Episode details

Radio 4,10 Aug 2026,28 mins

Series Series 9

Is a university education still worth it?

Across the Red Line

Available for over a year

Thirty years ago, the New Labour government announced that "Education, Education, Education" was its top priority. University access has widened but the promise of a secure career with greater earning potential is no longer a given. In the era of AI, with the growing squeeze on entry-level jobs, many young people and their families are questioning whether a degree is still worth it. Anne McElvoy mediates debate between Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews with an expertise in medieval literature, and Euan Blair, the co-founder and chief executive of the apprenticeships company Multiverse. Producer: Lisa Jenkinson

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