www.helpyouchoose.org - Norfolk's 14-19 Area Prospectus

Here are some possible benefits and drawbacks of embarking on a Higher Education course.

Higher Education offers the opportunity to…

• achieve your academic potential
• get a qualification for a high level job
• develop other skills to improve your career prospects
• realise your full personal and social potential, including sporting, recreational and cultural ambitions
• meet students from different countries, cultures and creeds
• experience an open environment, free of dogma, domination and discrimination
• make life-lasting friendships and relationships
• Earn More - some Facts and Figures:
• • The average graduate starting salary in 2006 was over £18,000. The highest starting salary reported in 2006 was nearly £40,000.
  • Research from the University of Wales says “graduates’ lifetime earnings should be at least £150,000 more than their nongraduate peers.” These are net figures after tax, tuition costs and income foregone because of studying.
  • Three and half years after graduation, only 2% of ‘economically active’ graduates are unemployed.

There are, of course, some possible drawbacks…

• You need to choose your course and place of study carefully. If you don’t, you may become disillusioned, depressed and demoralised.
• There is a short term financial cost. In all probability you’ll be in debt when you leave university.
• You can miss the support from home and feel some initial confusion as so many new things happen all at once.
• You may lose touch with some of your old friends and well-established close relationships can break down.

These and other issues may encourage you to consider alternatives to the traditional full-time route. You could look at part-time courses or distance learning through organisations like the Open University. Others delay entry into Higher Education or decide to go into employment and develop their careers by taking professional qualifications while working.