The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills‘ (DIUS) First to Go campaign is urging young people who have no family experience of university – or are not considering higher education – to think about the benefits of embarking on a degree course.

Actress Jennifer Biddall will be sharing her thoughts about being “first to go”

According to the First to Go poll, many family members have university ambitions for their children after regretting missing out on the experience themselves. More than a third of surveyed parents and grandparents went straight out to work instead, but their views on education have now been reversed with a huge majority (91%) wanting their offspring to go to university, showing that higher education is increasingly becoming a key priority.

73% of those polled believe the biggest long-term benefit of going to university is the ability to get a better job, 63% agree that university education gives you a chance to earn more money, while more than half feel that studying a subject you enjoy is good reason to enter higher education.

For those who are worried about the costs of university the new student finance package has increased the eligibility thresholds for non-repayable grants, meaning that two thirds of new full-time students now receive a full or partial non-repayable grant.

Martin Lewis, creator of moneysavingexpert.com reckons nobody in the UK should be put off going to university because of debt: “All the borrowing necessary for university is met by the student loan, and you only pay that after university and only then if you’ve got a job that pays enough. If you’re the first in your family to go to university, its fantastic news, and you should be proud. In fact I hope you’ll do so well that when you leave you’ll be earning enough to start making repayments to the student loan straight away!”Whoever you are and whatever you want to be, going to university is a great way of getting the kind of well-paid career you want.The Prospects.ac.uk website is packed with information on further study and careers. Prospects chief executive Mike Hill said: “All the evidence from robust studies shows that the average graduate is in a well-paid, graduate career within three years of graduating. A degree opens up opportunities in the UK and abroad, within and between industries and sectors, and virtually guarantees lifelong employment in an increasingly skilled economy.”

Jennifer Biddall on being first to go

So, what is university life like if you’re First to Go? Jennifer Biddall, 27, best known for her role as Jessica Harris in Hollyoaks, was the first in her family to go into higher education, and both her brother and sister have since followed in her footsteps. Originally from Wiltshire, Jenny studied drama at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

We caught up with her and asked her what she got out of higher education…

Q. What was your experience of university?
A. I truly loved it, the whole three years were a fantastic time in my life. I did have to work as a waitress at weekends and apply for scholarships and bursaries to help support me through drama school, and although it was a lot of hard work at the time (drama schools have very long hours), it really paid off in the long-run and was a great experience.

Q. Is Higher Education for everyone?
A. Going into Higher Education isn’t necessarily suited to everyone, but it’s really important that people don’t see finance as a barrier to their education. My family has never been well-off, and yet because of all the financial help available, not only have I been able to follow my dream and study drama, but my brother has also gone off to uni and my sister started this year too. My brother is studying business and my sister, Sociology.

Q. What would you say to young people who are worried they can’t afford to go to university?
A. Those who are worried about the costs of university should find out what financial help they are eligible for. There are two types of support available: repayable Student Loans and non-repayable grants and bursaries. The new student finance package, for students starting in autumn 2008, means two thirds of new undergraduates will receive a non-repayable grant, so it’s definitely worth looking into.

Q. Is an academic route better than a vocational one?
A. I would never say that one route is better than the other, as it really depends on the individual. Some people are more academic; but for others the thought of another three of more years of study is a daunting prospect. I think it’s important to research the different types of degrees that are available, as many are very flexible and offer different components, such as sandwich courses which offer work placements, combining traditional study with on-the-job learning. I certainly opted for the more vocational route and have never regretted it!

Q. What advice would you give to budding actors and actresses?
A. Most actors and actresses I know have studied some kind of performing arts or drama, whether formally at a university or college, or through local clubs and organisations. I would recommend that anyone who is aspiring to be an actor/actress gets some form of training. I studied at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which was an amazing experience. It can be very hard work though, because on top of the studying, you have to learn lines for plays and do rehearsals so you have to be dedicated. I’m happy to say that in my case it has certainly paid off in the long term.

For more information about going to university visit www.aimhigher.ac.uk and www.direct.gov.uk/unimoney.