You'll be leaving Sixth Form soon; you will have to decide whether to take a place at University or join the workforce. Nobody can (or should!) make that decision for you; your path depends on your unique situation, goals, and desires. However, you can (and should!) debate the university question, taking in all aspects of your life. These are the points to think about.
| 👆Aspect | 👍University Pros | 👎University Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Financial | Statistically higher earnings over a lifetime. | Start earning later. Possibly carrying student debt for years. |
| Time | Learners have room to define and work towards their career goals. | Other further learning options offer more targeted guidance in less time. |
| Professional | Uni education is required for higher-income career fields (law, finance, medicine, etc). Uni provides relationship-building and networking opportunities. | Statistically, half of graduates don't work in their study field. The graduate job market is shrinking. |
| Personal | You have a space to transition into adulthood in a relatively sheltered environment. | The structured environment may limit students' ability to make choices that benefit them. |
| Intellectual | Exposure to new information leads to personal growth, regardless of subject. | Lots of 'filler' courses required to earn one's degree. |
| Security | Historically, uni offered a proven pathway to career success. | Today: no guarantee of economic security or professional stability. |
🤔Is University For Me?
The 'standard pathway' to success in life starts in Early Years classes and ends with a university graduation ceremony. This formula assumes that academic study is for everyone, even burnt-out students.
More importantly, it takes for granted that every learner has the temperament and aptitude to thrive in the university environment1.
Today's students are having their say about that. The latest statistics2 reveal a sharp drop in university enrolment; a trend set to continue in the coming years.
We don't know the reasons why each pupil decided not to enrol in uni. However, Superprof can point you to the right question to ask as you debate your further education options.
Don't ask "What should I do?"
Do ask: "What do I want to do?"
Apprenticeship vs University
Accepting that you have the right (the duty!) to forge your own path, the 'should' vs 'want' question is momentous.🧙♂️ Still, we must emphasise that some sort of higher or further education is vital to your future and wellbeing. Comparing apprenticeship vs university and adding no further education into the mix clearly demonstrates that3.
| 📌Aspect | 🎓University Education | 👩🔧Apprenticeship | 🚫No qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| actual earnings 2024 average | £30 524/year | £23 400/year | £14 300/year |
| lifetime earnings average | £1 220 960 | £936 000 | £572 000 |
| job stability | relatively stable | relatively stable | unstable |
| professional recognition | Many societies and organisations to belong to. | Unions and other societies to belong to. | No networks to rely on. |
| life satisfaction | generally high | possibly high | generally low |
| health | generally no impact on health | tough on physical health | tough on mental and physical health |
The Job Market and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Over the past few months, news headlines have been full of "AI taking jobs". Not entry-level work, but management and executive positions. That doesn't mean the robots aren't coming for restaurant workers and plumbers, only that those devices aren't quite developed enough to do what humans can in those areas.
Robot-assisted surgery has been a thing for a few years, and AI is making other inroads in the medical field. Likewise, accounting, finance, science, and engineering fields are finding more and more uses for AI.
Despite seemingly daily advances, AI cannot operate without human input, guidance, and oversight.
In short, AI is here to stay, so it's best to get in on the ground floor and train alongside it, in whichever field interests you. Besides, worrying about which fields are AI-proof is pointless, as AI finds ever more applications. So, it's best to find ways to work with and around AI, something a university education (and Superprof tutors) can help you do.
All this information is already a lot to think about. So, we leave the question of "Is university For me?" on the back burner to drill down on the pros and cons of university.
Is University for Me? Key Takeaways
- Despite what society tells us, university isn't for everyone.
- In many ways, learning a trade is as valuable/beneficial as uni education.
- In all cases, further education is better than no qualifications whatsoever.
- AI is a genuine concern, but not something that should dictate your further education decisions.
😃The Pros Of Academic Study
The previous chapter shows there's a lot to be said for going to university. High on the list is the chance to ease into your adult life and obligations, rather than having to jump in with both feet. But that's by no means your only consideration.
Opening Career Doors and Unlocking Career Potential
As noted in the previous chapter, university learning leads to higher lifetime and entry-level earnings, more job security, and generally higher life satisfaction. Those don't happen by osmosis, of course; they're not granted simply because you attended uni.
You earn those benefits through hard work and diligent study4. But high marks are just the start of your efforts towards mapping out your future. You'll have free access to far more knowledge, and not just the kind that comes in books and via lectures.
