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Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:47 GMT 11:47 UK

Depends totally on what the degree is in.

The government's ridiculous idea of getting 50% of the population through uni has simply lead to 80% of the degrees awarded being worthless.

If you want to work in science/technology/law/medicine then a degree is an absolutely neccessity. If you want to work in media/tourism/entertainment then dont waste 3 years of your life.

[flibbly], Nottingham, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:47 GMT 11:47 UK

With the education standards having been dumbed down over the years and pass marks of as low as 30% for exams it is no wonder there are so many admissions to uni and the consequent high level of degrees -most of which, in the commercial world , are just confetti. Degrees have been devalued by the introduction of too many soft degrees such as media, fashion etc. The most highly succesful business men don't have a degree -check it out!

Alan Glenister, Bushey, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:42 GMT 11:42 UK

Are you worried about finding a job?
Yes very when you consider there simply is'nt the work out there.

What measures should ministers and companies take to solve the crisis?
Stop filling their pockets with taxpayers money would be a good start. Create work is the obvious one.

Would you be willing to work abroad or do voluntary work?
Yes already have worked abroad and its a lonely life, and as for voluntary work, what do you suggest we live on then? Cardboard and cake?

Westminster Mafia-no thanks, Brizzle, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:36 GMT 11:36 UK

I will be attending my graduation ceremony this Saturday. I'm 57 years old and I studied IT & Computing with the Open University while working full-time in the IT industry. I paid for all the modules in the course out of my own pocket and I don't have a debt hanging over my head. This kind of "pay as you go" study suits those who want to gain a degree without spending 3 or more years out of the world of work - I can recommend it!

Steve Kimberley, Cambridge UK

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:34 GMT 11:34 UK

Degress are worth while for two reasons:
1. Because it will help training for your job, e.g. Law, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Chemistry etc....
2. Because you have an interest in the subject and want to learn more. Any degree, even the much laughed at Media Studies can fall into this catagory if the person taking it is really interested.

If you go to university to do a soft subject you don't have much interest in, just for the sake of going to university, then it is not worth it

Robyn Cress, London, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:26 GMT 11:26 UK

Gaining a degree seems to prove only that a good memory is required. In addition, job experience is also needed. Unfortunately the jobs available or taken up do not match the degree qualification.
Where this is the case the degree is of little use. Of more concern is the considerable dropout of students who should not have been encouraged to go to university in the first place.
This shows up the governments commitment to political correctness which ends up harming those it intends to help.

I want my country back NOW, Spalding,, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:23 GMT 11:23 UK

A degree is worth nothing. the people come stright from university thinking they know everything when in fact they know nothing. I work for an emergency service which is full of managers with degrees. need i say more!!
There are more brains and common sense on the shop floor, you know those people who have got the exsperience through hard work doing it not by reading a book.

David Parkin, Rotherham

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:21 GMT 11:21 UK

"It is still the only way to avoid manual or semi-skilled labour as a career. If you want to earn the minimum wage for the rest of your life, don't worry about getting a degree"
[retrorik], Exeter

That is possibly one of the most ill-informed comments I've seen in a long time! Instead of spending 5 years getting drunk, I got experience in my line of work (Finance) - I worked my way up, it wasn't easy, but I am now earning 4 times more than my university educated (but now unemployed) friends.

Natalie Hansen, Modded then rejected from the highest recs pages without breaking any house rules-ville, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:19 GMT 11:19 UK

Is a degree still worthwhile?

Quite simply no. If there are no jobs about then you can have all the degree's you like, your still going to be on the dole like 2000000+ are.

I do believe this is a pointless question really when most of us are desperately trying to find work, that isn't there.

Westminster Mafia-no thanks, Brizzle, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:16 GMT 11:16 UK

More companies than ever are looking for relevent qualifications. In this area colleges teaching vocational courses are receiving many many job adverts. A degree in some subjects is now not worth the paper it is written on, I know of graduates in Media Studies and Psychology who are now working at supermarket checkouts and studying part-time for a decent qualification.

Chris Downing, Rothwell, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:15 GMT 11:15 UK

A degree used to be an indication of the holder's ability to learn and work largely independently but the current spate of worthless qualifications offered by former polytechnics degraded the value of degrees.Martin Adams, Altenau,

Polytechnics originally offered formal vocational qualifications. Government interference forced them to offer 2nd rate mainstream Uni qualifications but some former polytechnics still offer job related qualifications that are directly useful in the real world.

[swerdna]

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:13 GMT 11:13 UK

Despite all the comments on here, employers will generally favour those with a higher education. I didn't go to Uni after school but did complete and get a degree in 2004 at the age of 44. I work in the Banking Business (Boo hiss I hear you say) and we do favour those with a modicum of education and good sense.

Adam, Edinburgh

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:13 GMT 11:13 UK

But all any government has done for the last 20 years is just fiddle with the figures rather than make any meaningful improvements!

Simon Ward, Watford, United Kingdom

They have actually damaged and alienated a large section of society, those who are not academic and/or dyslexic like myself. People like us need apprenticeships and more importantly they need to be recognised to be equal too or better than a degree.

I can prove my skill how many graduates can say the same?

Sam

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:12 GMT 11:12 UK

I am just about to graduate with a BEng (hons) in civil engineering.

I have just spent 4 years of my life obtaining £24k of debt

I spent 2 years working in a call centre saving to go to university, I have industrial experience, & finalist in a nationwide research competition

For what? the government to tell me to go abroad. How about cancel the thousands of student visas from overseas students?
Then I might only be competing for jobs with British students.

mark f, Leeds

Added: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 10:11 GMT 11:11 UK

I decided to apply this year and do a language - ie, something that will actually help me find a job at the end of the day. I didn't go before now because there was nothing I wanted to study, or any plan/ point in going - the majority of school leavers who can get a place will take it just for the security of another 3 + years of higher education, public/ parent funded alcoholism and VERY little studying.

University, has become a student union. The real student (doctors, dentists etc) suffer.

Fox