“Broader benefits” of university should be promoted, says Universities UK

Universities UK (UUK) has called on the government to promote the “broader benefits” of higher education, after a poll found that only 1 in 3 (34%) students consider their future salary when applying for university.

79% also agreed that the government should do more to promote the broader benefits of a degree or university study, irrespective of potential salary.

In the poll of more than 2,200 students and recent graduates, 56% of respondents said that they decided to go to university because they were interested in their chosen degree subject.

A further 50% said that university was a first step to building a career, and 48% said that they enjoyed studying and learning.

84% agreed that their future salary was not the only factor that they considered when applying for a degree.

Professor Julia Buckingham, President of UUK and Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University London, said: “These results tell us loudly and clearly that policy makers and politicians have got it wrong when it comes to understanding what motivates today’s students and graduates.

“Students do not judge the value of universities on their future salaries and neither should policymakers. We should all be asking ourselves if we really want to live in a culture that identifies success by salary alone.

“It is time to listen and take notice of what students, graduates and society really value about the university experience and consider how we can ensure prospective students have access to the information they want to inform their future decisions. Only then can we ensure that universities are valued by all.”

Students do not judge the value of universities on their future salaries and neither should policymakers. We should all be asking ourselves if we really want to live in a culture that identifies success by salary alone

– Julia Buckingham

Earnings were not the top motivation in choosing a career either – 53% stated that work-life balance was their top consideration, compared to 42% interested in earning potential and 39% after the opportunity to take on a variety of interesting work.

The poll revealed broader benefits from university, including skills such as time management, social skills and teamwork; improving levels of confidence; awareness of social issues and debates, and access to academic tutors.

Furthermore, 86% of those surveyed agreed that they had met people from diverse backgrounds with different views to them at university.

Students were also encouraged to share aspects of university they wish they had known more about prior to applying – the top three areas were better career information (39%), career experiences of past graduates in their subject and institution (38%) and information on the cost of living (37%).

Responding to the poll, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said: “We know that university can be so much more than a route to increased earnings – it also represents an exciting and broadly enriching stage in a young person’s life.

“In order to provide value for money for both students and taxpayers, we ensure students have all of the information available to choose the right degree for them, and our data on earnings is an invaluable tool for many prospective students.”

These findings were presented at UUK’s conference, UK universities in a changing world, held at the University of Birmingham on Thursday 12 September.