With the dramatic increase in tuition fees fast approaching, the necessity for loans and burden of student debt are evermore worrying. Teamed with the growth of youth unemployment, young people have started to question whether the degree is worth the money?
So what's the value of a degree? I put this question to a broad cross-section of society.
Video - A student opinion
Debt or unemployment doesn't worry trainee doctor Jessica
Birchall, as she is in a position, where a job at the end of her studies is a guarantee. She also believes her training has been invaluable to her future career.
Video - An international opinion
Mona Hadad came to England to study a specific course at a specific university. She considers her choice to be worthwhile because of the university's links with businesses and the quality of education. However, she does put a limit on what she would be willing pay; she views the £9000 fees as far too excessive.
To explore further the attraction of the UK for international students, many of whom pay even greater fees read Why study in the UK?
Video - A graduate's opinion
Entrepreneur Darwood Fard is confident that graduates will find jobs eventually. Although, he himself has been disheartened in the past, he would always encourage someone that wants to and has the capability to go to university, despite the fees.
Audio - A retiree's opinion
A lot has changed since Mick Pemberton was in school. He thinks that there are far too many graduates, with many taking up unusual courses that don't lead any where. He would put the value of a degree down to whether or not there is a job at the end of it.
Text - A working mum's opinion
Amanda French is more sceptical towards the value of a degree, especially when she considers people she knows that either don't use their degree to any effect, or have made a good life for themselves without one.
Text - An achiever's opinion
Although Tim Newman is in a different line of work to what he originally trained in, he thinks a degree is worth the money. However, the value you get from it depends on the quality of the course and university.
Text - A qualified opinion
Text - A self-employed opinion
There are many other qualities a person can possess, which Chris Ashurst would deem to be more important than the possession of a degree. He believes that the individual needs to decide how they want to progress in their working life, but life experience is the fastest route to success.
The timeline presents the legislations and actions that have dictated our experience of higher education. It helps to put into context our attitudes towards degrees and tuition fees.
If you cannot see the full timeline, please use "List" view to see all the events or click the link above to view the timeline at its original location
Although I have obtained a broad range of opinions, the ideas on the value of a degree tended to fall into two categories: Those who have gone to, or are currently at university, have no regrets, and highly value their experience, and those who haven't, also have no regrets, and regard other achievements more highly.
To summarise, it seems that the degree is very much worth the fee, if you're doing something you enjoy, around others that enjoy the same thing, and most importantly, learning from it. But if you're not the university-type, there are countless skills that can be acquired just through experiencing life and work.
On my part, and after recently having attended my dad's graduation for his MA, I have concluded that there is nothing quite like an academic achievement. And I think that if and when the moment arrives when my name is called, and I cross the stage, mortarboard on head, scroll in hand, family whooping embarrassingly, then every penny (still owed!) will all be worth it.
So what's the value of a degree? I put this question to a broad cross-section of society.
Video - A student opinion
Debt or unemployment doesn't worry trainee doctor Jessica
Birchall, as she is in a position, where a job at the end of her studies is a guarantee. She also believes her training has been invaluable to her future career.
Video - An international opinion
Mona Hadad came to England to study a specific course at a specific university. She considers her choice to be worthwhile because of the university's links with businesses and the quality of education. However, she does put a limit on what she would be willing pay; she views the £9000 fees as far too excessive.
To explore further the attraction of the UK for international students, many of whom pay even greater fees read Why study in the UK?
Video - A graduate's opinion
Entrepreneur Darwood Fard is confident that graduates will find jobs eventually. Although, he himself has been disheartened in the past, he would always encourage someone that wants to and has the capability to go to university, despite the fees.
Audio - A retiree's opinion
A lot has changed since Mick Pemberton was in school. He thinks that there are far too many graduates, with many taking up unusual courses that don't lead any where. He would put the value of a degree down to whether or not there is a job at the end of it.
Text - A working mum's opinion
Amanda French is more sceptical towards the value of a degree, especially when she considers people she knows that either don't use their degree to any effect, or have made a good life for themselves without one.
Text - An achiever's opinion
Although Tim Newman is in a different line of work to what he originally trained in, he thinks a degree is worth the money. However, the value you get from it depends on the quality of the course and university.
Text - A qualified opinion
Stewart Darkin feels that students are being drawn into universities offering a range of accessible courses, but in reality, a degree isn't for everyone. However, despite the debt, he wouldn't take back his decision to go to university.
Text - A self-employed opinion
There are many other qualities a person can possess, which Chris Ashurst would deem to be more important than the possession of a degree. He believes that the individual needs to decide how they want to progress in their working life, but life experience is the fastest route to success.
The timeline presents the legislations and actions that have dictated our experience of higher education. It helps to put into context our attitudes towards degrees and tuition fees.
If you cannot see the full timeline, please use "List" view to see all the events or click the link above to view the timeline at its original location
Although I have obtained a broad range of opinions, the ideas on the value of a degree tended to fall into two categories: Those who have gone to, or are currently at university, have no regrets, and highly value their experience, and those who haven't, also have no regrets, and regard other achievements more highly.
To summarise, it seems that the degree is very much worth the fee, if you're doing something you enjoy, around others that enjoy the same thing, and most importantly, learning from it. But if you're not the university-type, there are countless skills that can be acquired just through experiencing life and work.
On my part, and after recently having attended my dad's graduation for his MA, I have concluded that there is nothing quite like an academic achievement. And I think that if and when the moment arrives when my name is called, and I cross the stage, mortarboard on head, scroll in hand, family whooping embarrassingly, then every penny (still owed!) will all be worth it.
