Better job prospects are main motivation for degree study
Date published:
New research published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department for the Economy explore the motivations behind degree study choices in Northern Ireland, reasons for not pursuing higher education, and tolerance for tuition fee costs.
Key findings
- Nearly half (49%) of those with a degree (or above) chose to study to gain qualifications and increase the prospect of a high-quality, well-paying job.
- Over a third (37%) of degree holders pursued higher education to follow a specific career path.
- Among those without a degree, the most common reason for not studying at degree level (or above) was a preference to enter the workforce directly, cited by 27% of respondents.
- Around one in five (19%) of those without a degree stated their chosen career did not require it.
- Nearly half (43%) of individuals surveyed were unwilling to pay any tuition fees, with around one in eight willing to pay £5,000 or more and just 2% willing to pay above £9,250.
- Individuals from the most deprived areas were more likely to study for a degree to gain qualifications and increase job prospects (57%) compared with those from the least deprived areas (45%).
- Over half (53%) of individuals in the most deprived areas were unwilling to pay any tuition fees, compared with just 34% in the least deprived areas.
- Individuals under 25 showed a higher tolerance to tuition fee costs, with one third (33%) unwilling to pay, compared with 46% of over 25s.
About the publication
The report explores degree study choices in Northern Ireland (at level 6 and above), drawing on data from the Continuous Household Survey conducted by the Central Survey Unit of NISRA between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.
At the time of the survey, the annual tuition fee for a local undergraduate student attending a local university was £4,750, around half the fee (£9,250) for one attending a university elsewhere in the UK.
Further information
Read the full report: Northern Ireland degree study choices 2024/25