Obviously certain careers are only achievable through formal education at a university – predominantly scientific and medical fields. Others have two aspects to them, such as music and drama, and you can get into the business without needing any formal education whatsoever. Others, though, are less cut-and-dry. I think the biggest examples these days are jobs in the computing field and other creative industries such as design.

The alternatives are wide-ranging though. You can take anything from a vocational course, apprenticeship or other study-while-you-work scheme and still end up where you want to be. The benefits in many cases vastly outweigh the shortfalls, as I will outline now.

• A lot of people take a piece of paper from a university to mean more than it really does. All it says is that you are technically good at absorbing the right information and regurgitating it when asked, along with a set amount of solo and team work thrown in. While degree courses vary in the amount of your final grade being made up by traditional examinations, prospective employers most likely won’t know the subtle differences and most likely won’t care.
• Education is expensive, learning whilst being paid isn’t. If you can learn the same stuff as your university friend at the same pace, but be paid for doing so in the process, who will be happier I wonder! University is incredibly expensive these days in many countries and living costs can make it even harder. Juggling a part-time job, university and coursework may well end up acting as a detriment to your abilities.
• You could end up with the same skills as a recent graduate after a similar amount of time, but without debt and with a nice chunk of experience on your CV. While they spent 3 years in university blowing their cash on a good time with no real experience to show for it, you could have 3 years experience, a lot more cash to blow on a good time and a network of associates to help you in the industry.
• A degree doesn’t show someone your commitment to work. If you go to an employer and show that you have worked your way up from the very bottom as an apprentice or something similar, then you are showing them that you have the work ethic that a lot of university students do not possess. It could well swing you the interview and help land the job.

There are so many reasons for a more vocational-oriented learning experience, but never forget that a formal education can really open your mind to new ways to do things, new people and place and many other benefits. It really is up to you what you choose, but remember that not everyone will flourish in the same environment!