31% of Brits Think University Is a Waste of Time

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Materials

August 09, 2024

Intermediate

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

Repeat each word, definition, and example sentence after your tutor.

waste

Noun

weɪst

an act of using or using up something carelessly or without purpose

I thought the meeting was a total waste of time.

gain

Verb

geɪn

to get or secure something wanted or needed

As part of her course, Elena gained the knowledge and skills to produce her own film.

concern

Noun

kənˈsərn

a feeling of worry or anxiety; something that causes worry or anxiety

His face is filled with concern.

Climate change and rising sea levels are a major concern for many island nations.

debt

Noun

dɛt

an amount of money that is owed; the state or situation of owing money

We had to take on a lot of debt to buy our house.

The fastest way for you to get out of debt is to start a savings plan.

apprenticeship

Noun

əˈprentɪʃɪp

a period of time spent working for an experienced employer in order to learn a particular skill or job

I just started my building apprenticeship.

value for money

Phrase

ˈvælju fɔr ˈmʌni

used to refer to something that is worth the money spent on it

It wasn't the cheapest hotel available but I thought it was good value for money considering its location.

Exercise 2

Article

Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

31% of Brits Think University Is a Waste of Time

Some call their university days the best time of their lives; others say getting a degree is the best way to get a good job.

But not everyone feels this way. According to a survey by the Policy Institute at King's College London, 31% of Brits think a university education is a waste of time and money.

That's up from 18% in 2018.

The survey — which included about 4,000 participants over the age of 16 — also found that 30% of graduates felt their degree didn't make them more likely to find a job.

However, many said their degree was worth it for the experiences they had as a student, the knowledge and skills they gained, and the friends they made.

While the high cost of university was a concern for some, 80% of graduates said their student debts haven't negatively affected their lives, and nearly nine out of 10 said they would go back to university if they could.

In fact, 39% of participants said young people should have more — not fewer — opportunities to go to university.

But the survey also found that 76% of people in the UK think there should be more opportunities for apprenticeships, which let people work and study at the same time — often doing office jobs.

Many participants believe apprenticeships are more likely to help prepare people for the working world.

As part of the survey, nearly 400 parents of children aged 11 to 17 were also asked about what they want for their kids.

Nearly half want their children to go to university, with seven in 10 saying a university education is important for many things, not just getting a job.