Right, Ive tried and tried not to get involved in this "debate" but I cant avoid it any longer; partially due to work boredom, partially due to opinion.

I went to uni (Leeds met) for 4 years and at then end of it I had no debt whatsoever. I worked all through my degree and althouth I did get a loan (Straight in an ISA; its free money ffs) it was paid back straight away and all was and still is good. Now; I don't see why If I can do it, others can't. Im conscious of some courses needing expesnive equipment and foreign placements etc etc and admittedly this may mean some people need to borrow money but this should be the exception. As it is, im the exception for leaving with No Debt, it seems £20k debt is the norm nowadays.....

Universities for me have become abit of a joke. From my experience schools and colleges push you down that path, and the quality of students has been affected. On my course there was some people who I would regard as being "unsuitable" for higher educaction. Now, im all for equality and there paying to study just as I am. But when you get one of them in your study group and 1/3rd of your mark is down to their contribution to a project this is grossely unfair on those who may be a) Working harder and b)Alot more capable. When i got into uni my parents were "proud" because I was the first in the family to go to university. Now i believe that this pride will be lost as it becomes increasingly easier and increasingly more commmonplace for people to go to uni. I'd dare sasy that those who don't now go from school are in the minority.

On the subject of those being "helped" by parents/grandparents etc etc etc. Im not against this in anyway, but I think those getting this "free" money should be grateful. Not that I have any suggestion they wouldn't be. I'd like to think that when and if I have kids I will support them as much as I can finanicially. Chances are they'll be going to uni nowadays.

Overall, what I'm saying is that the majority dont need to get into debt to go to and progress successfully from University. Its all about sacrifice. I may not have got two weeks in magaluff with the lads off my course every year, some designer jeans, and some wicked nights out in town on student nights when I was at uni. But what I did get was a degree, which at the end of the day is what its all about, and I believe alot of people currently at uni forget that. What they wont forget is the thousands that they owe. Unfortunately Neither will the banks/credit agencies......

Exactly and thats the problem. I know a number of current students who are understandably worried if they will get a job at the end of the course and are worried they are wasting time. I know graduates who are struggling to find work and most of the work they are finding isn't graduate level.

And part of the reason that is happening imo is because to an extend degrees are losing their value simply because of the amount of people who are now educated to degree level, its not as "special" as it once was.

Life experience? You told me you hated everyone in your flat though and when I speak to you, your back "home".
Is that worth been maybe 20/25 grand in debt forliving with people who you dislike for 5/6 months. I suppose its matter of opinion though.

Lets not carry this discussion on all night, I have an assigment to do through the night in the library which will probably last me till around mid-day tommorrow, due to me grafting all weekend as mummy and daddy only put a roof over my head, and don't give me a wad of cash each month to piiss away in nightclubs