Bringing Up Britain

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Bringing Up Britain: Series 16: Should my child go to university?

Should my child go to university?

Series 16

BBC Radio 4 - Bringing Up Britain, Series 16, Should my child go to university?

Should we be encouraging our children to go to university? Is it really worth it?

Students are complaining more than ever that university is not delivering. Anjula Mutanda finds out what parents should know before they encourage their kids to go to university.

For decades children have flocked to university. Governments have touted it as a boon for social mobility and economic growth, parents as a gateway to great careers. Yet as fees rise and graduate earnings stagnate, is it really worth it? 

University students made a record number of complaints last year to the higher education watchdog, and a recent YouGov poll found the majority asked, said university tuition fees were 'bad value for money'. 

So is university worth it? What does it really cost and what are the options if you decide not to go?

Anjula Mutanda meets mum Sophie who is unsure if she should encourage two of her teenage boys to go to university. Her eldest, Alexander, has a place at Oxford Brookes for September, but he is admittedly unacademic, dislikes studying, and his only visit to a lecture theatre filled him with horror. Her youngest is bright but would like to get stuck into work as soon as possible. He wants to be an entrepreneur and believes his school are encouraging him to think about university for the wrong reasons. 

What should Sophie advise them to do?

Anjula’s panel this week is: Charlie Ball, Head of labour market intelligence at Jisc, Save the Student's Tom Allingham, Prof Tom Sperlinger, author of 'Who are universities for?', Helen Small, Merton Professor of English Language and Literature, Dan Keller, CEO of Unifrog and Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College.

Producer: Sarah Bowen

Bringing Up Britain: Series 16

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Anjula Mutanda helps families make sense of one big parenting question.

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Bringing Up Britain

Series 16

Should my child go to university?

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