Nearly a third of English students are not confident their degree will help them secure a job with a higher salary than they would have achieved without one, according to new polling.

The Office for Students (OfS) found that a small majority (60 per cent) believe they will get good value from their degree, with high tuition fees seen as a barrier, as well as the continued prevalence of online learning, which was said to be ¡°unengaging¡±.

?Pollsters Savanta and YouGov to assess the views of prospective students, current undergraduates and postgraduates and recent graduates with a view to informing its new strategy, which is currently out for consultation.

The results show broad satisfaction with the university experience overall, although many respondents raised concerns that their studies had been affected by Covid, industrial action and the cost of living.

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A lack of support for student mental health and difficulties finding suitable and affordable accommodation were also seen as negative factors.

Half of current undergraduates and graduates are concerned about their health, welfare and well-being, the poll finds.

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¡°I think universities could offer more support to struggling students with one-to-one support and proactively reaching out with support¡±, said one focus group participant ¨C a 20-year-old male who is a current student.

¡°I also think there should be more focus on careers advice and skills and offering relevant work placements.¡±

Half of respondents see their future employment prospects as the most important academic concern, which rose to 58 per cent among graduates.

Thirty per cent are not confident their degree would lead to a job with a higher salary compared with not?completing a university course.

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While the vast majority (91 per cent) of undergraduate students feel confident they will have credible qualifications and knowledge of their subject area (90 per cent) once they have completed their course, many had gripes about the way it was taught.

A third of undergraduates say they have experienced issues with their course ¨C higher than the 22 per cent of postgraduates who say the same.

Reflecting on their completed courses, three in 10 graduates say their contact hours?were insufficient to support their learning. ¡°Online lectures and seminars were not fruitful at all¡±, said one male graduate in the focus groups, whose education had been heavily disrupted by strikes and the pandemic.

The OfS said that, while student interests were bound to change over time, its research ¡°highlights the essential building blocks of positive higher education experiences¡± which can strengthen ¡°our ability to regulate in the interests of students effectively¡±.

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tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com