What would university offer and should my child go?
Going to university can be a wonderful opportunity for many, but it is not always the right option for every student at 18 and there are alternatives available.
For some it is the chance to study a subject that is of particular interest to them, whilst for others, it is essential that they go to university and gain a degree, as they need it for their chosen career. To help you understand the advantages and disadvantages for your child, below are a list of pros and cons for you to consider.
Pros of going to university
Greater Earning Potential
Graduates in England typically earn more through their lifetime compared to those who could have continued in education but chose employment instead, new analysis of government data has found. (March 2025)
Improved job choice and employment prospects
Going to university will enable them to develop their employability skills such as making effective presentations, conducting research and working effectively in a team. The combination of their degree (in any subject), their higher-level employability skills, work experience and involvement in university life, can make them very appealing for employers. University can offer direct access to certain careers where a degree is essential such as medicine.
There is evidence from recent government and industry reports that the UK labour market is moving toward higher-skilled roles, primarily driven by technological advances such as AI and green transition.Current projections indicate that nearly 90% of new jobs created by 2035 will require graduate-level skills.
Improved chances of promotion
With a degree under their belts from university or alternative provider, there is more chance of promotion within the workplace.
Opportunity to study a subject they love
Students can gain a tremendous amount of personal fulfilment by studying subjects in depth that they are really interested in. Apart from that, having a degree in any subject can lead to a graduate level job with approximately 70% of vacancies being open to students with any subject.
Life experience
For many graduates it is the other opportunities available at university, in addition to their academic study, which they really value – making life-long friends, studying abroad as part of their degree, the opportunity to have graduate level work experience, networking with prospective employers and immersing themselves in university life through sports, clubs and societies.
Personal development
Whether you are living away or at home whilst at university students will have the opportunity to flourish as a person in so many ways including:
- improved self confidence through independent learning
- develop social skills and learn through mixing with a diverse student population
- learn to be resilient when facing challenging times
- become confident with practical everyday aspects of being a student such as managing your finances and sorting out accommodation arrangements
- finding out more about your strengths and weaknesses through experiencing every aspect of student life.
Cons of going to university
Student debt
Paying for a university degree is costly with many students paying up to £9,790 per year for tuition fees (for 2026-7 entry). Add in living costs as well and the average debt over three years can amount to over £50,000. Students are usually eligible for loans to cover the cost of tuition fees and living expenses although this often needs to be subsidised in other ways through part time work or support from relatives when they are able to.
For Plan 5 student loans (post-August 2023 in England) with a £25,000 threshold, the interest rate added is currently 3.2 % as of March 2025. Students Repay 9% of their income above this threshold.
You don't always get a graduate job
Going to university to gain a degree doesn't always guarantee a graduate level job. In 2024-2025 approximately 71.9% to 78% of graduates in work were in professional or high-skilled employment, depending on the study. It's vital that you consider whether studying a particular subject at specific institution is going to provide good value for money. One way you can assess this is by looking at the destinations statistics for the courses being considered and what proportion of students are in professional jobs or studying for a further degree within 15 months of graduating. Universities are obliged to publish destinations information for each course they are offering.
Should your child go - things to consider?
Perhaps it would be helpful for you to help your child consider the following questions.
- Do they need to go? If they have a specific career in mind, they may need to gain a degree to get the job they want, but if they are not sure about the university route it may be possible to achieve their career goals through one of the other vocational pathways open to them at 18. You can find out about the other available choices at 18 in Careerpilot.
- Are they ready to go? Many students take time out to consider their plans with a gap year. Careerpilot has a section on gap year information.
- Is there a course they are interested in enough that will motivate them over a long period of time?
- Do they understand that going to university and gaining higher-level qualifications can certainly help get a job but students also need to show their employability skills? Many degree courses will help students develop these skills while they are studying.
More information
Discover Uni is the official university comparison site where you can look at data to compare employment prospects after graduating from each course.
Prospects Luminate produces useful information about graduate salaries including by industry and location.
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Take a look at what is on offer from the different universities by looking at their videos and virtual tours available on the UCAS website.
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The Skills Profile tool in Careerpilot will help a young person identify their skills and map them to skills valued in higher education - and employment.
