Parents/Students' Information - Post 18 Options

There are many different routes available to students after completing A-Levels, BTECs, T-levels and apprenticeships. Below is a summary of the available qualifications and options which are offered at this stage.

University

University is an education establishment in which students of any age can apply to and attend. It’s a further line of academic study from that of A-Levels, BTECS and other college qualifications. Essentially, students study a specific degree course so, unlike A-Levels, BTECs or GCSEs where students may have previously studied multiple subjects, at university you tend to narrow this down to just one or two subject areas.

A degree is a qualification that students achieve from completing an academic course at university. The length of time it takes to complete a degree can differ between courses and universities. Although, typically, a bachelor’s degree lasts for 3 years.  

GAP Year

A gap year is a way to develop yourself and your skills before taking the next step in your education or career.

Some of the advantages include the opportunity to:

• Think about your career plans.
• Travel and experience other cultures.
• Earn money to support yourself in future study.
• Improve your CV by doing work experience.
• Get skills you cannot learn in a classroom.
• Become more mature, focused and motivated.

Higher or Degree Apprenticeship

A degree apprenticeship enables you to gain a full undergraduate or master’s degree while you work. Degree apprenticeships take three to six years to complete, depending on the course level.

You’ll spend most of your time working and you’ll also study part-time at university. For example, you might go to university one or two days per week, or in short blocks, such as a week at a time. Overall, you spend about 20% of your time studying vs. 80% of your time working.