Advice for school leavers

A few jobs require a university degree – such as being a doctor or a barrister – but many have ways in for both school leavers and graduates. If you are unsure what kind of job you’d like or which is the best way to get into it, check out our 300+ job descriptions that explain what people do in different roles and the qualifications you need.

Or if you are wondering what careers you can do with different degree subjects, check out our ’What can I do with my degree?’ series.

Apprenticeships and school leaver programmes involve being paid to work for an employer while gaining skills and qualifications. You’ll typically attend college or university either one day a week (day release) or for a week or more at a time (block release). Apprenticeships must fit a particular framework of work, training and qualifications. In England, you can complete:

• Intermediate apprenticeships (level 2) – equivalent to GCSEs.Advanced apprenticeships (level 3) − equal to A levels.
• Higher apprenticeships (levels 4,5,6 and 7) – equivalent to a foundation degree or above.
• Degree apprenticeships (levels 6 and 7) – result in a bachelors or masters degree.

Apprenticeship levels in Wales and Scotland have different names but still follow a similar structure. In Scotland, students in S5 and S6 can also complete foundation apprenticeships while still at school.

Different programmes have different opening and closing dates for applications, and you’ll need to apply individually for each opportunity that interests you.

Some companies operate annual recruitment processes, which means that they set deadlines any time between late October and early May and then you would start the following autumn. You are best to start looking from the start of year 13/S6.

Other employers advertise for school leavers as and when they need them and want them to start work straight away – in these cases, it’s best to wait to apply until you’ve almost finished school or college.

A few organisations are happy to receive applications at any time of year – however, there may not be a position available to start immediately, so be prepared to wait.

Starting at university, you can study a foundation degree , a higher national diploma , a bachelors degree, or, in subjects such as engineering, an integrated masters degree.

If you are not sure what you want to study, think about what you enjoy doing or learning about. Your favourite school subjects or any clubs you’re a part of are good places to start. If you’re still not sure, it’s best to keep your options open with a degree that is very transferable. For example, studying chemistry is applicable to a wider range of careers than studying forensic science – and you’ll likely be able to specialise later on.

When weighing up the traditional university route or apprenticeships, there are some key considerations. Probably the most important is how certain you are about your career choice. Apprentices are trained and qualified to do a specific role. You will need to ensure you are happy working in the role for the short term, even if you go on to change career paths afterwards.

In contrast, many graduate jobs are open to all degree disciplines, giving you time to make up your mind about your career. You can also spend your time at university getting work experience to try out different industries.

Similarly, do you learn best by doing or in a more structured classroom environment? How comfortable would you feel working full time and then doing extra study on top?

Money is obviously a big consideration when deciding whether to go to uni in a traditional way or complete an apprenticeship. University graduates typically earn more in the longer term than apprentices without a degree, but in England and Wales, students typically do have student debt (although you don’t start paying off your student loan until you earn a certain amount). Apprentices will have their studies paid for and earn a salary.

Many large employers run specific work experience programmes for year 12 and year 13 students, giving you a taster of working life. These can be found with law firms, banks, accountancy firms and more. Universities and employers may also run summer schools and similar programmes together, especially in areas such as science and technology. Browse the employers on targetjobs ; if they run internships and first-year schemes, they are likely to run year 12 schemes too.