Many people in the UK have grown up having had it drummed into them that university is the only way forward if they want to get on in life. These days, there are degrees of education when it comes to a successful career – and that doesn’t necessarily mean a Masters or PHD. In a lot of instances, taking a vocational course is more beneficial than slogging through three years at uni and, in this article, we’re swotting up on 5 reasons why a college course is worth more than a degree.
On Course For Success
The great thing about the digital world is that it opens up a huge number of opportunities – and that includes education. Whether you’re looking for a qualification to link directly to your chosen career or just want to gain or improve a particular skill, college might be the best fit for you. There are lots of options for college courses come in all shapes and sizes and, in many cases, you can choose between classroom learning, online study or a combination of both. Less rigid than a full-time degree, this can be super useful for those who need to juggle their studies with work or other responsibilities.
Status Symbol Or Sensible Choice?
But a college course won’t have the same status as a degree, right? Well, that depends. While it’s true that this type of learning might not carry the same badge of honour as graduating from a fancy pants university like Oxford, it has many other benefits. In this section, we’re looking at why college might be better for you:
1. Your Flexible friend
There are a huge number of universities to choose from, most of which have fairly rigid admission criteria – which means that not everyone will have access due to location or current qualifications. In contrast, there are hundreds of different colleges with a decent selection in most towns and cities. In addition to accessibility, colleges will tend to offer a greater degree of flexibility in both the range of courses and the learning models such as full-time, part-time, online and hybrid.
2. Dialling direct
Although a degree may be essential for some professions, it can be surplus to requirements for others. A college course however can be laser-targeted toward your career. For example; if you’ve decided that you fancy the life of a data analyst – a whopping 48 colleges in the UK alone offer dedicated courses with many others offering variations. This means that, rather than competing with a huge number of graduates who all have the same degree and / or grades, you have a vocational qualification that sets you ahead of the pack. These days, employers want people who can hit the ground running and, as such, are actively seeking vocational qualifications.
3. The employment express
Following on from our last point, a college education will often help you to get your foot in the door much quicker than a graduate. In many cases, colleges have a direct line to local employers who are looking for people with particular skills. This often means that students will have a shiny new job or internship waiting for them the moment that they finish their course.
4. Courses for less cash
While a university education might have a few things going for it, there’s no denying that it’s an expensive affair. Finding accommodation, buying books and equipment don’t come cheap and many uni students find that they have to take on one or more part-time jobs in order to survive. Needless to say, this is rarely conducive to concentration. College courses, on the other hand, will often be local and will also have more flexibility in terms of how and when you study which can make a massive difference financially.
5. The soft skills
For the most part, UK universities tend to be crammed full of young people who have just finished their A levels. While this may make for a great Freshers Week, it can be limiting. Your average college course will usually bring together a diverse range of students of different ages and from different backgrounds – and this can add some sneaky soft skills to your education. Communication, self-confidence and leadership skills are all just as important in the workplace as qualifications and a college course can be a fantastic way of cramming some of these soft skills under your belt.
Your Course Of Action
So, you think college might be a cracking idea, but where to start? The first and easiest way is to decide what kind of course you want, i.e. coding or cybersecurity and then head online to search for courses in your area. Alternatively, look up colleges local to you and check out their websites to see what they have on offer. Unless you live somewhere extremely rural, there’s a good chance that there will be a college within a short bus or train ride away from where you live.
If you’re looking for online college courses, you do, of course, have endless options – just be sure to check out the provider’s credentials to make sure they’re legit before signing up or handing over any cash.
Choosing A Degree Or A College Course
If you’ve got your sights set on the lofty life of a lawyer or lab technician, then you’ll almost certainly need a degree to get you there. If, however, you’re after one of the many professions where skills are more important than a fancy qualification then a college course can be a brilliant solution as it offers all the education but with more flexibility and affordability.
Not sure what course to go for ? Take a look online to see what kind of skills are necessary for your chosen profession – but don’t stop there. The canny college student will also look at adjacent or soft skills which will complement the required ones in order to bullet-proof their new career. There are no limits for the switched-on student!