| Considering the uphill battle most graduates face when | | | | schemes, reports BBC News. |
| entering the job market these days, one has to | | | | Graduates only earn £100,000 more overall |
| wonder whether a university degree means as much | | | | Some analysts argue that even though university |
| as it used to. | | | | leavers may struggle to find jobs now, their degree will |
| A few years ago, most of us believed that a degree | | | | benefit them financially in the future. |
| would guarantee one's CV a place at the top of the | | | | A few years ago, it was announced that graduates |
| pile. Then the economy grew weaker and more young | | | | could expect to earn around £400,000 more in |
| people found themselves out of work. In order to | | | | their lifetimes than those without a degree. New |
| improve their employment prospects, they decided to | | | | evidence contradicts this. |
| get a tertiary qualification - pushing the number of | | | | Lord Browne, the chair of the review into UK university |
| students graduating from the UK's universities up to | | | | fees, told BBC News that that the average graduate |
| record levels. | | | | only earns £100,000 more over their working life |
| With more degree-educated candidates seeking | | | | than an individual whose highest qualification is two or |
| employment, the competition for graduate jobs in | | | | more A-levels. This figure projects increased earnings |
| Britain has become fiercer than ever. | | | | after taxation. |
| All that studying for nothing | | | | While the financial advantages of a degree may not |
| Like many of her classmates, Cultural Studies graduate | | | | be as attractive as we once believed, Lord Browne |
| Jo Douglas initially believed her course would secure | | | | has pointed out that there are other benefits. |
| her a job after university. | | | | According to his research, graduates are more likely to |
| "I understood that my course was very well respected | | | | live healthier lives and find more stable jobs than those |
| in the advertising industry and acted as a 'foot in the | | | | who have lesser qualifications. |
| door' when it came to securing my all-important first | | | | Better than no degree |
| job," she said in an interview with the Scotsman. | | | | We also have to consider whether a lack of a |
| However, when she obtained her qualification and | | | | university education puts jobseekers at an even |
| started sending her CV out, no-one offered her a | | | | greater disadvantage in today's competitive job |
| graduate-level role. | | | | market. |
| "I began to feel that all the years I had spent studying | | | | Recruiters across Britain are seeing a greater number |
| were for nothing, because I was looking at menial jobs | | | | of highly educated candidates applying for each role. |
| to pay the bills. I am disheartened, depressed, | | | | This gives employers free rein to be highly selective - |
| disillusioned and very skint," she said. | | | | and a lot of them are expecting more from their |
| It must be said that Ms. Douglas chose one of the | | | | potential employees. |
| most competitive career fields to get into. According to | | | | Many employers now see a degree as a starting |
| the latest UK Graduate Careers Survey, working in the | | | | block. Candidates who don't have the relevant |
| media is the second most-popular destination for the | | | | qualifications are out of the race. |
| "Class of 2009" - after teaching. Around 40,000 | | | | All things considered: a university education may not |
| graduates applied to work in advertising, journalism, | | | | guarantee you a job, but it does give you more than |
| broadcasting or PR this year. However, very few | | | | just a piece of paper. |
| employers actually offer formal graduate training | | | | |