Less than half of students are confident that their university education will secure them a graduate-level job that will enable them to pay off their debts, according to new research. A survey of more than 2,000 students found that 48% were either confident or very confident that their education would pay for itself in the future, with 24% saying they were either unconfident or not confident at all.
Eight out of 10 students who took part in the survey, commissioned by Future Finance, a private student lending company, said they expected a lot more from their university because of the £9,000 annual tuition fees they now pay.
Almost half (47%) said good teaching and feedback from tutors were the most important considerations for them; 29% said their course was the most important factor, and 12% said a good university reputation was their priority.
Asked about paying higher fees at a more expensive university in the expectation of getting a better job afterwards, only 22% of students felt it would be worthwhile, and almost half of students surveyed disagreed entirely.
Three out of 10 said they had chosen their university in order to be able to live at home to keep costs down, and fewer than 60% agreed that an education was worth the cost “as it sets you up for life”.
Brian Norton, CEO of Future Finance, said: “Tuition fees in the UK went into orbit four years ago, and since then students have quite rightly become a lot more value-conscious. Our study clearly shows the three areas where universities must perform. There’s no substitute for good teaching, good courses and a good reputation. But many institutions also need to take a broader look at the student life cycle and ensure they create a clear, measurable path to long-term career success and employability.”
