Alternatives to full time university and how the Careerpilot website can help you find out more. Sue Lewis: Western Vocational Progression Consortium (WVPC)

Why not go to uni at 18/19? Who isn’t convinced that uni will be worthwhile? Who is worried about the debt? Who wants to start work at 18? You don’t start paying back until earning £21,000. At £22,000 that’s £7.50 a month 30% of students study part time Many are over 21 Degree essential route for specific jobs. Also good if you are undecided about job area as many employers are looking for graduates with any subject. Applications to universities in the UK have risen compared with this time last year - with many more women than men applying.

Employer training: Apprenticeships Sponsored Degrees Distance learning: Open University Free MOOCs Summary of the alternatives – in addition to work Different qualifications: Foundation Degree HNC/HNDs

Whatever you decide, you need to: Explore all your choices and work out the pros and cons Check out the progression opportunities, funding support, etc.

Website helping 13—19 year olds in the South West plan their future study & work: What is Careerpilot? External Links

Employer training: Apprenticeships Sponsored Degrees

More than 85,000 employers across the UK offer apprenticeships lasting between one and four years, and covering about 200 different jobs, from animal care to construction to web design. Learn on the job with an employer, building up knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money at the same time. Even with level 3 qualifications, you might need to start here if you haven’t got the vocational experience £101 + a week Competitive. Now available in more than 40 sectors.

An employer will pay for your training to degree level Competitive and vocationally focused Business Management and IT To be eligible, you will need: At least five A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and maths. To have, or be predicted to get, 300 UCAS points across 3 A-Levels (or equivalent) at grade C or above.

Different qualifications: Foundation Degree HNC/HNDs

Combine study and work, jointly designed by employers and HE Two years at a college and then a top up year to honours degree Can sometimes be cheaper than a uni degree and lower entry requirements Here are some of the vocational areas that offer Foundation Degrees: Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care Arts, Media and Publishing Business, Administration and Law Construction, Planning and the Built Environment Education and Training Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Health, Public Services and Care Information and Communication Technology Language, Literature and Culture Leisure, Travel and Tourism Retail and Commercial Enterprise Science and Mathematics

Job-related qualifications available in a wide range of vocational areas. HNCs take one year full-time or two years part-time. Full-time HNDs take two years to complete and can be used as a qualification in their own right, or for entry to the second or third year of a degree course Delivered by colleges and universities.

Distance learning: Open University Free MOOCs

OU offers 100s of modules that lead to different qualifications. Study full or part time. Standard fee of £5264 for 120 credits (equivalent to a year full time) Loans available for part time study as long at doing 25% of full time course

MOOCs : Massive Open Online Courses Introduction to ecosystems Introduction to forensic science Shakespeare’s Hamlet: text, performance, and culture Exploring our oceans Introduction to Mathematical Thinking Music's Big Bang: How American Roots Music Gave Birth to Rock 'n' Roll Etc. Why MOOCs? Chance to try out a uni level course. Help you prepare for a specific uni subject. Do alongside work. For personal interest. FutureLearn – New Courses to help students secure a place at university: How to Succeed at Interviews How to Succeed at Writing Applications Preparing for Uni Developing your Research Project.

Employer training: Apprenticeships Sponsored Degrees Distance learning: Open University Free MOOCs Summary of your non-university choices Different qualifications: Foundation Degree HNC/HNDs

To help you choose

Save all your topics of interest and your Profile in My Careerpilot

700+ users completed online survey: Filtered the responses from post 16 (61): 95% said it was useful 95% said it was interesting 95% will use again 86% learnt about routes to uni through work 83% learnt info. about jobs Careerpilot has enlightened me to the exciting range of possibilities that await me in the near future and made decisions that little bit less daunting! Directed me into the right directions after sixth form! I now know what qualifications I need to go to university. Feedback from users

Explore, ask for support, decide what is best for you.