4 Reasons to Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree

The increasing complexity of professional roles in the 21st century has pushed the barriers in today’s competitive job market. Roles and responsibilities in all professional fields require individuals to possess technical and specific expertise in different areas. Hence, it can get challenging to compete and stand out in the job market with the generalised skills provided by standard high school education.

With the average duration of study increasing steadily, pursuing a bachelor’s degree has become the norm. It is less common to find individuals working in specialised or corporate roles with just high school education. The necessity of a college degree is even more apparent for those pursuing scientific or technological careers.

This article discusses the primary benefits and advantages as a university graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

Improved access to better careers

A high school qualification provides a general education that is designed to inform students of topics in broad subject areas. However, this knowledge can be inadequate when applied to real-life scenarios or career opportunities. Thus, students may be restricted to opportunities which only require preliminary skills or basic knowledge of subject areas.

For instance, while a high school level arithmetic can teach students to tally simple numerical data, the knowledge is still unqualified for most accounting roles in the industry which require further expertise in the subject. At the most, students may be able to secure cashier roles in retail stores where high school education is enough for the role. 

Furthermore, a bachelor’s qualification can also enhance the number of job opportunities available to degree holders. According to a report by Georgetown University, bachelor’s degree graduates across the US have access to 57% more job opportunities than non-degree holders.

More specialist opportunities

The nature and number of job opportunities available globally are shaped by advancements in different industries such as technology, business or healthcare. This evolution has resulted in jobs becoming more technical and specialised. Increasing specialisations in the professional space have created a mirror effect in the educational field. Many academic degrees today are catered only to specific industries or studies. For example, to become a physiotherapy professional, one has to pursue a college degree in the subject to enter the industry competitively.

A chance to build and expand your professional network

To sustain in the competitive job market, it is important to have an extensive network of professional and personal connections. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree from a reputed university can provide ample opportunities for networking in the form of conferences, seminars, or even placement events. Taking up a volunteering project or placement roles as a part of an undergraduate education increases the chance to connect and network with people from different backgrounds, which may lead you to more career opportunities and directions.

Personal growth

Pursuing a bachelor’s degree is more than gaining technical and theoretical expertise in the particular subject or industry. Most students pursuing an undergraduate degree find the experience deeply rewarding from a personal aspect. Interacting with other students of similar age groups and collaborating on projects can result in gaining valuable skills such as teamwork, time management and professional courtesy.

Pursuing an undergraduate degree can also boost one’s confidence and self-esteem by experiencing a sense of achievement. A degree qualification can prepare individuals to tackle complex challenges in professional and personal settings and overcome adversities. According to a publication by ‘CollegeBoard’, bachelor’s degree holders consistently display higher levels of confidence than high school graduates globally.

When selecting a bachelor’s degree, it can be a difficult process to choose a specialisation that is relevant to one’s interest or current market demands. For instance, current industries that are offering broader career aspects may be healthcare, business, or tourism and hospitality.

The London School of Business and Finance in Singapore (LSBF) offers four well-designed ‘Top up’ undergraduate programmes which are customised and awarded by the University of Greenwich (UoG) in the United Kingdom. These programmes are based on widely prevalent professional fields such as accounting and finance,logistics, business, and hospitality, which can help enhance professional and personal growth.

Explore the comprehensive views of all undergraduate programmes offered by LSBF in Singapore.

This article was written by Sweha Hazari and edited by Anisa C.