Would you do it all again?{credit}Futuretrack report{/credit}

A study tracking university students over 6 years from the moment they applied for university until well after they graduated has been published this week.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the findings reveal just how hard it has been for UK students graduating during the recession, with a significant increases in debt and lower earnings compared with the class of ’99. On a positive note, the vast majority thought it was worth it – see the infographic above.

The study found that :

• 1 in 10 graduates experienced significant spells of unemployment

• 40% were working in non-graduate jobs

• 41% of graduates had worked unpaid at some point

• Graduates had more debt compared to 1999 graduates – a 60% increase in debt over ten years overall

• Graduate earnings advantage has slowly declined – estimated at 2% annually

•  But…Even in the face of adversity 96% of graduates would do it all again

Does this tally with your own experiences? Was your degree worth the cash and effort you spent on it? Let us know in the comments section.

 The Futuretrack report, was commissioned by HECSU and undertaken by the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick. Download the report here.