Skip navigation
Search

Not sure what to do?

Browse subject guides

Explore subjects

Popular topics

Popular subjects

 

UCAS advice

Get to know the university you could be studying at

Mon 22 July 2019 - 17:02

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Now you’ve accepted a conditional offer, it’s a good idea to get to know your prospective university better, and see where you could be studying in the not-too-distant future. Getting to know the place now will help you to feel more at home if you start studying there, as you’ll already be familiar with the place and the people.
  • Now’s the perfect time to head to an open day at the uni you could be studying at, even if you have already been to one. Open days are a great way to explore the facilities, see where you could be living, and talk to current...

Get your degree paid for whilst gaining corporate experience

Thu 18 July 2019 - 14:15

By Danielle Ariyo-Francis in UCAS advice

I didn’t enjoy the A Levels that I took at college, which made choosing a university course difficult. I ended up accepting a place at Cardiff to study Psychology, however I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after university or even if I wanted to be a psychologist! I decided to defer my place at Cardiff and take a gap year to get experience at a business, which was also something I had been interested in. I came across the IBM Futures Scheme online, which is a 12 month paid internship and applied for a Business role, not really knowing what I was getting into. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

My first project at IBM was the Shell Account, working in...

'I now know what it means to be an engineer in the real world'

Mon 15 July 2019 - 14:56

By UCAS in UCAS advice

So, I studied Maths, Physics, Economics and English at A-levels. My Dream is to be a pilot for MAF in Indonesia, but in the meantime get into the aerospace industry to help achieve that goal. Having applied through UCAS, I was offered a place with Loughborough University to do Aeronautical engineering.

During my degree I covered a lot of material about the engineering behind an aircraft. From the aerodynamic analysis of wing airfoils to turbomachinery & propulsion. I applied for sandwich placements thinking it’d be a good idea to get some experience in the fully adult, working world and to get a positive bank account!

I landed an internship with...

UCAS Clearing: Advice from university staff

Fri 5 July 2019 - 13:54

By UCAS in UCAS advice

If your results weren’t what you expected, you may have found yourself in Clearing. If so, there’s no need to panic. Last year, 73,320 applicants secured a place through Clearing.
 
By now, you’ve probably had a look at our search tool for Clearing vacancies. If you’ve found the ideal course for you, that’s great news! But you shouldn’t rush your decision and add the choice in Track. You should call the uni first to make sure they still have vacancies, discuss your application, and check whether they can accept you.
 
In this blog, we’ve got some valuable advice from university staff on how to approach Clearing. 
 
...

Clearing experiences

Fri 5 July 2019 - 10:54

By UCAS in UCAS advice

In 2019 there were 73,320 students who were accepted at universities and colleges through Clearing. Each year there are students throughout the UK who are succeeding in their studies and careers after using Clearing to get a place on their chosen course – let us introduce you to four of them...
 
Jaz’s story
BBB were the grades Jaz needed to study the engineering course she’d chosen, but on results day things didn’t go to plan. She had a big decision to make: re-take her exams, change direction altogether or look for a place in Clearing. She chose Clearing, and she’s glad that she did...

'Just go for it'

Fri 21 June 2019 - 09:58

By PwC in UCAS advice

Apprenticeships are a way to gain the skills, knowledge and experience you need to get into many careers. They combine work, training, and study, letting you 'earn while you learn'. Saima, from PwC, shares her story.

Why did you choose the programme?
I chose the programme when I was deciding what to do with my future. I held a place at university to study international development, but I realised I didn’t enjoy classroom-based learning, and much preferred a more practical method of working. I knew more companies were offering apprenticeships, and had some friends who were looking into working at PwC, so thought I’d see if it was...

Amanda's apprenticeship experience

Tue 11 June 2019 - 17:04

By UCAS in UCAS advice

 
I started my journey as an 18 year old girl who had just completed her A levels but didn’t know what she wanted to do. At the time, I had two part-time jobs and had been studying IT and media. I found out about apprenticeships through school and looked further into them. I applied for tonnes of apprenticeships in IT as I thought this was the career path I wanted to take, but never heard back. By this time I had no idea what I was going to do and if I would ever find an apprenticeship. I thought I would try looking for a media apprenticeship and found one with a local company. I applied and got an interview, and afterwards I remember thinking ‘well I’m not going to get that job, better get home and apply for others’. There was actually...

'The skills learnt will be invaluable'

Tue 4 June 2019 - 12:17

By Jan Morganti in UCAS advice

Throughout my time at school, I was unsure about what I would do afterward. I knew that I wanted to go to university but had no idea as to what I would study, where I would study or what career I would take afterwards – it took three personal statements to determine which course I ultimately chose.

After attending a UCAS event in London, I found out about IBM and their ‘Futures’ gap-year scheme. Although, prior to this, I had very little knowledge of IBM, I did a little research on the company and decided to apply. As I had just been rejected by the University of Oxford – my first-choice university – I felt that this was the perfect opportunity to take a short break from academia and gain invaluable experience in a fast-growing industry, before re-applying to university.

Just over a year later, as I am reaching the end of my gap-year, I stand by this decision 100% and wholeheartedly believe that...

Why school leaver programmes?

Mon 3 June 2019 - 16:42

By UCAS in UCAS advice

School leaver programmes give you a direct route into the world of work. They allow you to learn new skills, meet new people, and earn a wage while you’re learning. Not sure if it’s the right path for you? Ziyad, from PwC, shares his story.

Why did you choose the programme?
I’ve always wanted to work in the accounting profession. I attended university for one year, but realised it wasn’t the right path for me, so I left to join the apprenticeship programme at PwC. I saw the value in getting into the workplace sooner, and gaining practical, hands-on experience.

What have you gained from the experience so far?
I’m a qualified tax technician, and have gained practical...

Why pick an internship?

Mon 3 June 2019 - 12:07

By UCAS in UCAS advice

I am an Accounting and Finance student at Leeds Beckett University and I am currently on a placement year as part of my 4-year sandwich course. Amongst other Universities, Leeds Beckett offered the opportunity to take a year out for a placement and this forms part of your final grade as it is classed as a final year module. This really appealed to me as not only will it allow me to gain exposure in a real business environment, but it would also be something different to studying and working in the classroom.

I am on a year’s Finance internship at Dowty Propellers which is a subsidiary of GE Aviation. My role is very versatile as I am involved in all areas of finance, so each day is different depending on what is...

Pages

Sponsored articles