According to UCAS data, around 4,000 candidates from Turkey apply to British universities every year. Roughly 8,500 Turkish students are currently enrolled. But will these students actually find employment upon graduation? It’s a question keeping parents up at night after pouring all their resources into their children’s education.

Whether a university degree guarantees a career is a hotly debated topic, not just in Turkey, but in the UK as well. Research by the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) predicts a 7% decline in graduate entry-level roles in 2026. Twenty years ago, a single job opening attracted 38 applicants; today, that figure exceeds 140. Unsurprisingly, this raises questions about whether the time, effort, and money invested in higher education offer a solid return. The packed audience at the panel titled "Is University Worth It?" during the Financial Times Weekend festival in early September underscores just how pressing this issue has become.

AI and the Entry-Level Squeeze

Presenting a range of statistics, FT columnist John Burn-Murdoch pointed out that the wage gap between university graduates and high school leavers in the UK is steadily narrowing, while growth in white-collar salaries remains sluggish. What’s more, compared to countries like the US, France, and Canada, the UK is a rare example where higher education expands while the income premium of holding a degree stagnates. According to Murdoch, the main driver behind this is Britain’s lingering economic stagnation, an issue successive governments have failed to solve. And as long as stagnation persists, new jobs simply aren't being created.

Meanwhile, the ongoing AI transformation is compressing white-collar employment. Tasks traditionally handed to junior hires, like low-level data collection and research, are increasingly being automated. But there is a more dramatic twist: thanks to AI tools, candidates can now send out vast volumes of applications, only to have those same applications filtered out by AI systems on the employer side. Those who make the shortlist are put through demanding assessments, with only a fraction reaching the interview stage.

With the job market becoming this fierce, time will tell whether other companies follow tech firm Palantir’s lead in hiring and training high school graduates directly. Based on the current data, however, Murdoch argues that a university degree is no longer the sound investment it once was.

The "Prada Bag" Perspective

On the other hand, Berwick maintains that a degree from a prestigious institution is like a "Prada bag"; it never truly loses its value. In her view, university offers far more than a job guarantee; it builds vision and self-confidence. Beyond equipping students with professional skills, higher education fosters lifelong friendships, even life partners, and professional networks that facilitate career growth long after graduation.

Truth be told, while most panelists acknowledged the hurdles fresh graduates face, few were willing to write off university education. The prevailing mood in the room was strong enough to make even Murdoch soften his stance slightly. Ultimately, everyone agreed that universities need to align with the business world. The demand is clear: a modern educational model that integrates AI, teaches technical skills, and creates direct career pathways.

The New Entrant Trap

Yet, when discussing job prospects for young graduates, it’s worth remembering a major additional barrier for Turkish students: visa sponsorship costs. The mandatory sponsorship fees and minimum salary thresholds imposed on employers (under the New Entrant and Skilled Worker rules) make hiring international graduates increasingly difficult. The gap widened significantly in April 2024, when the UK raised the minimum Skilled Worker threshold from £26,000 to between £38,000 and £45,000.

This predicament for fresh graduates has come to be known as the "New Entrant Trap." To break it down: visas for undergraduate or master's students in the UK remain valid for four months after graduation. When applying for jobs, candidates face a choice: either apply for a Skilled Worker visa requiring employer sponsorship, or opt for a Graduate visa, which allows them to work for two years without sponsorship. The devil, however, is in the details.

To encourage employers to hire young talent, the UK offers a salary discount under the Skilled Worker route, known as the "New Entrant" rate. This threshold sits 30% below the standard rate, but the benefit can only be used for up to four years. Many of our young graduates seeking work in the UK complain that companies exploit this legal pathway with a "use-and-discard" mindset—hiring them as low-cost labor for two to four years, only to let them go claiming they lack the budget to promote them to senior-level salaries. In short, the competition is far more complex than it appears. And with anti-immigration sentiment on the rise, expecting rules that make it easier to sponsor international talent is unrealistic.

Looking Ahead

My hope is for our students to pursue the work they dream of and find financial independence in their chosen field. However, setting realistic, forward-looking goals when choosing a major is essential. That is easier said than done when course content and job specs change fast, leaving many roles at risk of extinction. Even so, the answer is not to lower educational standards. It is to revive the economy and create new opportunities.