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The Guaranteed Offer for Care Experienced applicants in Scotland has been a welcome addition to the admissions landscape. Whilst many institutions have been offering adjusted offers for some time, in July 2019 the Guaranteed Offer was formally launched by Universities Scotland in an event co-hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University and Who Cares? Scotland. The Guaranteed Offer seeks to provide equality of access to degree-level study for those who have experience of the care system – there’s no upper age limit and therefore anyone who has experience of care at any point in their life is eligible. Who Cares? Scotland has produced a guide to the Guaranteed Offer which guide takes you through the principles of the policy as well as answering some frequently asked questions.

Despite the Guaranteed Offer being...

1. You can make in-house apprenticeships extremely relevant to your organisation

If you’re willing to invest time and effort into engaging with the rules of running your own degree apprenticeships, you’ll see the extent to which you can embed your organisation’s goals into the programme.

Whether you’re suffering from skills shortages, or you need new energy and insight to transform an aspect of your business – degree apprenticeships are a great solution. You’ll be able to build a more diverse workforce and benefit from training that’s tailored to your business. And with funding from the apprenticeship levy, it’s a cost-effective recruitment solution.

2. There’s plenty of support to help you run apprenticeships in-house

There’s more than one...

If you are care experienced and looking to apply to higher education, there are some key things to consider when choosing your university or college. 

Does the institution have information on the support it provides for care experienced students on its website?  This should include details of a designated person, or team, who are available to guide you and help with the transition to university.   Will you receive any additional financial support?  This might be a specific bursary or priority access to other funding.  What about other services such as study skills or support for mental health and well-being?  If you are planning to move, will you be able to stay in university accommodation all year round or will other support be available to help you find a good place to live?  As well as the information available on UCAS, you can find details of many...

By Clare Marchant, Chief Executive, UCAS

Arriving at your university campus for the first time is an exciting and nervous time for anyone and everyone, worth remembering as you meet new faces and explore new places. 

You may be arriving in a new town or city, and you may be far from home, but new starts often bring with them new opportunities. As you begin to live independently, maybe for the first time, this chance to be, and discover, yourself is an exhilarating prospect. In fact, it is one of the reasons that higher education continues to be an attractive route for students year upon year, and a truly transformational experience whether you are due to start an undergraduate course, apprenticeship or training.

Here in the UK, we are fortunate to have many incredible universities, colleges and apprenticeship providers to choose from, but we should also be grateful to live in a liberal society, as even today, many do not. Individuals are...