Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Undergraduate Degrees: Lifetime Earnings

Monday 22 June 2020 · 1 question

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Neil O'Brien asked about addressing the IFS report findings on negative economic returns for some students and the need for a stronger technical education system.
  • The government aims to enable informed student decisions by eliminating low-quality courses and ensuring returns on investment.
  • Support is given to high-quality alternatives like T-levels and apprenticeships as part of a broader education reform.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neil O'Brien Con Eddisbury
Education
Context

The Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report in February 2020 titled 'The impact of undergraduate degrees on lifetime earnings' which highlighted significant concerns about the economic return on investment for many students.

Question

What steps are being taken to address the findings of the IFS report, particularly regarding the negative economic returns for 30% of students and the need for a stronger technical education system?

Answer from Michelle Donelan (Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation)

We are committed to enabling students to make informed decisions by tackling low-quality courses and ensuring returns on investment. University is not the sole or optimal route for all careers; we support high-quality alternatives like T-levels and apprenticeships as part of a revolution in further education.

Answered
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