Painting is one of the oldest forms of visual art because it has been around since ancient times. People can paint using oil paints, watercolours, acrylics and even markers. While there are many types of paintings, including abstract paintings, landscape paintings and portrait paintings, one of the most popular styles includes still life paintings.

The appearance of the painting, in the end, depends on how it was created. A significant difference between oil and acrylic paint is that oil takes longer to dry, but once it does, it will not fade or crack over time. In addition, acrylic paints are more versatile than oils because they can be used on any surface, including canvas, wood panels, or walls.

Sculpture

Sculptures can be made of several different materials, including clay, metal, and stone. Some sculptures are complex, while others appear simple with little detail.

Another difference that sets popular types of sculpture apart is the material. For example, clay sculpture can be made of either moist clay or dry clay. In addition, a wet clay mould is usually easier to break because it has been handled so much throughout the sculpting process.

Music

Music is also considered a visual art form. It includes the notes, melodies and lyrics that songwriters write. There are several types of music, including classical, country and rock.

Some of the most popular forms of music also include jazz and pop music. There is a vast array of genres to choose from when finding your favourite type of music. Regardless, many people enjoy having their soundtrack to listen to while working or relaxing throughout the day.

Graduates can reasonably expect to earn more on average than non-graduates over the course of their careers. According to Statista, graduates in England earned an average of £38,500 last year, which is £11,500 higher than non-graduates.

However, this fabled “graduate premium” has fallen over time, according to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, thanks partly to more people gaining degrees and demand outstripping supply of places.

“How much graduates earn also depends on the subject studied and university attended,” said BBC News.

On average, women who study creative arts and languages degrees earn about the same in their lifetime as they would have done without a degree, according to research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank. Men who study creative arts on average earn less across their lifetime than those who didn’t attend university.

However, students who chose law, economics or medicine earned significantly more than those without a degree.

2. Con: added student debt

While tuition fees vary, cost is a huge factor – especially since they tripled a decade ago. Many will pay £9,250 a year, and take out a student loan to pay for it.

Factor in living costs and the average debt for those who started their course in 2022/23 will be £45,600 by the time they graduate, according to data from the Commons Library.

Although students do not start paying back their loans until their earnings exceed a certain threshold (currently £27,660 a year, according to government data), they are charged interest on their total loan from the day they take it out.

When repayments begin, they can be substantial (currently 9% of their income above the repayment threshold). It had been the case that the balance will be written off after 30 years, or when you turn 65 (whichever came first).

But a “big change this year”, for students starting their courses on or after 1 August 2023, will now see the balance lasting for 40 years rather than 30, said The Times – “until close to retirement for many” – and a lower salary repayment threshold.

Universities have said that “effectively freezing tuition fees” since 2012 is “threatening to have an impact on the quality” of what they can offer as their income has been reduced dramatically in real terms.

3. Pro: greater job choice

A degree offers greater opportunities and choice in the job market. It will also “improve your chances of securing a job role in specialised fields”, said Career Addict. A degree “is essential for certain skilled roles and careers”.

A university education “allows you to target a broader range of careers than you can through an apprenticeship”, said Prospects, “but both will stand you in good stead when it comes to getting a job”.

4. Con: ‘worthless’ degrees

According to data published in 2019 by the Office for National Statistics, almost a third of graduates were overqualified for their job.

“Our findings show that people who studied arts, biology and humanities are the most likely to be overeducated,” said Dr Maja Savic, an ONS economist.

Nearly three out of 10 graduates do not progress into highly skilled jobs or further study 15 months after graduating, according to the regulator, the Office for Students (OfS).

Under new government plans, universities could be restricted in recruiting students to courses that “do not have good outcomes”. This includes courses with high drop-out rates, or a low proportion of graduates ending up in professional jobs.

5. Pro: life experience

“Of course going to university is about so much more than money,” said The Times. While hard to quantify, many graduates benefit enormously from the university experience, and the life lessons learned.

These include making new friends from different backgrounds, expanding your network of contacts that can help you in later life, broadening your range of interests through extracurricular societies and clubs, studying abroad, learning skills like budgeting – all of which will serve you well after you graduate.

6. Con: vocational courses

The focus has begun to shift towards vocational courses and on-the-job training, which offers many of the skills needed to succeed in the workplace – without the accompanying student debt. From 2024, candidates will be able to apply to do apprenticeships through Ucas.

A 2021 report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that the majority of graduates (52%) would have considered doing an apprenticeship instead of a degree.

