To degree or not to degree, that is the question. But will a university qualification put you ahead of the competition when it comes to finding a job?
Those in favour of bypassing higher education often champion experience over academia, arguing that many respond better to a real-world approach. What’s more, the cost of university is higher now than ever, and having a qualification is no guarantee of a well-paid job: a 2015 study found that a third of working graduates had taken jobs as cleaners, office juniors or road sweepers within six months of leaving university.
On the other side, some argue that a degree provides something that experience cannot; going to university is about more than just learning a trade – it’s a valued rite of passage in a young person’s life.
So, what do you think? We want to open this debate to our readers, asking you to tell us whether your degree proved useful. Do you think you could have benefited from going straight from school to work instead? Or perhaps you didn’t get a degree but are now doing a job you love. Tell us by filling in the form below.
