FE college, apprenticeship, or university?

With college courses, apprenticeships, and university degrees on offer, picking the best fit for you is not always an easy task. In this guide, we share the pros and cons of these higher education pathways and also highlight new options, like degree apprenticeships. Knowing the differences between these routes will help you make an informed choice about your future.

Option 1: College courses

Colleges tend to offer a broad range of qualifications, from Cambridge Technicals to the International Baccalaureate, covering a variety of vocational and academic areas. Vocational qualifications – like BTECs and diplomas, offer hands-on learning that prepares you for a specific job or industry. Alternatively, academic qualifications allow you to study a small range of subjects to a high level. To find out more about the different qualifications on offer, you can check out our guides on College qualifications and levels explained in England, Wales, and Scotland for a simple explanation of each one.  

What are the advantages?

• They offer lots of flexibility. Colleges offer a lot of flexibility and variety. Not only can you choose from academic or vocational courses but you also benefit from smaller class sizes and the opportunity to attend your classes in the evening or part-time.
• They’re low cost. Colleges are usually free (unless you go to a private college or some sixth-forms). If you stay at home for the duration of your studies, you’ll be saving lots of money that would otherwise go towards accommodation.
• They lead to a variety of destinations. One of the main reasons why many students consider college is because the qualifications they gain will enable them to go on to university, an apprenticeship, or a job. If you’re unsure about entering the world of work or attending university, this route will leave lots of doors open for you.

Other things to note

• Some careers and employers require further study. Certain careers, such as those in law or medicine, will require you to have a full university degree. There are also some employers who only recruit people with a degree. However, that shouldn’t necessarily put you off this path; you could always complete your college qualifications and then apply to university if this is the path you end up deciding on.

Option 2: Apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and with good reason – they allow you to work towards a national qualification while you’re working for an employer and getting workplace experience, with no tuition fees. Anybody who is over the age of 16 can apply (there is no upper age limit), as long as they’ll be finished with full-time education by the time they start. Each apprenticeship has its own entry requirements. For example, to apply for an advanced (Level 3) apprenticeship in England, you will usually need five GCSE passes or to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship, but this can vary. 

What are the advantages?

• You will earn a salary. In the UK, apprentices under the age of 19 earn a minimum of £4.30 per hour for the first year. If you are over 19, you earn the national minimum wage for your age after the first year. However, some employers pay more!
• The hands-on learning style. For those who’d rather learn on the job than out of a textbook, an apprenticeship will be more suitable. Although coursework may still be required for some, the practical experience you get will aid you in beginning your career sooner rather than later.
• You will gain technical, job-relevant skills. On top of the workplace experience you get from working for your employer, you’ll learn technical skills that are relevant for your job, which will feed directly into your future career. Moreover, you’ll make a network of contacts, which will be useful for when you come to make your own way into the industry. Head over to our KHL guide ‘An introduction to apprenticeships’ for more information.

Other things to note

• Apprenticeships are only available in specific industries. Although the number of available apprenticeships is continuously growing, they’re not available in every sector, so if you want to do a job that isn’t covered, you’ll have to consider other higher education routes.
• Apprenticeships can limit job flexibility. If you are completing an apprenticeship, it will result in a qualification relevant to a specific job role or industry. This can narrow down the options available to you afterwards, so if you want to keep more of your options more open, an apprenticeship may not be for you.

Option 3: Degree apprenticeships 

A degree apprenticeship is exactly what it sounds like: an apprenticeship, or paying job, combined with a university degree. Not only will you be awarded a degree but you’ll also have relevant work experience, which is exceptionally valuable to an employer. 

What are the advantages? 

• You’ll graduate free of student debt. Whilst there are a number of loans, scholarships, and bursaries available to help students meet the cost of further education, not having to worry about paying your tuition fees (your employer will do this!) can only be a good thing. In addition to this, you’ll be earning whilst you’re learning, another reason why degree apprenticeships have become so popular.
• You’ll be very valuable in the job market. Not only will you have a degree under your belt, but the skills you’ve obtained will be directly relevant to the particular career path you are working towards. This will put you in a great position for your next steps.

