Post Sixth Form Options

You have completed your A levels. Congratulations! Just sitting those exams is an achievement. You should be proud of yourself. However, it’s a jolly long wait between sitting the exams and waiting for the results, right? Maybe you have already forgotten you sat them? We hope you have had a lovely brain break during this time. But before long, the nail-biting results day will soon arrive and now is the time to decide what you want to do next. Here are a few options you can consider that you may not have thought about yet.

University

University tends to be the first and sometimes the only option A-level students consider. It is definitely an option and you have probably already applied for some university places earlier in the year. But think very carefully before you go to university. I have worked at a university and for an examination board previously, and I know what the process looks like.

Firstly, universities always exceed the conditional places they offer. This is to ensure that all their courses are filled because they know not every student will make the grades. Also, not every student who applies to them will choose to attend their university. Secondly, on the days following results day, they hold a process called ‘clearing’. This is where they offer unconditional places to students who originally applied to them, and they may offer alternative courses for students who cannot study their first choice.

Warning: Universities are desperate for your custom, but what they offer may not be helpful to you. The UK government is currently cracking down on what they consider to be ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees. You need to think very carefully about which course will benefit you the most if you want to study at university.

Top Tips on Choosing a University

As we mentioned in our post on Post 16 Options we strongly advise you to work backwards. What career do you actually want? Do you need a degree for it? Do you need a specific degree for it, such as Medicine? If not, do you really need to go to university?

You may be super passionate about a subject and you want to study it further. If you go to university you will meet like-minded people and have more resources to study your chosen subject. A university may be the right place for you in this circumstance. Just consider the following before attending university:

Cost: If you attend university you will have to pay for the following:

Course Fees
Accomodation
Utility Bills
Food
Travel
Socialising/ Leisure

Can you afford these things? If not, you can get out a loan, but that comes at a price. Read on for more information about funding yourself at university.

Independent Living: Unless you decide to study at home (more about that later), you may need to move away from home to attend university. This means you have to adjust to independent living. You’ll need to wash your own dishes, wash your own clothes, and do your own food shopping. If you haven’t prepared for this yet, you may want to ask your folks to show you how to live independently. You may be surprised how much you take your parents for granted when you are doing all the housework.

Time Management: No doubt you have learned a few time management skills whilst studying for your A-Levels. You would have needed to attend lessons, write essays, and revise. Plus, you may have had a part-time job on Saturdays and some evenings. When you are at university you will be expected to show independent study. You’ll attend lectures and seminars, but that is about it. You’ll need to spend many hours in the library or labs researching independently. Plus, you will have to do all the domestic chores in halls or rented accommodation. You may even join some social groups and you may need to work a part-time job. How will you fit it all in? Good time management skills are essential for when you are at university.

Managing Relationships: When you are at university you are going to meet many interesting people. You might even meet your future spouse. Many people meet their lifetime partner at university. It’s really romantic. But you may also come across some difficult lecturers. Maybe a mean landlord? Perhaps a lazy housemate who chews their toenails in the living room whilst you are trying to eat and watch Netflix? What are you going to do about these? Our post on preparing for university will help.

Studying At Home

There are some juicy advantages to studying at home. If you are able to secure a place at a local university you can save a heap of money. You may not have to pay rent or any other bills. You will have a quiet comfortable place to study, unlike a typical student house.

That is if you want a nice quiet place to live at university and not a crazy party house.

Study at Home Options:

Study at a local university
Study at a long-distance university such as The Open University
Complete a higher-level apprenticeship

The drawback of studying at home is that it can be isolating. Communicating with students and your lecturer online isn’t the same as interacting with them face to face. I have studied both at university and at home with the OU. As an extrovert, I missed the comradery of being with fellow academics.

NB: If you study a long-distance course you may be able to have access to your local university library through the SCONUL scheme.

Another drawback is that you won’t get the experience of independent living. University is a good middle step to learning how to live independently with something of a safety net, especially if you have a room in student halls. If you do study from home make sure you build skills on living independently by doing your own washing and maybe cooking dinner for the family a few times.

Cost of University

The combined cost of tuition fees and accommodation for an undergraduate UK student varies:

England: £49,887
Wales: £45,494
Northern Ireland: £32,091
Scotland: £27,775

These estimates use data from the National Union of Students (NUS) and the Unipol housing charity. They assume students pay the maximum fees in the nation where they already live, spend one year living in university halls and other years in private accommodation. The figure for England includes London averages.

