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Whats in this section?

Why Study?

Going to university or college is a big commitment, in both time and money, but by getting a degree your child will be making a big investment in their future. It will increase their chances of getting a good job and improve their earning potential. For many young people it is their first taste of independence and an exciting opportunity to try new activities and meet new friends.

Planning any journey is always going to be difficult if you’re not sure of the destination. The same can be said when planning for the future. For the few young people who know where they want to end up, the planning is logical; for those that don’t it’s more difficult.

If university isn’t for your child, there is also a great range of further education options available including apprenticeship training, a degree level apprenticeship and other skills based traineeships to get them ready for work.

Explore our pathway below to find the best option for your child and don’t hesitate to contact the Take Your Place team if you’d like to talk through the options available.

benefits of going to university or college

A university degree is essential for some professions e.g. doctor, forensic scientist, teacher

Many jobs only recruit people with higher level qualifications, although they may not require a particular subject

Having a degree makes your child more attractive to employers, they'll have a greater choice of jobs and earn more.

The average salary for graduates is 30% higher than for non-graduates aged 25-30.

At university or college your child will develop essential skills they'll need in their career and working life such as communication, organisation, time management, team work, leadership and problem solving.

They'll be expected to work hard but university can also be fun. They can choose from a huge range of clubs and societies and there's a diverse social life.

Supporting your child through school

As a parent or carer you'll know that education is key to your child's future success and happiness. As one of the biggest influencers in your child's life, they'll turn to you for advice through each educational milestone.

Year 8/9 Choosing GCSEs

Year 10 Building life experience

Year 11 GCSEs and post-16 decisions

6th form college/Further Education college and researching next steps

Year 13/Level 3 Applications and exams

Navigating routes from school to employment

Post-18

University/ Bachelor's Degree

An academic course that's usually studied at a higher education institution. Learn through lectures, seminars, group projects and independent study. There's funding available to support you and you can study full or part- time.

Location: At a university, college or online. You could go away to study, stay local or go abroad.
Duration: 3 to 4 years.
Entry requirements: Universities set their own entry requirements. You'll usually need A Levels or equivalent qualifications.

It is worth half an A-level. An A* in the EPQ is worth 70 UCAS points, an A 60, B 50, C 40, D 30 and an E 20.

Apprenticeships

Intermediate, advanced higher and degree apprenticeships combine practical on-the-job skills training with off-the-job learning. You'll get training that is relevant to your job and be paid a salary. Start at a level to suit you, with support if you have special needs or a disability.

Duration: Intermediate – Level 2 (12-18 months), Advanced - Level 3 (24 months approx.), Higher Level - Level 4 or 5 (Up to 5 years), Degree - Level 6 (3-6 years).
Location: Typically you’ll spend 80% of your time in the workplace and 20% off-the-job with some study in a college, training centre or Institute of Technology (IoT). However this can differ between apprenticeships.
Entry requirements: Will be dependent on the industry, job role and apprenticeship level.

Degree Apprenticeship

Degree apprenticeships are a new type of programme offered by some universities. Students can achieve a full bachelor's or master's degree as part of their apprenticeship.

These programmes are being developed by employers, universities, and professional bodies working in partnership.

Degree apprenticeships combine working with studying part-time at a university. Apprentices are employed throughout the programme, and spend part of their time at university and the rest with their employer. This can be on a day-to-day basis or in blocks of time, depending on the programme and requirements of the employer.

They can take between three to six years to complete, depending on the course level.