Careers adviser Vanessa Kenneth from Careers Tutor has compiled this list of resources for Year 12 students who may have missed information about their options beyond school, and Year 13 students who need advice about how to maintain their interests and motivation during this time.
To start with here is useful tool for getting organised and setting your own goals is setapp.com/apps/studies
For Year 12 & Year 13
1.Information and time lines about exams and applications
The Department for Education – keep an eye on the latest decisions about exams and grades
UCAS – keep an eye on how universities will respond to exams and grades
2. Inspiration and free online courses
Open University courses take short modules in selected subjects
Online short courses from top global universities
Online short courses from top universities and training organisations
Learn to play guitar
Meditation
Yoga
Fitness – serious workouts with Chris Hemsworth
Computer Science and Coding
Intro to Computer Science with Harvard University
Learn about Artificial Intelligence
Cooking classes with Michelin star chef
Learn a Language with hellotalk
Learn a Language with Duolingo
MENSA – take the challenge! How high is your IQ?
Listen to books and poetry we all need a break from screen time
Wildlife – watch web cams and videos
3. Subject resources
Art and Art History – virtual Museum and Gallery tours
Art and Art History – more Museum virtual tours
Architecture
English Year 12
English Year 13
Fashion
Film, TV, VFX, Games Industries
Film, Theatre, Technical Industries
History Ideas, Information, Podcasts
Law
Maths Year 12
Maths Year 13
Music Theory – free online learning
Philosophy Critical Reasoning for Beginners – Oxford University
Psychology – inspiring podcasts
Space – NASA summer school
Science
Statistics and Data
4.Stand out from the crowd
Make your future applications stand out by entering competitions or getting articles published.
Management Consultancy Summer School – McKinsey. FREE www.mckinsey.com/uk/careers/ Deadline 29th March
Writing about Art www.writeonart.org Deadline 31st March
Engineering/Physics/Maths, Scholarship competition classroom.google.com Deadline 30th March
Environment/Wildlife/Planet, earthshotprize.org, Deadline 24th April
Science, Young Scientist Journal – get your articles published here ysjournal.com
Science, She Talks Science blog – Cambridge University. Contribute your articles here www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/news/
Science, Unsung Heroes of Science – Oxford University. Submit your video here www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/unsungscience
Science, The Oxford Scientist – Writing Competition oxsci.org/schools/, Deadline 1st May
Poetry, foyleyoungpoets.org Deadline 31st July
Politics Writing competition- The Financial Times www.ft.com/content Deadline 31st May
Year 12
Here is information about all of your options beyond school. Be open-minded and don’t assume that you are definitely going to university.
Find inspiring career descriptions here: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers
Find out what you are suited to here: www.prospects.ac.uk/planner
How to choose a course and a uni
You have heard of some universities but you won’t know where is best for what you want to study. Start by thinking about what really interests you as you can often combine various ideas. Think of university study as opening up a whole new box of ideas – you don’t just have to choose one of your A level subjects. Browse for course ideas first – you can then see which universities offer what you want to study.
www.theuniguide.co.uk/courses
www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/ucas-undergraduate-what-study
The Complete University Guide to choosing a course
University course league tables
Univeristy Open Days Virtual Tours
Student Finance
The easiest way to understand what it all means www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/student-loans-tuition-fees-changes/
Oxford and Cambridge (often referred to as Oxbridge)
Yes, you need excellent grades but you also need to be absolutely passionate about your selected area of study. Both universities are trying hard to widen their student profile so don’t assume that it’s ‘too posh’ for you. Oxbridge applications are ‘early entry’ ie your completed application has to be submitted by October 15 whereas most other uni courses are January 15
www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/why-cambridge/cambridge-explained
Medicine/Dentistry/Vet Science these subjects are also ‘early entry’ so your application has to be submitted by October 15
Medicine ~ Dentistry ~ Vet Medicine
Art and Design
You may wish to apply for a one year ‘Foundation’ course (Art and Design Foundation Diploma) which is a general, mixed year for you to experiment and decide if you wish to specialise. This is free if you start before you are 19 yrs old (ie you should start in the September after your A level exams).
There are many courses which don’t require a Foundation course; you can combine Art and Design with other subject areas – academic, very practical or with specific job-related training. You need to think about what you prefer and how you ‘learn’ best.
Art and Design Foundation Diploma – all the info you need
Drama/Music/Dance
You can find completely practical courses or those which have academic elements – you need to think about how you ‘learn’ best.
Conservatoires
Art, Music, Drama league tables
Dance degree courses
Performing Arts courses
Higher and Degree Apprenticeships
You are very lucky that you have a choice about how to gain a degree – you can apply to study full time at university and borrow student finance to do this OR you could consider a Degree Apprenticeship which is a combination of work and study. You do not pay any tuition fees and you earn a salary whilst you are studying and working. There are programmes on offer with a huge number of companies and organisations – some are very competitive and they are definitely not second-best to ‘uni’. A Degree Apprenticeship will suit you if you are organised, motivated, ambitious, good at time management, mature and do not want to take on student debt.
What is a Degree Apprenticeship?
Advice about Degree Apprenticeships
Facts about Degree Apprenticeships
Gap Year Ideas
Many people choose to give themselves a ‘gap’ between school and whatever comes next. Your ‘gap’ is whatever you want it to be! It can be a time to explore who you are, what really interests you, grow up, challenge yourself, travel, gain experiences, earn money, learn new skills. It can be a mix of all of these things.
Year 13
Here are useful links about important University and apprenticeship timelines:
University time lines and key dates and University Updates
UCAS – how to make decisions about your offers
Apprenticeships that are still open for applications
London Degree Apprenticeships to apply for now – most start in September
