The following links will provide you with information and guidance on choosing a Higher Education pathway.
These are updated throughout the academic year and are there to assist students and their parents with the many facets and complexities of Higher Education so that when the time comes, students are fully supported and prepared for the next stage in their progression.
Students may find the following resources useful:
University
Student Finance
What University? What Course?
- UK Coursefinder– a 10 minute questionnaire to help you decide on a degree course
- What Uni– a website to help you search for courses, course reviews and it also allows you to compare your shortlist of options
- Bestcourse4me– allows you to see the likely lifetime earnings after following a particular degree path, amongst other things
Information for Oxbridge Candidates
Scholarships
Many universities and colleges offer their own scholarships and bursaries but these are very oversubscribed. So it’s worthwhile thinking outside the box.
- Arkwright– a charity that offers prestigious engineering scholarships in the UK
- Balfour Beatty Construction– Balfour Beatty Construction offer a number of sponsorship opportunities to students at selected UK universities studying civil engineering, construction and quantity surveying (a full list is available on their website)
- 10 unusual university scholarships
- Extra money to pay for university
Gap Year Opportunities
There are a number of gap year organisations in the UK. We have listed a small selection below, depending on your particular interest.
- Bridging the Gap China– develop your language skills
- CAPS (Conversation Assistant Programme for Schools)– combine learning Mandarin with sightseeing and cultural activities in China
- ESL Language Travel– spend a year in a Spanish School as a Conversation Teaching Assistant. Spend your gap year learning a language. Choose from 22 languages in over 200 destinations in the world.
- Volunteer World
Outdoor Activities/Sport Opportunities
- Ski le Gap– ski Instructor Training in Canada
- PGL– outdoor Activities Instructing in the UK and abroad
- Projects Abroad– improve your skills in a range of sports and pass on your knowledge and passion to children in the developing world
- Best Gap Year– information and links for a range of sport related gap year opportunities
Subject Related Opportunities
- The Global Adventure Safaris– Volunteer for medical placements in Tanzania and have a unique opportunity to learn about the culture, people and language of the country while gaining hospital work experience.
- Gap Medics– overseas hospital work experience for budding doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists
- YINI– short and long term placements for students interested in science, engineering, IT, business, marketing, finance and logistics
Work with Animals
- PoD– offering 1 week to 6 month placements available around the world
- Smaller Earth– lion rehabilitation in Zimbabwe
Work with Children/Teaching
- PoD– offering 1 week to 6 month placements available around the world
- Smaller Earth– work as an Au Pair in China or Spain
- PGL– outdoor Activities Instructing in the UK and abroad
Conservation
- Raleigh International– sustainability projects to improve communities worldwide
- Kaya Volunteer– volunteer opportunities in environmental and conservation research, building projects, teaching and education, wildlife conservation, community development, child care, sports coaching
- African Impact– marine and land conservation opportunities in Africa
Paid Work
- Oyster Worldwide
- Kaya Volunteer– paid work opportunities from farm work in Australia to hospitality in the Canadian Rockies
The following links provide useful information to support your son/daughter into Higher Education:
For Parents
- UCAS Parent
- Student Finance – free guide
- Student Loans Mythbusting
- Gap year advice for parents 1
- Gap year advice for parents 2