Careers advice and guidance is facilitated by Joanne Marshall, our Adviser, supports and advises Sixth Form students throughout their time in Arden creating many opportunities to help them make the right choice for their futures, including career talks, Career and Apprenticeship Fairs, university visits, business mentoring and work experience placements.
UNIVERSITY
There will be students who have considered university from a very young age. You may have chosen a career that you can only do if you have studied at university. Some students may look into university as one of the possible options following Post 16.
Students who successfully graduate will earn more in the main than a student who has chosen not to go to university.
There are in excess of 50,000 degrees so it is important that you choose the right degree.
Unable to decide what course to study? Have a go at…
UCAS
- To research into the different courses with links to the universities look at www.ucas.com.
If you have decided on going to university but cannot decide on a course, try the Stamford test on the UCAS site.
UK CourseFinder
- You can also try the Course Finder questionnaire on www.ukcoursefinder.com. This is another free test which may help you choose your degree subject. There is additional information which may help you with your university decisions.
Centigrade
- Centigrade is an online test by Cambridge Occupation Analysts. They offer a further test to identify a small section of degree courses and institutions which may suit you, however, there is a small charge for this online test. You can find the test on www.coa2.co.uk/centigrade.
Useful websites
Having selected a number of universities you should now be considering visiting them. It is important to visit the universities as you will be spending three years or maybe four years in your chosen location. University is about Higher Education but it is also about you experiencing different environments and you must be happy with all of your five choices that will appear on your UCAS application form. Some universities like you to book their open days so it is important that you plan for your future.
You may also be interested in learning more about student finance.
- Open Days – check out the dates of university open days.
- Skill – disability support.
- The Complete University Guide
- BestCourse4Me – offers students the opportunity to link different degree courses and salaries that they may achieve in the future.
- Unionviewcom on YouTube – just prior to organising to visit universities you may be able to do a virtual tour of the university on YouTube. This could save you valuable time and money if you see something that you do not like online before you have travelled to the other end of the country.
- Push – an alternative guide to researching universities.
STUDYING ABROAD
Following the rise in tuition fees a number of students are considering combining a gap year with their studies by studying abroad. Certain European countries teach their university courses in English so it is a real possibility to spend three years in a foreign country while gaining a degree. University fees for some countries are considerably cheaper than studying in the United Kingdom.