20%? - Is That All? - I Find That Incredibly Low Figure Difficult To Believe.

One in five people who go to university would be financially better off if they had not, study finds. DT.

Blogger: loss of earnings when at university; expensive studies which create debt; courses without hope of putting post-grads into employment; too many graduates chasing too few jobs; poor preparation for work; dilution of the value of degrees - all contribute.

When I advised young people on careers, I told them only to go to university if they loved a particular area of study or if the degree was necessary for a carefully planned future.

Embarking vaguely on a course 'just to have a degree' is plain silly.

Getting into work with 'A' levels - if at all possible - will give three/four years of extra earnings, no likelihood of debt and established on-the-job experience.

Taking on an Open University course concurrent to this is the surely the better way.