the technical and employability skills employers look for. Never fear – the long summer vacation is a great time to gain experience and skills through internships, a summer job or work experience placement. Internships are plentiful – but they can be competitive. If you don’t get one, look for local employers related to the career path you’re considering and get in touch.
5. You’ll get a taste of independence
University gives you a flavour of independent living without throwing you in at the deep end. You’ll usually be broken in gently with a year in halls, giving you the chance to learn basic life skills like cooking and doing the laundry. Later, you’ll probably live in rented accommodation. Choosing a student house is exciting and insightful – and although you might not relish the thought of clean the loo or kitchen sink when you move in, it’s all good experience!
6. You will gain high-level transferable skills
Uni may be light on workplace experience, but a degree gives you skills that will stand you in good stead throughout your career. Whatever subject you study, you’ll learn to think critically and analytically, question assumption, carry out thorough and robust research, solve problems, and process large amounts of information quickly.
7. It can broaden your mind
One of the best things about uni is that it can alter your outlook on the world. It's a chance to move to a new place, meet people from different backgrounds, learn about fascinating ideas and experience culture, art and politics. OK, so we may be painting a grand view of uni life, but it's all there for the taking – if you want it.
Cons
1. You may not gain technical skills
Some degrees, such as medicine or veterinary science, prepare you for a particular career path. Others, like engineering and computer science are geared towards certain areas of work. These degree courses give you skills that you can directly apply in your job, should you choose to continue in your field of study. However, many roles are open to graduates with a degree in any discipline – and according to research by the New College of the Humanities, half of graduates end up in jobs like these. Your degree may give you valuable transferable skills, but you will have to learn the technical skills you need to carry out your job.
2. You may not get employability skills
According to research by Career Builder, only one in three employers thinks students graduate with the skills they need in the workplace. Nearly half of employers surveyed said graduates leave university without people skills, and many said graduates lacked problem-solving, creative thinking, communication and teamwork skills.
3. Contact time is less than at school
Contact time is often much less than students expect. In a recent survey, nearly two thirds of students thought they would get more contact time than at school, and a similar number expected to spend more time in lectures than in the classroom. In reality, contact time is usually much less than at school. Courses such as history may have less than 10 hours of weekly contact time.
4. You’ll leave with a lot of debt
The government estimates that a graduate who started university in 2023/24 would leave university with £43,700 of debt. This is likely to rise year on year as tuition fees and living and accommodation costs increase. The good news is repayments are linked to your earnings – currently, you must be earning £25,000 per year before you start repaying your student loan, and your remaining loan will be written off if you don’t repay it within 40 years of the first April after you graduate. For more information about repayments, see the government website.
5. You will be committing at least three years of your life
A university degree is a big commitment to academic study. Most bachelor’s degrees last at least three years. You should think carefully if you’d prefer to be working in a paid job than dedicating yourself to years of study, coursework, revision and exams.
6. You’re not guaranteed a graduate job
About a third of graduates are overqualified for their job, according to the CIPD (the professional body for the HR industry). Research shows that graduate jobs in the UK fell by over 6% between 2022 and 2023, although it was forecast to rise slightly in 2024.
7. Lifetime earnings could be higher with an apprenticeship
The jury is still out – there isn't a lot of research just yet. But when apprenticeships were ramping up in 2015, the Sutton Trust found that those with a level 5 apprenticeship (or higher) are likely to earn more over their lifetime than graduates with a degree from a non-Russell Group university. They predicted that apprentices in this group were likely to earn an average of £1.5 million over their career, compared with the £1.4 million forecast for non-Russell Group graduates. Keep your eye out for the latest research on this!
So what does this mean for me?
The pros and cons of university mean you should think carefully before choosing your path. If you're drawn to university because you think it will help you get a well-paid job, you should think about the career path you’d like to pursue, and research the various ways of getting there.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself before deciding:
- What career path appeals to me?
- How will a university degree help me achieve this?
- Could an apprenticeship be a better way to enter my career path?
If you've weighed up the pros and cons of university and decided it's the right choice for you, make sure you use your time wisely:
- How can I explore different career paths while I’m at university?
- How can I gain skills and experience while I’m at university?
Have fun, explore new ideas and meet new people, and make time to enjoy the holidays as well as gaining work experience – you may not get another opportunity for a long time!
Still debating the pros and cons of university? Check out this post which helps you decide whether university could be for you.
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Image credits
Lead image by West Chester University via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
