Originally Posted by scribe123

Now I have been in my industry about 14 years, I can honestly say only about 5% of my degree (if that) has been any use.

I can see some people getting 'life experience' from being away from mummy and daddy, but I've basically looked after myself since my very early teens so that doesn't count in my case.

Sad thing is I would have struggled to get my foot on the ladder in my chosen occupation without my degree...... and the many, many, many thousands of pounds of debt I racked up in the process....... but a lot of that went on beer...... and I started university owning only one CD and left with 250.... perhaps I could have been a bit more frugal, but I had a good time

Originally Posted by Oink

That's the point isn't it. Degrees are more of entrance ticket. It the process of getting in and through thats of value.

Originally Posted by scribe123

You are correct of course, but really that's all it is; a ticket.

On the education side it wasn't anything I couldn't have gained with £2.47 worth of late fees from the library. For all I learned that was of any use, they may as well have given me a degree in "having a good time for 3 years".

Originally Posted by Aviator

I came here with no degree and landed on my feet.

Originally Posted by MarylandNed

Even looking at the wider population, Canada and the UK actually have similar university completion rates of just under 30% (which is the percentage of the population aged 25-64 with a university degree). Norway is the international leader with 35%. Again, far from being "almost everyone".

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

So what has the percentage of the various populations between 25 and 64 got to do with now?

When the 64 yr olds were 25, the proportion was more like 8%. Now it's more like 50% in all those countries and that only includes universities, not other forms of tertiary education.

Today an undergrad degree is equivalent to a high school diploma 40 years ago.

Originally Posted by MarylandNed

That's an indicator of the current working population.

Even just looking at recent grads, the number is nowhere near 50%. As I said, about a third of young people are now obtaining degrees in Canada and the UK.

Either way, none of the numbers suggest that "almost everyone" in the UK has a degree.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

80% seems appropriate.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11438140

Originally Posted by Oink

I'd think with a few notable exceptions, I doubt people with degrees are the most likely to want emigrate to somewhere like Canada or Australia. If you're successful and happy in the UK why would you leave?

Originally Posted by MarylandNed

Did you even read this?

"According to this measure, there are now 30% of men and 40% of women in each year group in the UK leaving with degrees. It's not that the UK has fewer graduates, the number has risen year after year - it's that the number has not increased as rapidly as other industrial nations. The UK has been overtaken by countries such as Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Denmark."

As I said, overall about a third (35%) of young people in the UK are obtaining degrees.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

Yes I read it. It says that somewhere between 5% (Luxembourg) and 70% (Finland) of young people graduate from University. Add in the other tertiary options and I think you have "most", if not "almost everyone", just almost everyone who isn't a moron.