It gives you the chance to expand your worldview and take in new perspectives - from classmates, from teachers, and from your growing understanding of the world around you.
Coming to terms with the concept that the world is far bigger and more complex than previously thought is a sobering intellectual feat. The social aspects of university life will enhance your academic learning in that regard.
Building Your Professional Profile: Networking and Soft Skills
University offers you the chance to meet people of all ages and from many different backgrounds. This can broaden your horizons and enlighten you about different cultures, customs and ways of thinking.
That aspect of your university experience is vital to growing your understanding of the wider world. However, from a professional standpoint, networking opportunities deliver far more benefits.
Throughout your tenure at university, you will have the chance to meet and interact with professionals in your chosen field. Attending lectures, workshops, and taking work placements all put you in contact with established professionals.
These people, along with your professors, form the base of your professional network. Later, as you seek guidance or mentorship, they will be there to advise you.
They will also be available to give you recommendation letters once you start applying for work. Of course, you can't simply demand those things. You must develop the skills to interact with them on a professional level, something you'll also learn at university.
Soft skills: leadership, teambuilding, communication, and time management.
Critical soft skills: critical thinking, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence.
Building the professional and social skills that serve you is perhaps one of the greatest advantages of university education. With the growing concern over AI in the workplace, students must prioritise mastering what machines cannot do, namely, the skills listed above.
Build Independence and Life Skills
Going away for school can boost your confidence in your own abilities, as university living forces you to learn how to fend for yourself. Living away from home also teaches you how to set limits and master important life skills.
Students quickly learn that they don't have an endless budget; an often painful, embarrassing lesson. In many cases, the lack of financial literacy5 forces them to withdraw from school, but things don't have to get that bad. Learning self-discipline and money management are vital life skills that will help you ensure your future.
Moving away from home for the first time, you'll suddenly see the wisdom of curfews, why Mum and Dad wouldn't let you have a skateboard, and so on. That's one way parents play a role in their children's education. Being independent teaches you to be responsible with your freedom.
😕The Cons Of Starting University
After all of those positive benefits, it's time to consider why uni might not be the best choice for you.
Your Degree vs the Job Market
We've already talked about AI stealing jobs left and right; how else could a university degree be useless before you earn it?
- The market is saturated: too many degree holders, not enough jobs.
- You specialised in a niche subject that's no longer relevant.
- Your degree plan didn't include enough practical skills learning.
- Employers increasingly prefer work experience to academic experience.
- The information you studied is outdated.
Studies show that more than half of university graduates do not work in the field they studied9. That report gives many reasons why that's so, but they all boil down to one point. A university degree is not a guarantee of work in your chosen field, let alone of professional and financial stability.
Student Finance and Tuition Fees
In 2024, university graduates left school with an average £53 000 of student debt6. The thought of leaving school already that deep in debt is enough to discourage many from pursuing a university education. But we're not done talking about money just yet.
Tuition for this year is £ 9,535, or £ 4,767.50 per semester
This year's tuition fees represent a £285 increase over last year, or a 3.1% jump — roughly in line with inflation expectations. But tuition isn't the only cause of student debt. They must also pay for study essentials such as school supplies, and specialised equipment (lab coats, goggles, etc) if their major demands it.
Today's insane cost of living drives ever more students to the financial aid office. Simply affording food, let alone any extras like a night out or treating yourself to anything, demands strict financial discipline. Your first semester is likely to bruise your wallet far harder than it can afford to be bruised.
Of course, you can always add to your income with home tutoring gigs. But you'll have to rely on your time management skills to balance learning and earning, so your education doesn't suffer.
On-campus accommodation (average rate) 20257:
£664 per month for en-suite rooms and £520 per month for shared bathrooms.
You can avoid paying dorm fees if you attend a school close to your home. However, doing so may limit the independence your on-campus classmates enjoy. Still, compared to racking up tons of student debt, sacrificing a little freedom doesn't seem like such a bad choice.
Will Your University Degree Pay Off?
Another point to consider is whether gaining this expensive qualification will yield the expected rewards and pay for itself in the future. Getting a solid return on your investment (ROI) should be a top consideration when you think about academic study.
That, of course, may depend on your subject's future earing potential. This sampling10 reflects average annual entry-level salaries for jobs across the spectrum (2024 data).
