When Hayley Knight was 18, she felt under a lot of pressure to go to university – even though she didn’t really want to.
As the first person in her family to get into university, she felt pressure from relatives to accept her place at Dartington College of Arts (now called Falmouth University) to study creative writing and English Literature, as they thought it would help fast-track her dream career in journalism.
But when she got there, she found she hated everything about the experience, from struggling to fit in, to living on very little money and juggling demanding assignments with having part-time jobs.
Now, 16 years after graduating, Hayley has paid off tens of thousands of pounds of debt and still has £18,000 left to go – and doesn’t feel her degree has helped her career at all.
Although she is unsure exactly what she’s paid off, the loan was around £30,000 when she left university and will have risen considerably with interest since then.
She has since found most employers haven’t even asked about it, instead valuing actual experience and contacts. She decided not to pursue journalism and now runs her own communications business.
“I hated university and went due to pressure from my family, as well as thinking it was the best way into my career. But I don’t think it has helped me at all and I could do what I do now without a degree. I probably missed out on growth and opportunities by going to university,” said Hayley, now 37.
“I feel that I could have built my career faster without it – I still had to take unpaid internships and experience-only roles. My degree didn’t fast-track my career, and no one even asked for [proof of] it.
“[Employers] were always more concerned about experience and my little black book, which I lacked because I spent three years at university, instead of making contacts and gaining real world experience. I came out of university feeling very behind and out of my depth.”
She added that it isn’t just about the career prospects, as she was struggling with undiagnosed ADHD at university and found it difficult to make friends and keep on top of all her work.
“I didn’t feel like I fit in at all, which greatly affected my mental health causing both anxiety and depression. I had no money and had to work extensively, causing me to miss out on things, or fall behind in my studies. Honestly, I preferred the work and was much happier in the jobs that I held.”
Hayley, who now lives in Bromley in London, also doesn’t feel that 17 is old enough to understand the debt students take on for the rest of their lives.
“I graduated 16 years ago and still have £18,000 worth of debt. While it may not feel like a typical loan, changing repayment terms mean young people need to take this decision seriously. University, for me personally, just wasn’t helpful.”
Hayley is one of thousands of people who have left university feeling like their degree didn’t benefit their career – yet they have been left saddled with tens of thousands of pounds of debt they are paying off for decades.
A recent report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that, among a survey of university graduates, 52 per cent said they would have done something differently if they could have a do-over, from choosing a different degree subject to getting a job or apprenticeship instead.
But dropping out also isn’t a solution for many, as they have often already taken on considerable debt before they realise university isn’t for them, and if you leave, you still have to pay it all back – despite having no degree to show for it.
Figures obtained by the i Paper found students who dropped out of their courses owe more than £12bn in student loan debt.
It comes amid fierce debate around whether the current student loans system is fair as millions of graduates have had the repayment threshold for paying back their loan frozen, forcing them to repay more as salaries rise with inflation, reducing their income in real terms.
Critics say that the loans were harsh to begin with, with high interest rates on significant amounts of borrowing leaving people repaying thousands of pounds a year towards them until they are wiped – often without paying down a penny of their actual debt.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has come under fire for refusing to prioritise reforming the loans system. At a speech earlier this week, she told the room the issue is “not at the front of the queue” for Labour, despite growing pressure from campaigners and MPs.
What are the best degrees for graduate salaries?
Doing a certain degree can’t guarantee you’ll earn a good salary, but data shows some degrees generally net higher incomes than others throughout your working life.
According to the Good University Guide, dentistry is the top-paying degree in the UK, with an averaging graduate salary of £42,000 a year. Next are pharmacology, medicine and AI degrees, with typical starting salaries of £35,000.
Degrees in economics and statistics are also high payers, with average starter salaries of just over £33,000.
How do student loans work?
University students often take out loans for their tuition fees and maintenance costs. They repay these once they start earning over a certain salary threshold, which varies depending on which loan plan they are on.
The loan also accrues interest over time, with those who went to university from England between 2012 and 2022 – on Plan 2 loans – facing paying some of the highest repayments.
Undergraduates pay 9 per cent of their income over the relevant threshold if they are on Plan 1, 2, 4 or 5 loans. Interest is then calculated daily and this is added onto your total debt balance.
Under plan 2 loans, graduates start repaying their loans once their income exceeds £28,470 – rising to £29,385 in April – with interest accruing at rates tied to inflation, plus up to 3 per cent depending on earnings.
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