A-levels are not the only path to degree level study - as dozens of universities proved at Uxbridge College’s Higher Education Fair.
More than 50 universities which welcome students from vocational courses such as BTECs, Higher Apprenticeships and other A-level-equivalent qualifications, attended the recent event.
Dozens of prestigious and popular universities - full list below - were among those on hand to discuss students’ degree options, which include many competitive and popular subjects.
In 2015 a total of 578 young people studying BTEC Level 3 qualifications at Uxbridge College went on to study at university, including at Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Nottingham, UCL and York universities. Degree subjects included Law, Pharmacy, and Ophthalmic Dispensing. The College also saw 111 A-level students progress to university in 2015.
Kiram Rami, Head of Guidance and Information Services at Uxbridge College, said: “Even though hundreds of students each year from Uxbridge College and many more across the country progress to university degrees from vocational courses, there are still many young people who do not realise this is an option. We’ve found that it is often only when young people considering their post-GCSE options visit the College that they realise many BTECs and other Level 3, 4, 5 qualifications offer a route into university. This is a tried and tested pathway to gaining a degree and our Information, Advice and Guidance team can tell you everything you want to know about your options.”
College figures for 2015 show 65% of BTEC Level 3 students going to university, and out of the remainder 20% go directly into employment. Amongst A-level students, 85% go to university and 2% into employment. Remaining numbers take a range of options including joining other Further and Higher Education study programmes, and taking a gap year.
Degrees continue to be an excellent route into good jobs, and this year more graduates found work than ever before - 76.6%. The number of jobs in London is projected to increase by 850,000 by 2036 with 53% expected to require an ordinary or higher degree and less than 5% of jobs will require no qualifications.
The following universities and higher education institutions attended Uxbridge College HE Fair: University of Arts London, Aston, Bath, Bedfordshire, Birkbeck College, University College Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Brunel, Buckinghamshire New, Cambridge, Canterbury Christchurch, Cardiff, Chichester, City, Coventry, University of Creative Arts, East Anglia, Essex, Exeter, Goldsmith, Greenwich, Hertfordshire, Kings College London, Kingston, University of Law, Leicester, London, London Met, London South Bank, Loughborough, Middlesex University, Northampton, Northumbria, Nottingham Trent, Nottingham, Oxford Brookes, Pearson College, Portsmouth, Reading, Reading (Pathway to Property), Roehampton, Royal Holloway, St Mary’s, School of Oriental and African Studies, Southampton Solent, Surrey, Sussex, UCFB for Sport, West London, Westminster.