Education at that level is about the processes of critical thinking, research, evaluation etc. If the topic you choose to drive that is The Beatles then all power to you. It is certainly the equal of learning how to write fugues and studying Bluebeard's Castle by Bartók like I had to for my degree. However, the reason Universities can be (and are) a racket is that the UK gives NO kudos to anything but white collar. Vocational education is very much seen as 2nd class. I work in vocational education and I know this to be true. The UK is messed up.