Professional certificates versus university degrees: which is more important now?

📅 2026-07-06 ⏱️ 5 minute read ✍️ CVVApp Career Team

Can a certificate from Google or Coursera substitute for a university degree? An in-depth look at the dramatic changes in recruitment requirements.

Drop of the university degree requirement

In a historic step, major companies such as (Google, Apple, IBM) dropped the requirement of “obtaining a bachelor’s degree” for many technical and administrative jobs. Companies have realized that universities are not keeping up with the speed of technology development, and that practical skills are what really matter.

The Power of Professional Certifications

Micro-certifications (such as Google Data Analytics, AWS Certified, PMP) have become hugely important. Why?

  • Because it is definitive proof that you have a specific, up-to-date skill that is immediately applicable.
  • It proves to the hiring manager that you are a lifelong learner.
  • It takes months to complete instead of years, and it costs much less.

Are universities becoming useless?

Of course not! A university degree still forms a strong foundation and proves your ability to commit and think systematically for long periods. In some fields (medicine, civil engineering, law) there is no substitute for a university degree. The winning equation in 2026: University degree (as a basis) + recent professional certificates (as a competitive advantage).