Results Day 2026: Why university still opens doors to careers, skills and opportunity

This week, hundreds-of-thousands of students across England, Northern Ireland and Wales will have received their exam results – not just A levels but other level 3 qualifications such as T levels and BTECs. Going to university is absolutely not the only route to success, and it won’t be right for everyone. It is crucial that potential students understand the full range of choices on offer and are well supported with advice and information so that they can make informed decisions about what is right for them and can compare the opportunities that each path will open up.  

Despite the false distinction which commentators sometimes draw, a substantial proportion of all students in universities are studying subjects which are either technical or vocational, ranging from quantity surveying to podiatry; from veterinary medicine to mechanical engineering. Others, who are unsure what they want to do as a career, choose subjects simply because they are interested and curious, or which will open up many possibilities rather than training for one field. What is right for one student may not be right for another.

It is often argued that too many people go to university. What the debate seldom recognises is that the UK labour market is changing. We know that the sectors which the UK Government wants to grow, such as life sciences, clean energy, the creative industries and professional services, rely heavily on graduate skills. The Government’s own estimates show that more than 11 million additional graduates are needed to fill high-skilled jobs in the UK between 2020 and 2035.

There is a huge focus on what graduates earn in the debate about the value of university and it remains true that, on average, graduates tend to earn significantly more than those who don’t go to university, but that earnings vary. There are many reasons for this, including what choices graduates make about where they work and the kind of career they follow. For most, but not all, graduates, the investment they make in their education pays off. Between the ages of 23 and 31, average earnings grow at more than twice the rate for graduates compared to non-graduates. For students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the benefits are especially strong. Graduates who received free school meals see their earnings grow by an average of 75% between the ages of 23 and 31, compared to just 26% for non-graduates from the same background, who could have studied at university but chose not to. 

Universities have also been changing, in response to the growing demand for more flexibility and for real-world experience. Over the last year, Universities UK has been leading conversations with hundreds of employers about what they are looking for, and talking to university leaders about how they can respond to changing needs. We know that many universities have expanded degree apprenticeship opportunities, flexible learning and even more courses co-developed with employers, or with work based elements to ensure that more students feel prepared for the world of work.  

With 50,000 courses on offer, and many different ways to study for a degree, including by combining study with work, there is plenty of choice. That’s why it is good news that this year there is a record number of applicants to universities and colleges. For those who did not get the grades they were hoping for on Thursday, or who are reconsidering their original choice or who want to apply for the first time, there are 27,000 courses available in clearing. 

This cohort of students will be the future doctors and nurses powering the NHS, the future AI innovators driving the economy and the creatives shaping the culture we consume. I firmly believe in the transformational impact higher education can have on a young person’s future, having experienced it myself.

All students who have received results should be immensely proud of their hard work which has brought them this far. There are still plenty of options on offer through UCAS here, with a dedicated team of advisers on hand to provide support on the phones, website or social media.