Huddersfield University graduate Sahra Mortimer sparked a huge reponse with an Examiner article in which she asked whether degrees were worthwhile. Heavily in debt and still only able to get temporary work she was angered by suggestions that students could expect generous salaries. Here three Examiner readers give their views - and Sahra answers her critics

KARL Leonard - who worked for just £41 when he left university in 1992 - thinks graduates need to prove their worth before they can command a good wage.

"All I can say to graduates is just to get in there, grit your teeth, put in the hard work and the rewards will come.

"It sounds harsh, especially as you've worked so hard to get your degree, but passing your driving test doesn't necessarily make you the best driver around does it?"

After graduating from art college in 1992 Mr Leonard worked for a Huddersfield graphic design agency for just £41 a week.

He said: "Although I knew I had the skills and the talent, I was green when it came to the 'real world' and so set about building up my experience and gaining exposure to as many different aspects of the industry as I could."

The 36-year-old now trains staff at a graphic arts company in Kirklees.

He said: "Experience and enthusiasm far outweigh qualifications in our industry - as I'm sure they do in other industries."

THE simple fact is that there are too many graduates chasing too few "graduate" jobs.

Some 30 years ago Huddersfield saw the virtual destruction of its textile industry, followed by a painful shrinking of the engineering sector. Very many people found that their formerly highly-valued skills were no longer wanted, and they had to accept that fact. Woe betide the skilled engineer made redundant from, say, Case Tractors who declared that he would not "under-value" his skills and experience - presumably he is still on the dole.

I'm sorry, Ms Mortimer and Mr Zarins, but your tuition fees do not buy you a job. The world does not owe you a living - you have to compete with many others.

I was made redundant from Tractors in 1980, effectively losing almost a decade's worth of experience. I didn't whinge - I took a job digging trenches in the streets of Leeds, before spending almost another decade in the police and five years in the pub trade. I too then went to university, and gained a 1st, but couldn't find a "graduate" job. I took a job as a bars manager with Kirklees. Bit "under-valued" Mr Zarins, but it did pay a wage.

I then went back to university and gained a Master's. Still no "graduate" job, so I gained a PhD. I'm now a casual teacher at university: good wage, but only 20 weeks a year and no guarantees.

Guess what folks? I'm still not whingeing. I am, as they say, "actively seeking work". Of any kind within my capacity. I don't demand certain privileges or special treatment just because I have three degrees. So come on all you unemployed graduates. Get real and get a job!

SAHRA Mortimer, the former Huddersfield University student who graduated in media studies and journalism, complains that many graduates have to settle for a job outside their field.

In Ms Mortimer's case that would hardly be a surprise. Take a look at virtually any university's website and you will see courses in media studies and journalism.

Combine that with all the new universities that have sprung up in the last few years and you have thousands of students graduating with exactly the same qualification as Ms Mortimer's.

Since Tony Blair decided that everyone should go to university the value of a degree has plummeted and the number of courses that have no chance of leading to employment in that field has risen out of all proportions.

While Ms Mortimer might think she can walk into a job centre and demand employment in journalism, she might find herself sitting with graduates from Derby University inquiring about jobs related to their degrees in Hairdressing Salon Management BA (Hons), Football Studies (FdA), International Spa Management (BSc Hons) or even Martial Arts Theory and Practice (Joint Honours).

To a potential employer a university degree used to mean something. Now, however, due to the abysmally low entrance requirements for universities and the way these courses are assessed, students can graduate without the most basic abilities. Universities are now big businesses and the more ridiculous courses they can invent and the more students they can attract to them, regardless of academic ability, the better.

Sahra's Reply

SHOULD we be encouraging future school leavers to be looking at other options and discouraging them from improving their education to degree level?

There was a time when a person who had a degree was valued and employers would snap them up in an instant, not necessarily in their field, but because they had a degree.

Students have been encouraged to go to university, assured all the way along that they will get well-paid jobs on completion, just to find they have run up huge debts and the jobs are not available. How many graduates really have a chance of making use of their degrees?

With average debts of 12k (excluding interest) and a loss of three years full-time salary, and also passing up the opportunity to work their way up in a company, graduates are already suffering a huge financial loss to get their degrees.

Many students work part-time either on evenings or weekends (or both) and many, work full-time during vacations to enable them to complete their studies, while completing a full-time degree.

Huddersfield based businessman Mr Ghani advises graduates to get themselves into the 'real world'- many are already there Mr Ghani. Working at any job that will pay their rent and provide enough income to survive.

Many are dreaming of the day they will earn enough money to start paying off their debts.

The districts with average points score pre candidate:

1: Kirklees (839.2pts)

2: Trafford (825.0pts)

3: Sutton (816.2pts)

4: Reading (805.1pts )

5: Buckinghamshire (802.2 pts)

6: Bournemouth (794.4pts)

7: Sunderland (793.4pts)

8: Herefordshire (792.4pts)

9: North Yorkshire (781.8pts)

10: Lancashire (775.0pts)