Employability Matters - Why University Study isn't all Academic

Making the decision to continue your education with a university degree is not something that should be taken lightly. For many individuals the biggest worry is what will the employment rate after university be? Students want to know will a university degree better equip them for the world of work, or will this just add to the challenges facing students for employment after graduation?

Whilst ensuring that you have the right level of academic qualifications for the field you want to enter is important, employability is a key consideration. This means when choosing a university, you may want to make sure that the academic qualifications that you choose to pursue will offer you the employability opportunity that you want.

Not All Degrees Are the Same

It wasn’t that long ago that University study was wholly academic. Degree courses lasted three or in some cases four years, and whilst they gave the student plenty of knowledge of their chosen subject, or subjects, they did little to prepare them for the world of work. There was a time when this was acceptable, and employers were looking for individuals with a good degree to join their workforce. However, this is no longer the case. With more and more students choosing to go to university the employment rate after university has changed. There are more graduates and fewer jobs available, and this means that employers are looking for that little something extra.

There are several degree courses available nowadays that offer students to get some real hands-on experience in the workplace. n some instances this is via the degree apprenticeship route, for others it is simply that universities have closer links with industries and businesses, and this means better opportunities to students when it comes to employability.

Working together

Higher education nowadays offers students a much greater opportunity to learn many of those important life skills that will stand them in good stead in the workplace. Attending a university further away from home was once something that only richer students did, however it is certainly becoming increasingly common. Aspects of university life such as living away from home and gaining more independence could make for a more employable graduate. In addition, while class sizes may not be any smaller than they once were, there are more opportunities for students to collaborate, bringing into play a vital skill for the workplace that is best learned early on.

University is so much more than just the studies. Whilst there is no denying that these equip a student with the important knowledge and skills that they need to follow their chosen career path, it is the life lessons that they learn that help to prepare them for the future and the world of work.

University of Bolton – Employability Matters

There are some aspects of university life that are increasingly important to today’s diverse student body. Many students now realise that learning vital skills that will help them when they enter the workplace is just as important as the knowledge they will gain on a degree course. Our dedicated employability and careers team at Bolton use their extensive industry contacts and links to help students find employment, no matter which field they’re looking to work in.

At the University of Bolton we also understand that a more traditional degree course is not for everyone, which is why our range of courses has been carefully designed to offer our students exactly what they are looking for. We want to ensure that every student who comes to Bolton experiences #UniAsItShouldBe – an education and environment that supports them towards their future career goals.

If you would like to discuss any of our courses or indeed any aspects of university life with us, then we would be delighted to talk to you. Our team of friendly advisors can be contacted on +44 (0)1204 900 600 or by messaging enquiries@bolton.ac.uk with your query.