Higher education

Having taken GCSEs, there are a variety of options open to young people. 

There’s some good advice available online, however asking the views of family and friends as well as individuals in the local community or those working in a profession of interest may be worthwhile. 

Useful information on options can be found on the following sites:

• National Union of Students website
• University and College Admission Service website

Learning or training until the age of 18

Young people need to stay in learning or training until the age of 18 but don’t need to stay in school to do this.

The options are:

• Studying for ‘A’ levels, BTECs or the IB Diploma full-time in a school, College or with a training provider
• Working or volunteering, combined with part-time education or training
• Taking up an apprenticeship or traineeship.

If you need guidance to help you find your career purpose then Career Alchemy can help you get into a career you care about.

University Costs

Studying for a degree at university is expensive. 

Whilst some parents may be able to help their children meet their university bills, most students take out student loans to cover fees and living costs. The loans are available to both undergraduates and post-graduates. 

Information about how to apply for a student loan can be found on gov.uk. Here you will also find details of maintenance and special support grants for members of low-income families.

Repaying Student Loans 

No matter where you studied in the UK, the way you’ll repay your student loans will be the same. 

However, there are differences in the rules of loan repayment and interest; this is because England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have separate policies that govern student finance.

For further information please refer to the gov.uk.

Interest on your loan

All student loans accrue interest from the day they are paid. The amount of interest on a student loan will vary according to the repayment plan type. 

For more information, see the Student Loans Company. To find out which repayment plan type is applicable, there is a section on the website which helps the individual to work out which repayment Plan type they have.