- Office Manager: £ 28,248
- Office assistant: £27,500
- Housing officer: £25,000
- Designer: £24,722
- Teaching assistant: £ 31,500
- Financial Auditor: £ 32,823
- Nurse: £30,565
- Architect: £52,871
- Software Developer: £44,547
- Social Worker: £ 35,299
- Engineer: £27,543
- Historian: £32,449
Let's revisit the first question we posed in this guide's first chapter: What do you want to do? In the clip below, the presenter marvels over how many students STILL choose Art and Humanities majors. He points out that they're among the lowest paid (see above) and the most threatened with AI replacement.
So, you're not likely to get a good ROI unless you build your professional life around the transferable and human skills you learn in school — the ones AI can't compete in.
Besides, you won't have to start paying back your student loans until you hit a specific income threshold. So, perhaps a satisfying, lower-income career field might actually benefit you.
🕵️♀️Conclusion: Is It Worth Going To University?
AI is obviously the very large elephant in an increasingly smaller room. But now, you know the secret to beating AI in the job market: master the skills that AI cannot learn or perform. You can do so at university or other pathways8 to higher education.
What About Apprenticeships?
As the clip above suggests, carpentry, plumbing, and other trades are comparatively safer from AI. Furthermore, recent statistics show that apprenticeships deliver roughly the same advantages as university learning in about half the time. And you start earning right away, too! Not much, of course, but it's better than taking on student debt.
The Vocational Career Path
This is a good choice for school leavers, particularly if they've been out of education for a few years. Training centres abound and their course lists are generous8. The focus is on marketable skills you can put to use as soon as you finish learning.
Trade industries (construction, plumbing, gas, etc) suffer from a chronic shortage of skilled workers, which suggests a higher likelihood of steady employment.
Entering Uni as a Mature Student
Despite what society tells us, university isn't for everyone. Choosing not to go to University when you're 18 does not mean that the opportunity is gone forever. In fact, spending a few years in the workforce might just kindle a desire for more academic study.
It may be more complicated to enrol at uni as a mature student when you have a full-time job and a mortgage to pay. But the opportunity to earn a degree is always there. You can choose online courses, part-time or full-time, so your learning doesn't disrupt your life.
In all cases, further learning is vital to your future security and well-being. Any wise mentor — parents, teachers, professors, Superprof — would recommend that you embrace only the educational activities and initiatives that will serve you the best.
📚Pros and Cons of University: Resources and Further Reading
- “UCAS.” Ucas.com, 2025, www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/students-with-individual-needs.
- News Desk. “Worrying Decline Predicted for UK Universities as Student Numbers Begin to Drop - Mancunian Matters.” Mancunian Matters, 15 May 2025, www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/15052025-worrying-decline-predicted-for-uk-universities-as-student-numbers-begin-to-drop/.
- McAfee, Lauren. “Average Lifetime Earnings UK - Who Makes the Most Money?” Quotezone, 12 Jan. 2024, www.quotezone.co.uk/home-insurance/guides/average-lifetime-arnings-uk.
- UAPP Team. Is University Worth It in 2025? Pros & Student Views. 19 June 2025, uapp.uk/blog/is-university-worth-it-in-2025-pros. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
- The Access Project. “Financial Literacy Can Combat the Student Cost of Living Crisis - the Access Project.” The Access Project, 18 Feb. 2025, theaccessproject.org.uk/2025/02/18/the-missing-lesson-cost-of-living-financial-literacy-university-0225/.
- Bolton, Paul. “Student Loan Statistics.” Commonslibrary.parliament.uk, 5 Dec. 2024, commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01079/.
- Murray, Jessica. “Revealed: The Universities Where Students Pay the Most Rent.” Save the Student, 13 Feb. 2024, www.savethestudent.org/accommodation/universities-students-pay-the-most-rent.html.
- Rhys. “5 Alternatives to University.” Accesstraininguk.co.uk, 2 Feb. 2025, www.accesstraininguk.co.uk/news/post/2025/02/02/5-alternatives-to-university. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
- Rhodes, Jean. “Half of College Graduates Have Jobs That Don’t Use Their Degrees – the Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring.” Evidencebasedmentoring.org, 17 Mar. 2024, www.evidencebasedmentoring.org/half-of-college-graduates-have-jobs-that-dont-use-their-degrees/. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
- “Entry-Level Salary Insights: A Comprehensive Guide to UK Pay Scales and Variations.” Guardian Jobs, 2024, jobs.theguardian.com/article/entry-level-salary-insights-a-comprehensive-guide-to-uk-pay-scales-and-variations. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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