Bristol Uni study finds half of UK graduates would make a different choice about their studies

According to a new study, the majority of UK graduates would have picked a different course or university if given a second chance. Turns out, asking teenagers to choose their life path at 18 doesn’t always lead to eternal satisfaction, who knew?

The study by the University of Bristol reveals that 52 per cent of UK graduates between the ages of 25 and 30 would have chosen either a different course or a different institution if they were given the opportunity to reconsider their higher education.

These findings highlight a significant level of regret among graduates regarding their academic choices. However, only two to three per cent of respondents said they wouldn’t want to go into higher education at all.

The data, taken from the 2024 Student Academic Experience Survey by Advance HE and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), points to a widespread sense of regret among graduates across the UK. It’s not just a fleeting feeling either; these numbers have stayed consistent over the past few years, with student satisfaction hovering around 58–59 per cent nationwide.

Two University of Bristol academics, Professor Nicola Dandridge and Professor Richard Watermeyer, are leading research into this issue. Their work includes surveys and interviews with current students and recent grads to dig into why so many people feel they made the wrong call, and what universities can do about it.

Nicola, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Policy at Bristol, explained: “The stakes are very high for students – in terms of their time, the cost, and the generally one-off nature of a degree.”

With this in mind, they’re looking into practical solutions like improving the way courses are chosen, offering more flexibility, and making it easier to switch paths if students realise they’ve made the wrong call.

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But while the findings paint a concerning picture for the higher education sector, what does this mean for students in Bristol?

Bristol perspectives

In a poll on The Bristol Tab Instagram, we asked students at the university whether they regretted their degree choice or choice of university.

However, it seems that students here and our followers don’t agree with the national consensus. Only 15 per cent said that they would have preferred to attend a different university, and a quarter of respondents said that they regretted their degree. But why do so many people regret their degree choice? The primary reason graduates gave for reconsidering their choice was the belief that an alternative path would offer more career opportunities, and in conversation with students at Bristol, it does seem that employment is a driving factor.

Final-year Spanish and politics student Alessia told The Bristol Tab: “I don’t regret my degree in the sense that it interests me, and I got to do a year abroad, et cetera. But sometimes I wish I’d done something vocational so that I had a designated career path at the end of it.”

Another Spanish student was a little more blunt: “The job market is a monstrous place at the moment, and a humanities degree is not conducive to employability.”

However, there is support available. The university’s careers service also offers robust support, with everything from CV help and interview prep to funding for start-ups. Every year, around 350 employers engage with the uni through fairs and skills sessions, creating direct pathways into graduate jobs. And, to give us all a little hope, according to the Graduate Market 2024 Report, Bristol University graduates are the fifth most targeted by top UK employers, competing with the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial.

Still, that lingering sense of “what if?” is hard to shake. Bristol University data reveals that 94 per cent of Bristol grads are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees.

It seems that the grass is always greener, and with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps you would have picked something more “useful” or career oriented. However, that’s not necessarily realistic when you ask an 18-year-old to decide what they want to do with the rest of their life.

These findings are a reminder that while doubts about your degree or university are much more common than you might think, they don’t have to define your experience. So if you’ve ever questioned your degree choice (and honestly, who hasn’t?), you’re not alone. But the support, resources, and opportunities available from the university can still set you up for success.

So whether you’re loving your degree or having a full-blown academic crisis, you’ve got options, and you’ve got time.

For help and guidance, see the univeristy’s career website here.