The document discusses career options for individuals after finishing school, highlighting a variety of paths including university, apprenticeships, and part-time work. It presents statistics on earnings related to degrees, emphasizing that while graduates tend to earn more, the financial benefits may vary significantly based on the field of study. Additionally, it encourages informed decision-making regarding career choices and mentions the availability of resources such as careers advisors for guidance.

1. Should I go to
University?
A careers blog from Pathway

2. Growing up has changed
 When British schoolchildren
hit 16, they used to have
two rather clear choices:
get a job, or do A Levels
and head to university.
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550
 There are now many paths for teenagers – and the
law has changed so that those born after 1st
September 1997 can’t leave education until
they’re 18 anyway!

3. But what can 18-
year-olds do?
 Finishing sixth-form or college
is a daunting time and one of
the first times in your life
when you will be asked to make a choice about your
future – so be informed!
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550
Apprenticeships Part-time work Full-time work
School Leaver
Programmes
NVQs Sponsored Degrees /
Higher
Apprenticeships
 More on these later

4. If I don’t go to university, won’t I
earn less?
 Graduates do earn more than non-graduates across an
average lifetime - £186K for men and £250K for women
 Women benefit financially from university more than men
– not because they earn more, but because without a
degree, they earn less
 However, those with a 2.2 (the end grade of their degree)
only earn £65,000 more than those without a degree
 With tuition fees and living costs considered, it might be
better for those who won’t achieve a 2.1 or higher to
think of other options
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

5. Earnings are
an average
 The maths students among you should understand that
those figures are an average – and some will earn less and
some will earn more
 When we consider that a graduate of medicine earns on
average £400,000 more than a non-graduate, this boosts
the average. If we take them out, it lowers for everyone
else.
 Chemical engineering, dentistry and law also skew these
figures higher than they would otherwise be for the
average graduate
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

6. What about the social life?
 Most graduates will say that the university
experience was worth paying for
 A lot of courses are light on schedules and this
frees students up to do other things – not just
drink! There are societies to engage in and plenty
of options for young people with time and some
money behind them
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

7. Business socials can be just as fun
 But the social life in
a business can be
just as good – work
hard, play hard.
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 Businesses bond strongly when the teams perform
well, and this can translate into some great times
outside of work too.

8. So what are the alternatives?

9. Apprenticeships
 A very popular option, there are over 2 million
apprentices now working in the UK
 Apprenticeships are a mix of paid work and study,
and depending on their level will earn you a
qualification
Intermediate Equivalent to 5 GCSE passes
Advanced Equivalent to 2 A Level passes
Higher Equivalent to an NCQ4 or
foundation degree
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

10. Apprenticeships are not a second-
rate choice
 It is easy to get the idea that those choosing
apprenticeships do so because they are not
academic enough to go to university
 This is not the case. Many people actively choose
apprenticeships because they are better suited to
the working environment and want to get
experience straight away, whilst still earning
qualifications
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

11. Higher Apprenticeships /
Sponsored Degrees
 Certain schemes allow the
chance to attend university,
usually part-time
 This means you can get a
taste of the university life
without having to sacrifice
your working situation!
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

12. In-work NVQs
 An NVQ is a qualification earned by
completing a set of criteria in a working
environment
 If you were to look through a job search,
you would see that many career paths
ask for NVQs before proceeding
 For example:
An NVQ in health and social care might
have a requirement to display skills in
giving medication
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

13. NVQs can be in-work or outside
 If you want to get an NVQ,
or need one to get a job,
you can apply to do these
outside of the working
environment and
eventually get a placement
to complete them
 Look at training providers
who might have the details
for your course
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

14. Part-time education
 The path you wish to take might not be set for
you yet – and that’s fine too. Perhaps you want to
start your own business but need more
experience.
 Doing some part-time education alongside some
voluntary or work experience, even in an
unrelated sector, means that you can earn while
you learn and work towards your long-term goals
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

15. School Leaver /
Scholar Programmes
 Certain businesses used to only take graduates. It
was fairly easy for them because they know
where the clever people were coming from.
 With the rise in tuition fees, there is a fear
amongst these companies that good talent is no
longer coming exclusively from the top
universities
 As a response, school leaver programmes are on
the rise
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

16. A great wage at 18
 School leaver programmes are
when big companies like
Deloitte hire fresh-faced teens
straight from A Level results
 The programmes allow leavers
to grow in a structured and
highly skilled environment,
joining the workforce earlier and
with a better wage than most
their age
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

17. But we can’t decide for you
 Making a decision on your
future is tough – it really is. A
rare few will have a direction
they are 100% happy to go in
 Just make sure that you
make an informed decision,
so future you can’t look back
and go ‘damn, I wish I knew
about that…’
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550

18. Unsure about your future?
Unsure about your future? Call a careers advisor at Pathway on 0121 707 0550
You’re not alone. Why not contact one of our
careers advisors?
0121 707 0550
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