It’s a sad day when young people are forced to forego higher education, and furthering their career prospects simply because its become to expensive, but according to new research, that’s exactly what happening at the moment.

Approximately half of all 16-24 years olds have pushed ideals of attending university to the way side, for fear of accumulating too much debt as a result. A further 1/3 of all students haven’t even considered the prospect of University in light of recent higher education charges.

However, it is also suggested that a large proportion of students consider “real world experience” far more beneficial as a means to develop their career prospects than higher education. Approximately 40% of people surveyed feel that by entering the world of work at an earlier age, they are more likely to become debt free before the age of forty.

There has been a dramatic change in trend over the last few years with regards to the number of students choosing to pursue higher education. It is not known exactly whether the increased expense associated to Universities is to blame, or if younger people have simply become more ambitious. Societal cynics suggest the latter is most probable.