Success without a degree

[smellslikecinnamon]

I'm hearing that more young people are choosing not to go to uni. Do people have examples of their dc or themselves doing really well without a degree? Maybe people under 35 as life is different now ti say 40 years ago. Can people make it without a degree (or trade qualification) and how? If all the ads ask for a degree?

I didn’t obtain GCSEs, and I earn £60k in compliance. I could probably earn up to £80k if I really pushed myself but I have two small children. I started out in admin and worked my way up. I’m mid-30s.

I thought you would need a computer science degree no?

No degree here. Pretty senior in Finance. Not many of my colleagues have degrees either. Some have professional qualifications though.

I have a good degree and this helped me get into some very well paid jobs. However, my ex, family members and friends have done equally well, if not better in the case of the men, without a degree.

I personally would not now encourage anyone to go to University. Instead finding a trade or speciality to work hard and work your way up in feels like a better option to me now. Unfortunately my health took a bad turn which impacted my career - yet I still have a student loan to pay back over 20 years later.

My DS 28 had good science,maths A levels , went to uni but dropped out.
He got a temp job in a pharmaceutical manufacturer. He was taken on as a perminant role in a different department. He got rapid promotions. He was given an apprenticeship, which he did really well ,they then offered him a degree apprenticeship in pharmaceutical science, now year 3. He has bought a 2 bed flat SE by himself and wages of around 50k

Do you really think that the only successful people have degrees?
Of course you can be successful without a degree. And unsuccessful with one. That hasn't changed. It's down to what they aspire to do or be.

Work with chartered accountants and auditors who don’t have degrees. Started out 12 years ago as apprentices in AAT.
Personally a practice manager with no degree
Friend runs 3 successful restaurants with no degrees
DH is currently studying towards his degree at 39, funded by work but has got himself into a senior mechanical design role without one.

(edited due to spelling mistake!)

Pretty much snap. I did go to uni for a year but left for several reasons.

I work in engineering and apprenticeships are increasingly popular.

I did not go to uni and I'm happy in my job, I earn £40k with a max of probably £60k if I go for management. My partner also has no degree and is earning £60k in L+D. Lots of experience in working other roles to get there.

I did! Logistics and worked my way into an HR role. Wish I took the degree route all things considered

My relative doesn’t have a degree and she teaches people to become accountants.

DH doesn’t have a degree. He is director level at a large corporate. He started off working in the post room and worked his way up. A friend has no degree and is a senior manager at a law firm. I think there are lots of opportunities for people without degrees to progress.

My DH is a director at a top 5 accountancy firm and has 11 o levels ( we're old!) - he got mainly As. He didn't do A levels and doesn't have a degree.

But I don't think that's a realistic aim for my kids. DS18 doesn't want to go to Uni if he can help it. He's applied and got offers but he wants an apprenticeship. He is down to final interview with three accountancy firms so far. The fees and level of potential debt have really put him off.

My friend's DD completed her accountancy apprenticeship this year and is now way ahead of the last lot of graduates who have been taken on.

I've almost finished my degree in my late 30s. I did fine without one until I hit a ceiling. I'm public sector and all the £40k+ roles seem to require experience plus degree, plus professional development.

I have a level 5 qualification (diploma of higher ed?) but not a full degree. I don’t think my qualification mattered when getting my job.

I’m early twenties and on 30k, public sector.

Band 8c in NHS earning £75k. No degree but 5 A-Levels that no one has ever asked to see proof of.

STBX DH dropped out of Uni in his first year, taught himself to code.

Now, age 43, he earns 130k.

I have an undergrad, a PGCE, and a Masters and earn 20k p.t

No degree but work freelance in the arts, on over 100k a year. So glad I didn’t waste those years.

No degree - earn £240k

Dh no degree, hgv and earns around £70k pa.
and doesn’t think about the job once he’s home every day.

My next door neighbour is a master thatcher and earns far more than I do with my business and economics degree. He works on heritage restorations and is booked for years in the future.

I'm an accountant. No degree, but I did complete professional qualifications paid for by my employers while working for them.

Not all success is financial success or professional success.

I thought you would need a computer science degree no?
I got my software development job off the back of my GitHub, no degree, and worked in several different development roles/companies after that (before leaving, in a different industry now) it’s an industry where a degree is not always required.

Why are you so surprised, are you not aware that other than the obvious things like medicine etc most jobs can be done via apprenticeahip or training routes

Is it a London private school thing to assume everyone goes to university? Its certainly not that way in my circle, mine and my friends young adults have all kinds of jobs without having been to uni