Find out which university degrees could earn you most across your lifetime
Although a university degree is widely understood to lead to better earnings over a lifetime, new research suggests it can vary significantly depending on which course you do.
You can use our look-up tool below to check your chosen subject and find out how much more - or less - graduates can earn compared with non-graduates.
On average, graduates picking medicine can earn up to £400,000 more over their lifetime compared to non-graduates, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests.
Economics could also earn graduates significantly more but other subjects, including creative arts, philosophy and languages, offer little to negative financial return when compared to the earnings of someone similar without a degree, the research suggests.
The Department for Education (DfE) says it will cap numbers on courses with poorest returns, and will consult on the introduction of minimum English language requirements.
The data suggests the average graduate earns around £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduate counterparts, even after taxes and student loan repayments.
Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith said it was important that prospective undergrads "choose carefully".
"Don't walk into a degree by default," she says.
"Going to university and getting a degree is one of the most transformational things a young person can do. But it is not a universal guarantee of success and not all degrees are equal.
"As well as the variation by subject, too many franchised and poor-quality courses do not offer a good deal to young people, selling the dream then leaving students in the lurch."
Responding to the IFS report, Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, a social mobility charity, said while university was not a guarantee of "financial success", it does remain the "most reliable route to upward mobility".
He added: "Most graduates continue to see big financial benefits over their lifetimes, and for young people from lower-income backgrounds those gains are often greatest."
However, he said the report raised an "uncomfortable question" regarding the career options young people have.
"If we are telling young people not to go to university, what exactly are we telling them to do instead? There is no shortage of criticism of so-called low-value degrees, but there is a chronic shortage of high-quality alternatives.
"Apprenticeships and technical pathways can offer great prospects for progression and success, but there are simply not enough of them available to be a viable alternative for lots of young people."
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said it was important to highlight that some degree choices such as the arts, were "not motivated by money".
"We should recognise that these subjects also feed the creative industries, which are a huge economic driver for the UK.
"In an age of AI, we'll value the understanding of how human beings think and act more, not less, in the future."
Additional reporting by Phil Leake
Read the full story at BBC ↗
New research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that while university graduates earn on average £100,000 more over their lifetimes than non-graduates, the financial returns vary substantially by subject. Medicine graduates can earn up to £400,000 more, while economics also offers strong returns. However, subjects including creative arts, philosophy and languages show little to negative financial benefit compared to non-graduate earnings. The Department for Education announced plans to cap enrolment on lower-returning courses and consult on minimum English language requirements. Government officials and education leaders emphasise the importance of informed subject choice while acknowledging the absence of sufficient high-quality alternatives like apprenticeships and technical pathways for young people seeking non-degree routes.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Although a university degree is widely understood to lead to better earnings over a lifetime, new research suggests it can vary significantly depending on which course you do.
You can use our look-up tool below to check your chosen subject and find out how much more - or less - graduates can earn compared with non-graduates.
On average, graduates picking medicine can earn up to £400,000 more over their lifetime compared to non-graduates, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests.
Economics could also earn graduates significantly more but other subjects, including creative arts, philosophy and languages, offer little to negative financial return when compared to the earnings of someone similar without a degree, the research suggests.
The Department for Education (DfE) says it will cap numbers on courses with poorest returns, and will consult on the introduction of minimum English language requirements.
The data suggests the average graduate earns around £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduate counterparts, even after taxes and student loan repayments.
Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith said it was important that prospective undergrads "choose carefully".
"Don't walk into a degree by default," she says.
"Going to university and getting a degree is one of the most transformational things a young person can do. But it is not a universal guarantee of success and not all degrees are equal.
"As well as the variation by subject, too many franchised and poor-quality courses do not offer a good deal to young people, selling the dream then leaving students in the lurch."
Responding to the IFS report, Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, a social mobility charity, said while university was not a guarantee of "financial success", it does remain the "most reliable route to upward mobility".
He added: "Most graduates continue to see big financial benefits over their lifetimes, and for young people from lower-income backgrounds those gains are often greatest."
However, he said the report raised an "uncomfortable question" regarding the career options young people have.
"If we are telling young people not to go to university, what exactly are we telling them to do instead? There is no shortage of criticism of so-called low-value degrees, but there is a chronic shortage of high-quality alternatives.
"Apprenticeships and technical pathways can offer great prospects for progression and success, but there are simply not enough of them available to be a viable alternative for lots of young people."
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said it was important to highlight that some degree choices such as the arts, were "not motivated by money".
"We should recognise that these subjects also feed the creative industries, which are a huge economic driver for the UK.
"In an age of AI, we'll value the understanding of how human beings think and act more, not less, in the future."
Additional reporting by Phil Leake
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows medicine graduates can earn up to £400,000 more over their lifetime compared to non-graduates Economics graduates also see significantly higher lifetime earnings Creative arts, philosophy and languages offer little to negative financial return when compared to non-graduate earnings The average graduate earns around £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduates after taxes and student loan repayments The Department for Education will cap numbers on courses with poorest returns University is one of the most transformational things a young person can do A university degree is not a universal guarantee of success University remains the most reliable route to upward mobility Arts degrees are not motivated primarily by money and feed creative industries which are a huge economic driver for the UK In an age of AI, understanding how human beings think and act will be increasingly valued
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows university degree earnings vary significantly by subject, from medicine graduates earning up to £400,000 more lifetime earnings to some subjects offering little or negative financial return
- The average graduate earns around £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduates after taxes and student loan repayments
- The Department for Education plans to cap numbers on low-return courses and introduce minimum English language requirements
- Government and charity leaders debate whether steering young people away from low-earning degrees is responsible without viable alternatives like apprenticeships widely available