There are a number of reasons you might consider staying in education and going to university, and some of these are explored below. To find out more from people who are at – or have been – to university, and the reasons they chose to go, select 'Who goes to university' from the left hand menu to meet some University of Sussex students and graduates (people who have completed university).
- To pursue a vocation There are a number of jobs for which having a degree level qualification is essential, including doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, dentists and chartered engineers.
- For better job opportunities An increasing number of jobs now ask that applicants are educated to degree level, meaning that you will have a wider variety of career options to choose from having studied at university.
- For the potential to earn more Statistically it has been proven that people who have a degree earn more money over their lifetime than those without higher education qualifications. Graduates are likely to be promoted sooner, and progress further up the career ladder, than non-graduates.
- To gain skills Going to university does not just give you a high level of understanding in a particular subject, but also many skills that are useful for numerous jobs and in everyday life. During your time at university you learn to become independent and responsible, and to achieve a degree you will have developed skills in communication, team work and commitment, amongst many others.
- To spend time learning a subject you enjoy There are over 50,000 higher education courses to choose from so you are bound to find a subject you enjoy. As an added bonus, studying a subject in which you have a genuine interest and motivation to learn often leads to excellent results.
- For the experience Many graduates will describe their time at university as the best of their life, and a recent survey revealed that the most popular reason for going to university was 'fun'! Whilst academic learning, gaining qualifications and the personal skills and attributes you develop are probably the most worthy grounds upon which to base a decision, university is undoubtedly a fantastic social experience too, with the opportunity to meet people from hugely varied cultures and backgrounds and potentially to make life-long friends.
For further information on the benefits of higher education, to help you decide if it would be the right move for you, check out the links below.
Brightside Knowledge Bank – this website has lots of information about higher education and also includes careers advice and information on making those important subject choices at school and college. There is also lots of subject specific advice, so you can find out more about a subject you enjoy at school, what you might like to study at university and the jobs you could get as a result.
Direct.gov – The Government published advice and guidance with regards to higher education, the benefits, and financial support