By doing an apprenticeship, “you’ll immediately enter the world of work and gain valuable on-the-job experience while earning money as you study”, said Prospects. “You won’t pay tuition fees and you’ll make industry contacts from day one.”

Here are some traits and skills an employer may expect a new employee to have:

1. Punctuality

Organisations expect you to be punctual in your work. It shows respect for everyone's time and demonstrates your commitment to your role. Punctuality is also an indicator of good organisation skills and overall reliability. When your employer views you as reliable and organised, they may feel comfortable trusting you with greater responsibilities, perhaps eventually giving you opportunities to advance to more senior roles.

2. Professionalism

There are certain ways to conduct yourself in a workplace setting. Professionalism covers a variety of behaviours but basically stems from a fundamental respect for yourself, your colleagues, your work and the organisation. Professionalism can begin with how you present yourself. If your employer has guidelines on appropriate dress, for example, ensure you comply with this properly. Think about your body language and how you interact with others, maintaining a professional demeanour when dealing with colleagues and customers.Related:Key attributes of professionalism in the workplace

3. Positive attitude

Companies generally try to foster a culture that helps everyone remain motivated to do their best work. Part of establishing this environment depends on how individual employees act. For the good of the organisation's culture, employers typically expect you to have a positive attitude at work. Not only can this help with your own motivation, but it also increases the likelihood you may inspire your colleagues. Try to establish good working relationships with those around you and focus on the encouraging aspects of your job to maintain a positive outlook.

4. Dependability

Employers expect to be able to depend on employees to execute duties with autonomy. If they assign a task due the next day, they want to know they can depend on you to deliver without the need for intense supervision. A team of dependable individuals creates an efficient organisation. Be consistent in your output and work hard to always deliver to a high level. To do this, use organisational strategies you find effective. Building trust with your employer and showing yourself to be dependable may lead to opportunities for career advancement.

5. Loyalty

Employers expect their employees to be committed and loyal to the organisation. Loyalty may not mean exclusivity, as you may only work for them part-time and have simultaneous employment elsewhere. Loyalty means respecting the company's image, refraining from making disparaging remarks about them and taking your role as a representative of the organisation seriously. If you have issues at work, there are respectful ways to handle and talk about these that show your loyalty.

6. Effective communication

Employers generally expect you to be an effective communicator, both verbally and in writing. Many of your job duties may involve communication—for example, managing email correspondence or interacting with customers. Effective communication skills also let you work well with your colleagues. They can also impact your ability to add value to the organisation by expressing your ideas or innovations well. If your employer can understand your ideas, they can implement them.

7. Collaborative spirit

Employers often expect employees to be able to work well with others. Embracing collaboration and having good teamworking skills allows you to make positive contributions in a team dynamic, helping make the group more effective. Being proactive in collaborating with and helping others can also indicate that you have good leadership qualities. Even if you work largely in isolation, being an open and effective collaborator can still be valuable. It can help improve workplace morale and maintain a positive organisational culture.

8. Self-motivation

Employers expect employees to be effective in their roles without close management. Self-motivated employees can do this, as they have an inherent drive to complete their work to a high standard. You can improve your self-motivation by employing strategies to organise your work. You might break large tasks into more easily achievable objectives, for example, which can help you maintain your motivation. Being self-motivated and delivering high-quality work on your own can help improve your employer's opinion of your dependability and effectiveness.Related:How to be self-motivated (with steps, tips and an example)

9. Capacity to meet deadlines

The work of an individual employee contributes to the overall operation of the organisation. For the organisation to function effectively, individual employees are required to complete their work on time. Employers generally expect you to work to deadlines. If you consistently miss deadlines, this can have damaging secondary effects on the company and its clients. Work on organising and prioritising your workload. Use organisational tools like calendars or workflow management systems to ensure you meet deadlines.

10. Ability to learn from mistakes

You can't always be perfect in your work. Everyone makes mistakes, and employers appreciate this. What they expect, though, is that you handle these mistakes properly. Rather than make excuses or pass blame, learn from your mistakes. Take them as an opportunity to grow professionally. Assess why the mistake occurred, as this understanding can help prevent you from repeating the mistake in the future.

11. Good work ethic

A good work ethic goes beyond your competence and capacity to complete your duties. It relates to your personality and approach to work. For example, if you encounter obstacles and challenges, a good work ethic involves focusing on the solutions rather than lingering on the problems. Work ethic also relates to how you dedicate your work time and handle capacity. When you can't take on a requested task, working with colleagues to find an alternative solution rather than simply refusing to do the work demonstrates a good work ethic.