Deciding whether or not to go to university is one of the most crucial decisions of your life, but there are still doubts over studying for a degree.
Do you need the bricks and mortar of a campus?
Deciding whether or not to go to university is one of the most crucial decisions of your life - and one which will shape your future career.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the ratio of working-age adults with a degree has more than doubled in the last two decades in the UK, making holding a degree more of a necessity.
Despite this, there are still doubts over studying for a degree, so we have put together a 5 Point Guide to dispel the myths you might come across:
1. I will end up in mountains of debt
As UK fee levels have massively increased in the past 6 years, the prospect of sinking over £50,000 into debt doesn’t sound very appealing. Thankfully, the world of modern technology has enabled the creation of new alternative routes to study, where you don’t need to fall into mountains of debt to achieve your learning ambitions.
2. A degree is enough without work experience
It’s an endless debate about whether work experience or a university degree is more important for career progression. Some argue that hands-on work experience is more vital than a degree; others claim a degree delivers what work-experience can’t.
The sixth annual Global Employability University Survey conducted by the French company Emerging, showed that when assessing which university they would look to recruit from, employers indicated that the production of ready-to-work graduates is as important as the university’s reputation.
So what if we told you there is an easy way to break the vicious cycle of ‘no job without experience, no experience without a job’? Online learning gives you the flexibility to work and gain that much-needed work experience while studying for your qualification. Picture yourself with a degree in your hand and years of experience under your belt – that’s the advantage your peers may not have. Now, guess who is more likely to get that dream job?
3. On campus living is convenient
Sadly, not everyone can afford or is placed in a conveniently located, on-campus hall of residence. You may be expected to commute to your lectures every morning and believe us, it is not only time-consuming but also doesn’t come cheap. Instead, you could be in your PJ’s, with a cup of tea in your hands, logging into your latest lesson from the comfort of your own home.
4. My social life will be at its peak
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While university is a great place to meet new people, it takes a certain type of person to enjoy it fully. Some of us will sooner or later find ourselves frantically knocking on Sarah’s wall (Sarah is your neighbour who LOVES having friends around until the early hours of the morning) and looking at your next takeaway in disgust (and we are speaking from experience). It’s great for some, but one size doesn’t fit all!
5. Less Stress!
Committing yourself to full-time study means three years of your life dedicated to lectures, essays and examinations. For many of us, such a prospect is daunting. By studying online you can study at your own pace and ease into the process.
An on-campus university life is perfect for some people, but it isn’t for everyone. This doesn’t mean that you need to give up on the idea of gaining a university qualification altogether – after all, investing in yourself is worth it. Simply research your options, and you will know that other routes are available and perhaps even more suited to your personal circumstances. And if you are after an on-campus experience without the full-time commitment, why not try blended learning and get the best of both worlds? Good luck on your university journey!
