CULTURE & SOCIETY
CULTURE & SOCIETY
EMPLOYMENT RATE
Graduate
High-skilled non-graduates
87.3 %
66.3 %
Are Apprenticeships a Viable Alternative to University? DAISY BROOKER
Graduate High-skilled non-graduates £38,500 £27,000 MEDIAN SALARY
A record 650,000 students started an undergraduate university course last year. At the same time, over 40,000 young people began an apprenticeship, and this number is on the rise, representing a genuine alternative to university. This is primarily driven by the increasing costs of a university degree for young people, and by employers recognising that many graduates are coming to them without the appropriate skills required. By offering apprenticeships, companies can have more of an input in the education and training of their employees. This can lead to a much more productive workforce. A common myth is that apprenticeships are often unpaid – this is untrue. Companies are obligated to pay at least minimum wage, and in addition, they fund the apprentice to gain qualifications as opposed to students who must take out loans to fund their degrees.
This is not to say that pursuing a university degree is futile. Statistics show that the graduate employment rate (87.3%) is higher than that of high-skilled non-graduates (66.3%) and that their median salary is higher also. (£38,500 vs £27,000). There are also the unquantifiable benefits of university. The experience, life skills and social aspects are important, and many lifelong friendships and relationships can emerge from your university days. Although most young people will carry on their education at university, the growing emergence of apprenticeships as another option means that those who do not wish to go to university still have a viable career path where they can gain experience and further educational qualifications, whilst avoiding the debt-based system.
Charity, the BBC estimates that the cost of a three-year degree course in tuition and accommodation for students is £49,887 in England, £45,494 in Wales, £32,091 in Northern Ireland and £27,775 in Scotland to study in their own country. For many careers, a degree is a necessity. For many popular careers like medicine or law, applicants will need to secure at least an undergraduate degree. However, the massive increase in the number of young people attending university that began in the Blair years has seen millions of students enrol in courses that do not necessarily lead onto a defined career path.
For many, the idea of going to university has always seemed like the natural next step after Sixth Form, a rite of passage that we inevitably follow. But in the post-COVID world where things have changed so rapidly and many of the old certainties have been turned on their heads, some are wondering if university significant cost. Currently tuition fees in England are £9,250 per year, whilst Scottish students benefit from free tuition, meaning where you live will play a big part in your decision. Using data from the NUS and the Unipol Housing is really the right path after all. Firstly, there is the matter of the
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