WEEK 1
DETERMINATION
INTEGRITY
KINDNESS
PRIDE
Post 18 Pathways
For 18/19 year olds the route to university or a higher / degree apprenticeship requires Level 3 qualifications such as A levels, BTEC, Cambridge Technicals, T Levels.
The resulting grades from your courses will open up opportunities for you and therefore it is vital that you remain on target to achieve your predicted grades. To move into higher apprenticeships, you will need to meet the entry requirements, for a degree apprenticeship or university your grades will be used either as A*, A, B, C etc., or will translate into UCAS points. Take a look further down for how UCAS Tariff Points are calculated. ​
But how do you choose what to do when there is so much choice? Shall I go to university or do an apprenticeship? First consider your career path by browsing sectors
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships Post 16 or following GCSE / Level 2 qualifications offers students an opportunity to learn on the job, building up knowledge and skills, as well as earning money at the same time. You will work towards a standard or a framework - these will detail what you will be learning and how it will be assessed.
Higher Apprenticeships Post 18 are at Level 4 or above and when completed are equivalent to a HNC, a Foundation Degree or the first year of a degree.
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Degree Apprenticeship Post 18 allows students to gain a degree or even a Master’s degree while being employed and trained at the same time. UCAS has lots of information on apprenticeships including links to finding vacancies. You can access the following guides and information
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Apprenticeships are now available across almost every industry sector, offering high-quality and exciting pathways into a wide range of careers.
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Because these opportunities are highly competitive, it is sensible to submit a university application alongside your apprenticeship search, giving you both a Plan A and Plan B. Register with multiple apprenticeship platforms, follow organisations of interest on LinkedIn and X (Twitter), and sign up to any “Register Your Interest” alerts on company websites so you are notified as soon as vacancies are released. It is also important to take full advantage of the projects and virtual experiences offered at Silverstone UTC, as these will help you build valuable examples and experiences to draw upon in applications and interviews.
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As an apprentice, you are employed by a company and receive a salary, paid holidays, pension contributions and sickness benefits. Higher and Degree Apprenticeships allow you to combine paid employment with part-time study, enabling you to gain professional experience and a recognised qualification simultaneously.
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The Higher and Degree Vacancy Listing: October 2025 is a comprehensive resource for students and jobseekers exploring advanced apprenticeship opportunities across England. Produced by Amazing Apprenticeships on behalf of the Careers & Enterprise Company, this edition brings together hundreds of current higher and degree apprenticeship vacancies from a wide range of employers, all in one place.
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Here are some sites to register with:
Once you have found an apprenticeship that you wish to apply for, please take a look at the ‘How To’ Guides for information on CV writing, applications and interviews, discuss with Mrs Murphy our Careers Leader, your form tutor or Head of Year.
You will have workshops to support you but in the meantime gather as much support as you can and remember you should apply for a number of opportunities as they will be highly competitive, to give yourself the best chance of success.​​
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Here are some helpful resources:
Considering university as one of your post-18 pathways?
University
You may already have decided on your future career, which can make choosing a higher education level course easier. Make sure you check the qualifications needed for your chosen job as some occupations such as Law and Medicine demand that you have a degree in a specific subject to be able to build a career in that field.
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Many employers are often looking for people who have a degree level qualification and are less concerned about the specific subject which means that potentially any degree subject can lead to a professional and/or managerial opportunity. However, it's a good idea to check that your subject choice will not close down routes into job sectors, Career Pilot you might be interested in. Do this by looking at the 'Job profiles' within each job sector using the Prospects link at the top of the page.
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Research
When exploring university courses, take time to review the course content carefully and consider all available options. Check the entry criteria, including UCAS tariff points, to ensure you understand the requirements. Find out whether the course includes a year in industry, and whether scholarships or bursaries are available in your chosen field. Finally, consider where the degree could lead you and reflect on whether the course truly offers what you are looking for in your next step.
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Finding the right Uni
When considering university, ask yourself what you want to study and where you would like to live. Think about whether you would prefer a campus-based university with on-site accommodation or an institution where you live off campus in your first year. To support your decision-making, use student guides to university life and explore subject-specific Uni Taster Day resources to gain a clearer understanding of what to expect.
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Applying
Silverstone UTC will set up an account with a Buzzword for you to begin creating your UCAS account. The sooner you begin completing the admin details the better, we will support you with that if you need our help. You will need your GCSE grades and predicted level 3 / A level grades too.
UCAS tariff points
Ask yourself, are your choices realistic both in terms of what you like and your target grades? If you don’t know what your target grades are, talk to your tutor or subject teachers at school or college.
This is important as universities and colleges offer you a place when they have looked at predicted grades and your personal statement. Sometimes you need certain grades and at other times a certain number of UCAS points. T
he higher your grades are, the greater the number of UCAS points you will have. UCAS has produced a really helpful calculator to work out your points.
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Visit
In person if you are able or virtually if not. Take a note of the surroundings and facilities. What is important to you? Attend open days and make the most of them. Opendays.com has all the dates and advice on what to do to get the best out of them or take a look at the link on UCAS. Make your selection of 5 universities.
Personal Statement.
It is so important that you begin writing your personal statement prior to the summer at the end of year 12. Get your thoughts and ideas together and make an impact. Taking part in opportunities at Silverstone UTC will support the application and shows that you take this seriously, that you are a viable candidate. Mindmap Planning for your Personal Statement.
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You statement will be checked by your tutor/head of year and you must meet the deadlines for draft versions. It may take several attempts but the finished document is crucial to you receiving an offer.
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How to write your personal statement – UCAS guide and other information.
Subject Specific Personal Statement Guides
Personal Statements How to get experience
How to write a Personal Statement
Completed applications
Once everything is in place and your payment is made, we will add our reference and submit your application to UCAS. You will then keep an eye on UCAS Track, and wait for your orders.
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You’ve applied, now what happens? – Take a look at this UCAS video to find out what happens to your application:
How to prepare for a university interview
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University Fees
Students need to apply for a government loan to pay for tuition fees which can be up to £9,250+ a year for some courses. Although this is a lot of money your loan does not have to be paid back until you have finished your course and are earning more than £25,000. (effective for courses 2023/24).
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Visit Student Finance Student finance register to find out more about applying and conditions. You can do this once you have selected your Firm and insurance choices.
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You might also want to think about the place you are studying and the costs you will have to pay for accommodation, etc. This guide from the NatWest Bank has information on the most affordable cities for students.
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Remember, different universities offer different courses and experiences, but you can compare them. What you choose, and the way you study, will depend on what you want and need from a qualification. You will also need to think about where you want to study, at home or away and what type of university you want to go to e.g. city, campus, etc. They are all quite different, so take a look at their website or follow these links:
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Which? University A level explorer Add your A levels and find out what other people went on to do with that combination
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Which uni tool that allows you to search for a university course
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Gap Year
A gap year offers you the opportunity to gain skills and experiences, while giving you time to reflect and focus on what you want to do next:
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A productive gap year can be valuable on your CV – many employers value the experiences students have gained if they’ve actively managed their time, set themselves goals, and stretched themselves.
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A gap year can also enhance your higher education studies – if you decide to apply for uni, you could tailor your gap year to relate it to the subject area you plan to study.
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