Any questions about careers, university or generally about your future please call in to see a member of The Careers Team.
The main options at 18 are as follows:
In many areas of life, a university degree is still essential and if you want to secure a good financial future for yourself and your family, university is a good place to start. Did you know that over an average 40 year working lifetime a graduate will earn £415,320 more than someone without a degree? (Labour Force Survey Figures) And, if you have encountered an academic subject you love and want the opportunity to explore it more fully and meet others who share your interests, university is the place for you.
The decision to go to university has to be taken alongside the choice of a specific subject. There are several options here: choosing something you like, choosing something you are good at, choosing a qualification, or all three! Whatever you decide to do at university, you’ll be able to pursue it for three years or more with expert guidance and tuition and in a place with excellent resources.
Students at Thomas Telford Sixth Form apply to university via the APPLY System linked to the UCAS website.
All 6.1 students start their applications during in Careers Week in July, when they have the opportunity to meet university staff and students, attend employer talks and take part in employability skills workshops.
Important advice:
Some students choose to take a gap year before starting university, either to travel, volunteer, gain some valuable work experience or just earn some money. If you’re not quite ready to embark on further study but you do want to go to university, then a gap year could be for you.
Further information on gap year opportunities is available here, check out the advice on the Prospects website, and call in to Careers to discuss your plans.
About 20% of our students choose to secure full time employment once they leave school. The Careers Team can help you with your CV, job search and interview techniques. In addition, a number of companies contact the School to offer career opportunities for our Sixth Forms leavers. See The Careers Team for more information.
School leaver schemes and apprenticeships
School leaver programme and apprenticeships are being offered by an increasing number of firms to students who are bright and motivated but do not want to go to university. They provide training in a specific career sector, allowing students to gain experience and professional qualifications in their chose career whilst earning a salary. They typically last 3-4 years and in most cases you will be ahead, in career terms, of your peers who decided to go down the university route.
Have a look at our ‘Employment and apprenticeship’ page for more detailed information on opportunities. The Careers Team will work with you to identify the right scheme for you and support you throughout your application.
Some students today go to study abroad rather than staying in England. For more information on this visit the Study Overseas website or the International Education for studying abroad website.
Some other useful links:
Studying in Europe:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/study-in-europe/
BUTEX promotes mobility between universities and collges in the UK and North America:
www.butex.ac.uk
If you are thinking of studying in the US:
www.fulbright.org.uk
For all other countries:
www.idp.com
Bursaries and scholarships:
www.ukcisa.org.uk
The Mercers’ Company Educational Trust Fund enables needy students to apply for grants for University study. Applications are made through the School and numerous students have received financial help since the School opened in 1991.
UCAS Guide to Higher Education
4th September 2019
2020 entry applicants can pay and send their applications to UCAS from today.
15th October 2019
2020 entry deadline for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry.
15th January 2020
Applications for all UCAS Undergraduate courses, except those with a 15th October deadline, should arrive at UCAS by 18:00 (UK time) today.
25th February 2020
2020 Extra opens today.
5th May 2020
2020 entry: If you receive all decisions by 31st March, reply by 5th May.
6th May 2020
2020 entry: Uni/college decisions due on applications submitted by 15th January.
4th June 2020
2020 entry: If you receive all decisions by 6th May, reply by 4th June.
18th June 2020
2020 entry: If you receive all decisions by 4th June, reply by 18th June.
30th June 2020
2020 entry applications received after 30th June are entered into Clearing.
5th July 2020
Last date to apply in Extra for 2020 entry.
6th July 2020
2020 entry Clearing opens.
13th July 2020
2020 entry: Uni/college decisions due on applications submitted by 30th June.
20th July 2020
2020 entry: If you receive all decisions by 13th July, reply by 20th July.
13th August 2020
2020 A level results day.
31st August 2020
2020 entry: Remaining offer conditions must be met, and Adjustment ends.
21st September 2020
Final date for 2020 entry applications.