CAREERS
University, Apprenticeship or Gap Year ?
Is University The Right Option For Me?
Ask Yourself:
Do I need a degree for my chosen career / career area?
How will studying a degree enhance my career prospects?
Is this the best route for me?
Am I committed to academic study for another 3 years or longer?
Have I explored student life & would I enjoy it?
How do I really feel about graduating with a student debt?
What am I hoping to get out of going to university?
What kind of experience am I hoping to have?
Pro’s
Enhance your Career Prospects - Having a degree could improve your career prospects by helping you to gain promotion more quickly than non-graduates. Some companies also offer ‘fast-track’ career opportunities for graduates. By 2020 it’s estimated that 70% of new jobs will require degree level qualifications so getting a university education means you’re less likely to be unemployed in the future.
Choice - There are over 37,000 courses available at over 370 UK universities and colleges and many options other than full time courses such as part time and distance learning, so there is something for everyone, whatever your situation.
Social & Employability Skills - university isn’t just about education - you’ll meet lots of different people from different backgrounds and so you’ll broaden your social and cultural experience.
With academic and extra curricular opportunities available for you to experience, you’ll develop your knowledge and employability skills whilst at the same time improving your job prospects and opportunities. These will look great on your CV & when you graduate, employers will see you as a more rounded person, having mixed with a variety of people from all walks of life, and developed important life skills such as communication and problem solving.
Sport & leisure activities - All universities have a wide range of social activities too such as rugby, kayaking, photography, drama etc. Taking part in activities and getting involved in other social clubs will mean that when you graduate you’ll have a lot to offer an employer other than qualifications as you’ll also have gained valuable life and employability skills such as team work.
Salary - On average graduates will earn significantly more over their lifetime than people without a degree level qualification.
Independence - If you attend a university away from home then you’ll learn some invaluable skills for life such as cooking, money management, problem solving and independence. Many graduates say that going to university was one of the best times of their lives and where they made friends for life.
Flexibility - Remember many people who have degrees do not actually work in the same field that they studied in, being a graduate means that you have developed a range of skills which are classed as transferable, like research and extended writing skills or working to deadlines.
Cons?
Financial - The main concern for most people is the cost of going to university for 3 or more years. Financial worries for prospective students have intensified since tuition fees rose to a maximum of £9,000, forcing graduates to leave university with debts of around £40,000.
However, despite this try not to worry too much about the money side of attending university – there is lots of financial support out there once you start looking & you don’t start repaying the loan until you’re earning over a certain amount. If you begin your course after 1 September 2012 in England or Wales you’ll begin paying off your student loan when you earn over £25,725 a year, £2,144 a month or £495 a week. around £21,000. (this may change)
However! - Certainly do not let costs dissuade you if you are intent on following a career that demands a degree, such as medicine or law. There is financial aid out there especially for students from a low income household.
Tuition fee loans pay for the course.
Maintenance loans and grants help with living costs.
You have to pay back tuition fee loans and maintenance loans but not grants or bursaries.
For more information on student finance go to www.gov.uk/student-finance
Attending university is an investment in your future. Despite the high graduate unemployment rates of recent years research shows that having a degree improves your chances of getting a job and over the long term you are likely to earn more money than people without a degree.
It’s okay not to know the exact job you want to do now or even after after graduating. Many students go to university unsure what career they want in the future but university is a big commitment so you owe it to yourself to invest time and effort in finding out what you could do and where it could take you!
Is An Apprenticeship The Right Option For Me?
Main Features :
A real job with training
Earn while you learn
Work towards recognised qualifications including degrees
Take between 1 and 5 years to complete
Cover over 1200 job roles in a range of industries from engineering to financial advice, veterinary nursing & accountancy.
Ask yourself:
Is it an option/a good route into your chosen career?
Are you ready for the world of work and to be able to hold down a real job? This means adapting to workplace disciplines & routines
If you don’t particularly like sitting in classrooms, if you like getting out there, getting stuck in & being more hands on, then you should seriously think about this pathway.
Pro’s
Employers value & recognise apprentices skills
You’ll achieve nationally recognised qualifications
No student debt instead you’ll be earning money
With a Higher / Degree apprenticeship you can still gain a degree / HND on a part time basis
Learn job specific skills from both on the job experience & off the job training
Gain valuable employability skills and references.
Earn a real salary - the average wage is £170 p/wk
Employers say that qualified apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications,
Direct exposure to your chosen career sector
Form important relationships with industry professionals
Cons
You have to commit to a vocational area eg retail, engineering, finance so you need to be sure this is the area you want to work in for the next few years at least.
You’ll miss out on the university experience (think about whether this is a real issue for you or not)
Shorter annual holidays than students - usually around 4-5 weeks a year
How Do They Work?
Recruitment - Apprentices are either employed directly by an employer or through a training provider who will link you to a company looking for an Apprentice.
Induction period - to help you to settle in & adjust to the world of work.
Placement - you’ll have a mentor who will support your work based training & ensure you’re making progress. You will also be assessed in the workplace.
Further Study / Training - Attend a college , training centre or university for further training and to help you to gain your qualifications
Day release - you'll work for 4 days & spend 1 day a week at college / Block release - a full week at college every few weeks
Should I take a Gap year?
You can take a gap year before university, during your degree course or after completing university. It doesn’t just mean going travelling you can take a gap year at home, you can also work or volunteer but whatever you choose to do it’s important to carefully weigh up the pro’s and cons.
PRO’S
Helps to improve your CV / personal statement
You’ll be able to develop your skills and learn new ones such as organisation, communication, teamwork and working on your own initiative
Real work experience helps with career ideas and inspiration
Gives you new insights about yourself
Helps you to mature and become more independent
You’ll learn how to budget!
Opportunity to meet people from different cultures
Make new friends
It is far less competitive to gain a gap year place with one of the leading global organisations than it is to gain a graduate role with them when there are so many more applicants per role.
Cons
The cost – can be expensive and may add to your student debt
Finding a gap organisation that you’re happy with and that gives you value for money can be challenging!
If you don’t plan carefully you may end up a long way from home, doing something you don’t enjoy and struggling to communicate with people
You may be tempted to focus too much on fun and relaxation, this may be frowned upon by universities and employers
Not all universities view a Gap year in a positive light – check with the ones you want to apply to just in case.