Better jobs ‘main reason for going to university’
Most parents think a better career is the main reason for going to university, according to a survey – but a quarter of them still think the principal reason is education for its own sake.
Almost two-thirds of parents polled by the New College of the Humanities felt the reason for going to university was to improve career prospects, with over almost one-third saying it would lead to more money and better jobs.
NCH found that just over half of parents agree that a degree is a good investment for their children while only one-fifth said it was not .
The survey follows findings from the University and College Union that found a “sharp” reduction in the total number of full-time undergraduate degree courses in the UK in the past six years.
That report found an almost equal drop in the number of courses available in maths and science-related subjects, social sciences and humanities.
Meanwhile, as students prepare to pay £9,000 per year for university tuition fees, official UK government data released this year showed that one third of recent graduates are in low-skilled jobs.
But data released in 2011 showed that graduates can still expect a good return on their studies, earning on average £34,500 per year, compared with £19,400 for non-graduates.
