An education expert has issued a warning to everyone thinking of applying for a university degree, sharing how people could avoid being trapped by student debt. Rising student debt, growing living costs, and an increasingly uncertain graduate job market are leaving many young people questioning whether a traditional university degree still offers good value for money.
With student debt in England now regularly exceeding £50,000 by the time graduates leave university, one expert said more people were starting to rethink whether the conventional "university first" route is always the best option financially. At the same time, employers are increasingly placing greater emphasis on practical skills and real-world experience rather than simply academic qualifications alone.
Lukas Kaminskis, CEO of edtech platform Turing College, said many students were becoming more conscious of the financial pressure attached to higher education. He said: "Rising student debt and a more uncertain job market are understandably prompting many young people to question the financial value of a traditional university degree. With graduates leaving with significant debt and facing higher living costs, the pressure to see a clear return on that investment has never been greater."
But Kaminskis stressed that the debate should not simply be framed as university versus work, but rather about how education and career development are evolving more broadly. He said: "What we're seeing is a shift in how people approach education and career development. Employers are increasingly prioritising practical, job-ready skills, particularly in areas like data, AI and technology, and are placing greater value on demonstrable experience alongside, or sometimes instead of, formal qualifications."
As a result, alternative routes into employment are becoming more popular, especially among younger workers looking to reduce financial risk while still building valuable skills, he said. Apprenticeships, employer-led training schemes, and flexible online learning programmes are all seeing growing interest from people who want to avoid taking on large amounts of debt before entering the workforce.
Kaminskis said: "For many people, earning while learning is becoming far more attractive. It can reduce financial pressure and allow people to enter the workforce earlier, particularly in fast-moving sectors where skills can become outdated quickly." He added that traditional degrees still absolutely had value, particularly in professions where formal qualifications remain essential, but warned that students should think more carefully about employability and long-term return on investment before committing to large levels of borrowing.
He said: "The key is making informed decisions. People need to think not just about the course itself, but about where it leads, what skills they will actually gain and how quickly industries are changing." Kaminskis also warned against assuming that a degree automatically guarantees a high-paying job after graduation: "The labour market is evolving very quickly. Having a degree alone is no longer necessarily enough to stand out. Employers increasingly want evidence that somebody can apply skills in practical settings."
With student debt levels continuing to rise and younger generations facing mounting financial pressures, Kaminskis believes more people will continue exploring alternatives to traditional higher education in the years ahead. He said: "The reality is that there are now multiple pathways into successful careers. For many people, avoiding unnecessary debt while building practical, employable skills may ultimately prove the smarter long-term financial decision."
