Post-18 Destinations and Support
Higher Education After Sixth Form
A significant proportion of our students at King Charles I School Sixth Form go on to some form of Higher Education after A levels, either to pursue degree level study at university, perhaps undertake a foundation year or to complete a degree level apprenticeship through an employer. Higher Education allows students to further their particular interests, while the experience of living for the first time with a degree of independence is an exciting opportunity. Perhaps most important of all, a degree is seen as a way of obtaining a better job and is a pre-requisite for many professions.
UNIVERSITY IS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE
University isn’t just about learning; the experience will enrich your life. You will:
- increase your knowledge
- get your first true taste of independence and freedom
- gain a qualification that’s internationally recognised
- develop the essential skills you’ll need in your career and working life
- increase your earning potential
- experience student life
WHAT TO STUDY?
The important thing is to choose a subject you’ll enjoy that will help you reach your goals. Think about what you enjoy doing day-to-day – maybe this could be part of a future job role. Explore jobsites and graduate careers to look for ideas to work or study towards.
CHOOSING A TYPE OF UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
Most students study for an undergraduate degree. These are dynamic academic environments with lectures and seminars, usually made up of different modules adding up to the full degree. Each course varies in learning styles, assessment methods and topics studied – and students usually get to choose some of the modules you take.
- Usually three or four years beginning in September/October, and also known as a bachelor’s or first degree.
- Usually one subject, although a few are broader, or you can study two subjects 50/50 or 75/25.
- Some offer work experience – a ‘sandwich course’ where you work for a year in a relevant industry.
- After completion you graduate, opening up new career options and postgraduate study.
There are shorter qualifications too. These include:
- One year of a degree – a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
- Two years of a degree – a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
- Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Foundation degree, which combines academic study with workplace learning.
CHOOSING WHERE TO STUDY
Some students set their heart on a particular university, while others just want to choose the course they like the sound of best. Either way is fine, but there are a few things to check first.
Courses and universities have varying application deadlines and entry requirements, so it’s worth finding out more before going any further.
When you move on to find a course it’s advisable to go along to open days to see which university you prefer.
WHAT IS A 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.
APPLYING FOR A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP
You apply for a degree apprenticeship in the same way you apply for a normal job. You’ll need to submit an application, which usually includes a CV and cover letter. If you’re also applying for university, you could use your personal statement as a starting point for your application.
Employers advertise degree apprenticeships throughout the year and there is no application cycle like there is with university. The vacancy will state when the application deadline is, and when the apprenticeship is due to start.
SUPPORT AT KING CHARLES I SIXTH FORM
We are very proud of the support we give to students when applying to university and for degree apprenticeships. A large portion of students’ weekly personal development hour is tailored and guided support by our experienced sixth form team, devoted to researching and applying to higher education. We provide various sessions whether these be 1:1s or in small groups; signposting guidance, search engines and platforms for finding apprenticeships and degree courses and support students along the way and through to completion with their university applications. We have universities attend to deliver workshops to students on what they are looking for in their applications. We also hold a Higher Education evening alongside Year 12 Parents’ evening whereby students and parents can access information about the university application process, student finance, degree apprenticeship providers and employers such as the Haybridge SCITT for accessing the teaching profession; we have various representatives attend the evening to support this. Every year, we take students to the UCAS Discovery Day – an exhibition of universities, apprenticeship providers and employers so that students can gain advice, further information and inspiration from the various stalls.
All sixth form students are given access to Unifrog website which is a detailed online one-stop tool to support students in searching for the best university course or apprenticeship for them.
Some useful websites to find further information about university: