Education Choices 18+

This section is divided into a number of categories. To go directly to your area of interest, click on one of the options below or scroll down the page to read it all;

• Higher Education
• Work and/or training
• Studying Abroad
• Gap Years 

Your local Connexions Centre and school/college will be able to provide information on the full range of learning opportunities open to you at 18+.  They will also be able to tell you about entry qualifications for jobs, the types of experience that you will need, local training opportunities and higher education.  

Higher Education

Choosing a degree or other HE course requires a lot of research – there is a huge choice and variety in the types of courses available, their location and free time/social/leisure opportunities.

Courses – you could choose to take a subject that you are already studying or choose a new one; study one subject or several; take an academic or vocational course or do a sandwich course involving work experience placements.

Universities/Colleges – you could decide to live locally or away from home; attend a large or small institution; be on campus in a student residence or private accommodation near a city site.

The application process will be different if you are applying for local courses.  Ideally you need to start researching courses about 18 months before you are due to start in order to get a place confirmed and accommodation organised.

If you are unsure what courses to apply for or would like some professional advice on courses and colleges/universities, speak to tutors and your Connexions Personal Adviser.  

Once you have decided upon a subject or course, you need to find out where you can study it.  Use the UCAS website www.ucas.com or one of the many HE directories available in your school library or the local Connexions Centre.

When you have a shortlist, have a look at university and college websites and send for a copy of the prospectuses.  Connexions and school libraries will contain prospectuses for local sixth forms, colleges and universities.

• Attend an open day so you can see the place for yourself and talk to lecturers and current students
• Try to visit the student accommodation too
• You need to get your shortlist down to six courses if applying through UCAS
• Student views of universities and colleges are also worth considering – check out individual university student websites.  You will find lots of books and course guides in both the school and Connexions Centre library.

There are many books and directories aimed at helping you to choose higher education courses in the education section at your local Connexions Centre, school or college library, including:

• The Surrey Area Prospectus website where you can find out about every course and educational opportunity in Surrey.
• www.ucas.com is the home of information on applying for all Higher Education in the UK. This is where you need to go to begin your on-line application process.
• Choices 18+ is available to help with advice and information for students in the first year of A-level courses
• Software available to help you with your decisions include Pathfinder+HE (VT Career Progressions) and Higher Ideas (Careersoft) – your school, college or Connexions Centre may have these programmes
• Aim Higher Surrey contains features such as The Learning Highway, useful for students planning their next steps in education as well as providers and parents www.aimhighersurrey.ac.uk
• Department for Education & Skills Young People's Gateway is another way to access to information on education & skills. www.dfes.gov.uk/youngpeople

Work and/or training

If staying on in education after 18 isn’t for you, there are many types of work based training schemes available and lots of agencies who can help you with your job search.

Read the Jobs and Careers after A levels book published by Lifetime Careers or ask your Connexions Personal Adviser for advice.  See the Work and Training leaflet in this series for more information.

Studying Abroad

Some FE and HE courses include a period of study abroad e.g. some sandwich and language courses.  Other courses are studied abroad on a full-time basis.

If you are interested in studying abroad there are a number of schemes available including:
The Socrates/Erasmus programme offers the possibility to study in one of 30 European countries for 3-12 months.  Visit www.erasmus.ac.uk.

The Leonardo scheme (www.Leonardo.org.uk) allows undergraduates to undertake vocational training across Europe.

Gap Years

A gap year is constructive time out - it can be anywhere, anytime, doing anything. You could be building a school in Chile, getting some work experience, basking on a beach in Fiji or simply working for a year to save enough money for university or a new house - or even taking time out to change your career.   Visit www.gapyear.com for more details.

Need advice now?

Find your local Connexions Centre on the interactive map. Don’t forget you can also call Connexions Direct on 080 800 13 2 19 (lines open 8am – 2am, seven days a week), text 07766 4 13 2 19, or click here for a webchat with a Personal Adviser.

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