The cost of going to university in the UK is making many students debate whether a degree is really worth the huge amount of debt they’ll be in. Long before the change of laws and the argument of charging students for education, going to university used to be free. It wasn’t until 1998 that students were beginning to get charged for tuition, but back then it cost only £1,000 a year across the UK. But slowly, through the progression of time, universities across the UK began to charge more and the fees of attending university began to vary, making many students question whether it truly was worth it. But now, that the fees are higher than ever, students are beginning to take a different approach to higher education. Roksolana Masliuk (17) commented, “It’s a fact that those who go to university have a higher salary, but that mostly applies to those who go to a Russel Group University, or to a university that is famous in the particular field that they want to work in. I think that if someone can ‘just make it’ into university that isn’t well known, well the price might not be worth it. It really depends on what the university is”. Roksolana stated that the quality of the degree depends on the university and that it has been seen in good universities, a student is less likely to drop out and more likely to have the facilities that would benefit their degree.
But, another question which many ponder over is: what if people who really wish to attain a degree apply to a university but fail to get in, and are thus forced to go to a different university which wasn’t their first choice but they still wish to get a degree? Would it still be worth it? Roksolana stated, “It really depends on the connection that they have with other people. For example, I know that in my mother’s workplace (on railway construction) there are a lot of people with law degrees but they didn’t get the jobs they went to university for”. That, if an individual knows someone within the field they wish to acquire a job, they’re more likely to be considered. So, to say, ‘put in a good word’ and the individual’s application may be taken into consideration. It is safe to say that the person might be employed by the person hiring or suggested for employment to someone else, provided that they have the actual degree. But, Roksolana also interjected that a degree, although desirable and highly sought out for is not the only thing employers seek; interview skills and personal charisma play a vital role in someone’s employability.
So, in conclusion, the pressure to acquire higher education to many, is a debatable topic. Although, acquiring higher education may be deemed as accomplishing and respected, the idea of a debt puts pressure on many individuals. It is, so to say, conflicting and current students are undergoing immense pressure to reach the goal of attending university but also realise the stress they would initially undergo if they choose to obtain a degree.
Hamna Kashif - Ursuline Academy Ilford
