Uni is worth it, say students, despite future debt fears

• 74% of students go to university for educational purposes, ahead of building their career prospects
• 55% were more inspired and motivated by their parents to study, ahead of influencers such as people who stood up for what they believed in and successful business people

With the academic year underway, many students are looking ahead as they consider their promising future career prospects.

According to new research, while students worried about the cost of university and future debt, the majority of Australian students still deemed a university education to be a worthwhile investment, with more than two thirds (76%) believing it would increase their chances of getting a job in the future.

Most students (87%) said going to university supported their progression towards their future career aspirations and 76% felt their university helped prepare them to transition beyond university life through softer skills development such as team work, time management, cooking and networking.

More than half of students (58%) thought their university could do more to offer work experience or internship opportunities to help them prepare for their future careers. Just under half (46%) said their university could provide more careers advice and almost half (46%) would appreciate more insight into what working life was really like.

The research found students believed factors including appearance, ethnicity and class played an important role in securing future career positions.

Almost a fifth (19%) claimed appearance was the most important factor in landing their dream role, with 11% claiming ethnicity, gender and class played a part. Almost half (43%) said contacts were key.

More than two thirds (68%) cited their skills and merit as the defining factor in landing their dream role, rating work ethic a close second (64%) and higher than qualifications (59%), intelligence (49%) and contacts (43%).

The research was commissioned by leading global student housing brand Yugo. The study analysed the views of 6,000 university students around the world, including more than 1,000 in Australia, where students gave their respective universities an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 for quality of education. This was second to only Ireland on 7.6, and rated higher than the US, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Yugo operates student accommodation properties in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne.

More than two thirds (68%) knew the future career they want to pursue before going to university, with 67% stating they went for the benefit of their future career.