Three in four Britons concerned that people from poorer backgrounds are put off university because of the cost

• Half think it is worth it for young people to go to university – just over one in five say it is not
• But 73% concerned that students finish university with high levels of debt 
• Half concerned that universities do not have enough money to provide quality education; a third concerned about universities going bankrupt

New polling by Ipsos, taken 16-19 August, explores attitudes towards the university sector and the merits, or otherwise, of going to university to study different courses.

How do people rate the British education system?

Overall, public perceptions of the British education system are strong. The public are considerably more likely to say that all levels represent good quality, rather than bad quality. These findings are up from May 2023, with 60% saying universities represent good quality (+8), 59% for Primary schools (+10), 54% for college/ sixth form (+8), and 50% for secondary schools (+8). Fewer than one in six say that any of these levels of education represent bad quality.
Among parents with children in education, 70% think primary schools provide good quality, followed by 67% who say universities provide good quality.

Universities – are they worth it?

Around half (49%) think it would be worth it for young people they know to go to university, which is up slightly from 45% in May 2023. This rises to 59% among parents of children in education (+7 from May ’23). 22% think it would not be worth young people they know going to university (-3 from May ’23), and 18% said it would be neither worth it nor not worth it (N/C). 

Among those who did not think it would be worth young people going to university, affordability is a key factor. Around half said that it was not worth going to university because fees are too expensive (+2) and that they would be going into too much debt to repay student loans (+9) (both 51%), followed by 43% who said living expenses are too high (+7). Other attitudes included that they thought young people do not need to go to university to get a good job (40%, +3 from May ’23), and that young people should be learning an apprenticeship instead (32%, +2).

Likewise, almost three-quarters say that they are concerned that people from poorer backgrounds are being put off university because of the cost (74%), and that students end university with high levels of financial debt (73%). Gen Z respondents are particularly concerned about the high levels of debt with 84% saying they are concerned, up from 71% in May 2023.
 

The future of the university sector

Just over half (54%) said that they are concerned about universities not having enough money to provide quality education to students, which rises to 65% among Gen Z and 59% among Millennials.

However, despite recent stories in the news, there is slightly less concern about universities going bankrupt, with 33% saying they are concerned compared to 53% who say they are not concerned. Nevertheless again opinions are split among Gen Z  (44% concerned and 51% not concerned), and among Millennials (41% concerned, 47% not concerned). 

Although there are concerns about both the cost of university education, and universities not having enough money, opinion is divided in terms of how universities should be funded. 23% (+1 from May ‘23) think the Government should reduce the £9,250 per year limit that can be charged to students, compared to 22% (+1) who think the Government should make university education free, paid for through general taxation. Around one in five (19%) think that the current system should be replaced by a graduate tax (N/C). Just one in ten think the system should remain as it is, with a limit on student fees at £9,250 per year. Even fewer think the limit should be increased beyond £9,250 per year (6%). 

When considering findings among Gen Z respondents, results differ slightly. A third (33%) support making university free and paid for through general taxation; 28% think the £9,250 limit should be reduced, and just 13% think the current system should be replaced by a graduate tax. 

Which degree subjects are worth it?

Overall, the public are split on whether too many young people go to university, with 35% saying too many (+3 from May ’23), and 30% about the right amount (+1). 17% think not enough young people are going to university (-2). However both parents of children in education and people that are Gen Z are less likely to think too many are going (both 29%). In fact, three in ten Gen Zers (31%) think too few are going.

When presented with a list of common university subjects, Medicine (93%), Dentistry (91%), Law (90%), Science (90%), and Engineering (90%) are those that are most likely to be seen as worth a young person going to university to study. There are only a small number of degree subjects from the list that the public are more likely to say are not worth studying - Fashion, Classics, Performing Arts, and Art. However there are some contrasts when considering some of these among different age cohorts, with 48% of 18-34s saying a degree in fashion is worth it (44% not worth it), compared to 28% of those aged 55+ (64% not worth it).

Ipsos Research Director Keiran Pedley said of the findings:

These findings show that whilst the public think University is worth it, rather than not, by a margin of more than two to one, there is some recognition that it is not for everyone. A third think too many people go to university and there is scepticism about the merits of some courses. The data also shows public concern about the cost involved, with more than seven in ten concerned about the level of debt acquired by students and more still worried this will put off students from poorer backgrounds from going.

Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,130 aged 18+ across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between 16-19 August 2024. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.