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• Four in five regret not studying longer • Majority of mature students wish they had not delayed

Most parents who did not go to university after leaving school regret the decision later in life, a government survey shows.

Four-fifths of parents who did not go on to higher education wish they had, and three-quarters of mature students regret not going to university straight after school.

The poll, commissioned by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (Dius), found that 16% believe they would now have a better career and 13% that they would have a better future if they had gone on to higher education.

The survey coincides with the launch of a national campaign to raise awareness among parents and their children of the benefits of higher education.

Some 86% of parents say they have actively encouraged their children to consider higher education, or plan to do so, because they regret not going themselves.

Of the 2,000 parents surveyed, 70% say the prospect of enhancing their child's career is the main reason for their encouragement.

Of those who did not go to university themselves, almost a third (31%) say their motivation is to help their children reach the goals they did not have a chance to achieve.

Getting parental support is critical, according to the poll findings. Of the adults polled who did not go on to higher education and regret it, 13% say their parents were the influencing factor in their decision.

A separate Dius survey of nearly 1,500 mature students found that 74% regret not going to university straight from school.

Some 17% chose to go back to higher education because they thought they had missed out on life opportunities, while 16% say they returned because they had ended up in a job they did not enjoy.

Family and friends having a better career was a factor for 13%.

Almost a third (31%) say that higher education was vital for getting a new career, while more than a quarter (28%) say they needed more qualifications to boost their existing careers. More than a quarter (28%) cite the potential to earn more money as a key factor.

The higher education minister, David Lammy, said: "Studying for a higher education qualification can broaden your horizons.

"We recognise the value that higher education brings, which is why by 2011 we will have increased funding by 30% in real terms since 1997 - spending £11bn a year."

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Last Edited Date : November 7 2008 10:04 am