Students shun bar for more sober pursuits

WOULD-BE UNIVERSITY students today are more likely to see themselves spending time in the library rather than the bar, according to a study by Yorkshire academics.

While almost three in 10 of sixth-formers are most looking forward to studying a subject they are passionate about, less than one in 10 said the thing they are most excited about at university is the nightlife.

The poll, by Leeds Beckett University, also shows around a fifth say the thing they are most looking forward to at university is progressing their career.

Students in England now pay up to £9,250 per year in tuition fees, and there have been some suggestions that undergraduates are becoming more focused on the benefits of having a good degree, as well as gaining value for money from their university experience. The survey, which questioned over 1,000 16 to 19-yearolds, found a fifth of those polled say their biggest concern about starting university is budgeting.

Leeds Beckett’s director of university recruitment Chris Watts said: “We have seen this trend develop in recent years where students have very different priorities to those from years gone by; they are highly career-driven, arriving on campus with a clear attitude of wanting to study hard to land their dream job.

“It’s important to strike a balance, however, and we often see that the most successful graduates have successfully combined a commitment to their studies with work experience and extracurricular activities.”

The findings come just weeks before teenagers receive their Alevel results, and find out if their grades are good enough to secure a place on their chosen degree course.