OVER the next month thousands of potential students from across East Lancashire will be considering whether university is the right route for them.

The average debt for a student leaving university is now about £53,000, and with maintenance grants being converted to loans by the government this figure will rise even further.

However, not wanting to burden yourself with this level of debt doesn’t mean a professional career is beyond you.

Many professional bodies such as ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) don’t require a degree.

Studying for a professional qualification instead of choosing to complete an undergraduate degree can have a number of advantages. You can work while you study, earning valuable experience, and once completed you will have a professional qualification.

University experience can be an important part of your development, but it is always worth considering whether it is something you want to do, whether it is important to your career aspirations, or are you doing it because it’s the next logical step.

Carol Helm ACCA Lancs & Cumbria