Postgraduate degrees increasingly wanted in a tough jobs market

The Sutton Trust charity has warned that employers are increasingly looking to employ people with a postgraduate degree. However, there are fears that increased undergraduate debt will deter students from staying on at university.

Postgraduate courses could become the "preserve of the better off student", says trust chairman, Sir Peter Lampl (BBC, 2013).

"Graduates facing debts in excess of £40,000 through undergraduate student loans are likely to see the prospect of funding a further £20,000 a year in fees and living costs, without having access to student loans, truly daunting," says Sir Peter.

A recent study from the London School of Economics and Surrey University showed that a postgraduate degree is linked to £5000 extra in salary per year compared to someone with an undergraduate degree. However, the fear is that postgraduate courses might become the preserve of wealthier students, as students will not want to take on the burden of debt that further years at university might entail.

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