Other things to note

• Certain careers will be harder to access. Similarly, the apprenticeship side of things can, in some cases, limit the sectors of work available to you as you will develop a specific skill set for the industry you are interested in. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t also build a host of transferable skills – for example, the ability to work collaboratively, manage your time properly and communicate effectively – which will be valued in a number of different sectors.
• There aren't many available, and they're very competitive. More and more are being offered, however!

Option 4: University degrees

At university, you can study for an undergraduate degree, which typically lasts between three and four years. In the end, you graduate with a bachelor’s degree in your chosen subject. 

What are the advantages?

• You can study a subject you love. If you have one subject that you want to delve into deeper, a bachelor’s degree in that subject is an ideal choice – you’ll get to explore it thoroughly with the help of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and a fair number of hours in the library.
• It keeps your options open. Universities can be a great choice for those who aren’t 100% sure about the career they want to pursue yet. English degrees, for example, can lead to a range of career paths, from journalism to teaching, and even digital media. Employers are often more interested in the soft skills (like critical thinking, organisation, and decision-making) you develop during your degree than the subject you study, and there are plenty of sectors (including the Civil Service, marketing, and even accountancy) that’ll take on graduates with a degree in any subject. This isn’t the case for every career path though: if you want to be a dentist, for example, you’ll have to study dentistry. It’s worth doing a bit of research before selecting your field of study.
• Freedom! By this, we mean that university will give you more opportunities to live and study as you would like, compared to other study options. You can continue to live at home if your chosen university is nearby and you want to save on accommodation fees or move to a different city or even a different country, enjoying the student lifestyle that comes with it. This newfound independence is certainly a benefit for some students. Whichever you decide on, all students will have the opportunity to meet new people, explore different places and try new things.

Other things to note

• It can be expensive. Tuition fees and living costs can be high. However, home students in the UK are eligible for student finance, which provides loans for students to help meet the cost of university study. You will not be required to pay back your student loan until you are earning over £27,295 a year if you study in England or Wales, or £25,000 if you study in Scotland. It will come straight out of your salary, so you won’t even have to think about it. There are also lots of scholarships available, so don’t let finances alone put you off applying. Be sure to check out the financial support offered by the universities you are interested in, as many will have their own grants, scholarships, and funding available.
• It requires academic study. It might sound obvious, but if you’re excited to get a job and start your professional working life, a different option might be more suited to you. If you aren’t keen on the prospect of spending hours every week completing the self-motivated academic study, an undergraduate degree might not be the right fit for you. However, if certain parts of a degree still appeal to you, check out our KHL guide on degree apprenticeships.

Option 5: Higher technical qualifications (HTQs)

HTQs are fairly new with their first cohort of students starting in September 2022. These qualifications are an alternative to Level 4-5 apprenticeships and degrees, and include existing and new qualifications and diplomas that have been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education – an independent board responsible for making sure the courses teach the skills that employers are looking for.

What are the advantages?

• Filling gap for skills required by employers
• For students who don’t want to do a degree or an apprenticeship
• Teaches the relevant skills and knowledge to get a job in that field

Other things to note

• Limited subjects atm
• Same price as some degree courses (per year)
   

Making a decision that’s right for you

Try to attend college and university open days, either online or in real life if you can. Before you go, having a read of our Know-how guide on UK uni open days will help you get the most out of your experience. Alternatively, perhaps you could shadow someone who has a career that is similar to the one you would like to undertake an apprenticeship for. You can also keep your options open and apply to all three of the above pathways and only decide once you have your offers.

Whichever option you go for, remember that in many cases, people can (and do) move between different jobs and courses all the time – so it’s okay if you don’t have it all completely figured out yet!