Source: Student finance: How much does university cost and does it increase earnings? – BBC News

And that is just the fees and accommodation. You also need to factor in the following monthly costs:

(These are estimated costs sourced from Student living costs in the UK 2023 – Save the Student)

Food and other essentials: £120
Household Bills: £64
Transport: £54
Clothes and Shopping £35
Mobile Phone £18
Course materials: £17

Financial Support

Don’t let these costs scare you. There is financial support available for you. Granted, you may need to pull the purse strings a little tighter, but you will manage.

Bank of Mum and Dad: One of the cool things about being an only child is that your parents have only one child to save money for university. Hopefully, they have been able to save a juicy nest egg for you. If they have done this, be super respectful of that money. Don’t forget they have made sacrifices putting that money aside for you. Don’t squander it on stupid things. Seek their counsel on spending that money wisely.

Student Loans: Here in the UK the student loan system is not too bad. You borrow from the government. Your loan is split in two ways. The first part pays for your fees and is paid straight to the university where you are studying. The second part is a maintenance loan. This is paid into your account three times a year. It is what is supposed to sustain you each term. You have to make this measly sum last. Here is what to expect when you get a student loan:

How much you can get

The maximum amount you can get depends on where you live.

Maintenance Loan	2022 to 2023 academic year	2023 to 2024 academic year
Living with your parents	Up to £8,171	Up to £8,400
Living away from your parents, outside London	Up to £9,706	Up to £9,978
Living away from your parents, in London	Up to £12,667	Up to £13,022
You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad	Up to £11,116	Up to £11,427

Source: UK Government website

Paying Back Your Loan

You don’t need to pay back your loan until you have finished your course. Also, you will need to earn over a certain amount before you pay it back and you only pay a small amount back each month. You’ll barely notice it coming out of your salary. If you are not earning enough to pay back your loan you can just defer it each year. Some people defer it for thirty years and then it is cancelled.

Grants and Scholarships

Some people are able to gain additional funding through grants and scholarships. Don’t rule out these opportunities. Make sure you investigate all possible funding avenues. Grants can be offered if you have additional needs and scholarships can be competed for. Read our post on Preparing for University for a list of grants and scholarships to apply for.

Higher Level Apprenticeships

Why pay for university yourself, when your employer can do this? That is what a Higher Level Apprenticeship is. You work for a company and get paid to do so, and you also study for a degree. You are given so many study days at work to attend university, but otherwise, you are studying in your own time. Many companies are happy to pay for your tuition fees, with the understanding you will work for them full-time when you complete your studies. Please check your contract when you start a higher-level apprenticeship. You may be obligated to work for so many years with the same company upon completion of your studies or you will have to pay them back.

Also, it is jolly hard work working and studying at the same time. You will need to manage your time carefully and you may not have the energy to do other activities during your studies.

Gap Year

I am a massive advocate of the gap year programme for young adults. This is a chance for you to learn new skills, offer service to others, and give yourself a bit more time to decide what you want to do in your life. There is a plethora of opportunities for you to consider when taking a gap year. You can work short-term in the summer as a summer camp counselor in the USA with Camp America. Or for 6 months with an international charity such as Mercy Ships. Check out our useful websites below for more information.

You may also want to work through the National Citizens Service Year of Service Programme.

Make the most of your gap year. You can make new friends, gain awesome experiences and new skills, but only if you plan it well.

Find Work

Another option for you after you complete your A Levels is to find yourself a new job. Perhaps you will start in the post room, but you can work your way up in the company if you apply yourself. It worked for Sully and Mike Wazowski, at Monsters Inc.

If you really want to work for a particular company just start from the bottom and work your way up. Show passion for the organisation and go the extra mile. You will be noticed, and if you are not, then it is not worth working for that company.

Join the Armed Forces

Your parents may not appreciate our recommending the armed forces to you. You are, after all, their only child. Their one true precious gift. And here we are recommending you join the armed forces, but it is an option you may want to consider. There are many positions in the armed forces and not all of them are on the front line. You may want to work in catering or the medical corps, or maybe you want to work in engineering. The armed forces are willing to pay for undergraduate and other qualifications for you. There are chances to travel and experience many new and exciting things. There are some links below to find out more about joining the armed forces.

Become an Entrepreneur

Some people don’t suit the mighty corporate world. Neither do they fancy going to university. Some people feel they just want to work for themselves. Perhaps this is you? Have you got an idea of a small business you want to set up? There are lots of ways of supporting you as you start out. The Prince’s Trust gives advice and support to young people who want to start their own businesses.

The Future is Yours

Whatever you decide when you complete your A levels, remember that nothing is set in stone. You can change your mind in the future. You can change your career. What’s really important now is that you continue to learn new skills and above all new experiences. You can always use these skills and experiences in the future.

To link with other like-minded only children of your age join us in the Discord Young Adult