Apprenticeship or university? “ W
hat next af er secondary school? Perhaps it’s currently a total mystery. Uni or work? Learn, or earn as you learn? Take some
time out? No idea at all? Starting to panic a bit? (Don’t – it’s all going to be fi ne.) Maybe you have a fi rm and fi xed idea of where you are going next, but are in need of guidance on such things as fi nance, and how to go about the application process? You might fi nd you're a mix of both of the above... That’s where Options comes in.
The following pages are intended to provide some much-needed mythbusting around both apprenticeships and the university route. In addition, we intend to bring transparency to what choosing either path entails, the pros and cons, and to provide enough clarity to help you reach a positive decision about the route forwards.
A few things to consider Current qualifi cations What you do next may be decided by the qualifi cations you're aiming to achieve and whether you even want to continue studying on your next step. Of course, many roles require a specifi c university degree, but going on to be a full-time student and then joining the workforce is only one of the ways to reach ultimate career success (as well as gaining useful skills and qualifi cations). What results you're likely to get at the end of school and college are an important part of this decision. Both university and apprenticeships will, on the whole (but not always), require particular passes at GCSE or at A level.
Home or away? So, your next move... well, do you see yourself literally moving? If you join an apprenticeship programme, it’s likely that, in order to afford to do so, you'll be staying at home. This can be a helpful form of continuity – although you are stepping into a new and strange environment, you may benefi t from the consistency of a familiar household and surroundings – and family.
As for freshers departing for university, you will at least have your fi rst-time-away status in common with each other. Many students spend this fi rst year living in halls or student accommodation where you are in a similar situation, all coping with a new environment together. Although it's a big leap to independence, being away
from home and standing on your own two feet, as a student you'll still have access to services and facilities within the university, and elsewhere, that you can turn to if you fi nd that being away, or anything else, is overwhelming. There's more information on support services, particularly at university, in the section 'It's You Time', focussing on the various ways you can look after your wellbeing at this crucial time.
As I'm sure you've heard, living costs, especially these days, are considerable, and consequently many school leavers are choosing to live at home and study for a degree at a university in a nearby town or city – so further academic study will not necessarily mean travelling across the country. This fi nancial factor, among others, could well be a consideration. Is wanting to move out, or not, infl uential upon the next decision?
Other money mat ers to consider Currently, a graduate leaves university with an average debt of around £45,800, but the time at which you'd begin to repay it is determined by what how much you're earning (and not how much you've borrowed). An apprentice starts to earn as soon as they embark
on their placement. The minimum hourly rate for an apprentice is £4.81 (for a minimum of 30 hours a week and a maximum of 40). While this is not enough to live on independently in most cases, it is a minimum apprenticeship wage and a lot of companies will pay above this hourly rate. There are no tuition fees to pay
Do you see yourself moving away to learn or staying at home to earn (and learn)?
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