Dr Ed Sheeran praises virtues of university life

  • Anglia
Ed Sheeran tries on his robes before receiving an honorary degree from University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Ed Sheeran believes there is "a lot of pressure" on young people to go touniversity as he picked up his own honorary doctorate in Suffolk.

The 24-year-old singer-songwriter is being awarded an honorary doctorate from University Campus Suffolk (UCS) for his "outstanding contribution to music".

Sheeran, who grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk, and left school at 16, said many university leavers were left in debt with a degree they did not need and young people uncertain about higher education should be encouraged to "chill".

Ed Sheeran takes a selfie after trying on his robes before receiving an honorary degree from University Campus Suffolk. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
Ed Sheeran addresses fellow graduates at a graduation ceremony at University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Ed Sheeran said: "I don't necessarily think university is what you have to do to get a job. I know that's a weird thing to say coming to receive a doctorate but I think there's a lot of pressure on kids to go to university, then a lot of them end up in debt with a degree they didn't really need to get the job they want.

Sheeran also quashed rumours he will be headlining Glastonbury next year but said he would not be taking an "Adele-style" break from music.

He said: "I'm not headlining Glastonbury. I'm not actually going to do any festivals for a while.

"I'm not going to do stadiums for a while. The next festival I do will be headlining Glastonbury but it just won't be next year. I want to be able to have at least three or four albums before I do it.

"There's not going to be an Adele-style break. I'm not having kids, I'm not getting married. But I won't be headlining Glastonbury."

Ed Sheeran was given an honorary degree for his Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Sheeran, whose hits include Thinking Out Loud, Lego House and Sing, has become of one of the world's biggest music stars after selling millions of copies of his albums + and x.

His debut concert film, Jumpers For Goalposts, which was filmed during three sell-out performances at Wembley Stadium in July, is to be shown in cinemas from Thursday.

Watch Ed Sheeran talk to ITV News Anglia's Becky Jago ahead of getting his doctorate