Consider this: You graduate from university with £80,000 in student debt, paying an interest rate of 8% over 40 years. The total cost of this debt isn’t just the £80,000 you borrowed. Over four decades, at an 8% annual interest rate, the total amount you’ll pay in interest and principal is substantial, far exceeding your original loan amount.

Here’s an estimate: Over the 40 years, that £80,000 could balloon to over £600,000, depending on how the interest compounds. This makes the true cost of education a crucial factor to weigh when deciding whether university is the right path, or if alternatives like apprenticeships could give you a better return on investment—both financially and in terms of hands-on experience.