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Not sure whether university or college is the right route for you? Higher education doesn’t have to be your only option for when you finish school. There are thousands of apprenticeships out there, so you’re bound to find something you’re interested in. Why not have a look to see what’s available – use our Search tool to search for apprenticeships.

Should I do an apprenticeship or go to university?

Increasingly, apprenticeships are being seen as a valuable alternative to going to university, and more and more students are signing up for them. However, there is still a lot of debate about which options is better.

Ultimately, it depends on the individual and which route is best for them. Having at least a rough idea about what you want your career to look like can be helpful. If you know you want to be a doctor, for example, then it’s probably quite sensible to go to university and study Medicine! If you want to do something practical, like training to become an electrician or a certain type of engineer, then an apprenticeship may be more suitable.

There are pros and cons to both options. If you choose to go to uni or college, you can pick one of the thousands of different courses available without narrowing down on a certain career or specialising too early. There’s also the social side too – many students enjoy living away from home for the first time, and being involved in vibrant student life.

On the other hand, becoming an apprentice provides you with a clear and immediate route into a career. Instead of paying thousands for your uni fees, you’ll be learning on the job and earning some money.

Whatever you decide, make sure you’ve properly researched and considered all of your options.

How to find an apprenticeship

When looking to find an apprenticeship, think about where your skillset naturally lies.

There are certain skills that employers will be looking for, and these are normally listed in the criteria. So, if one requires applicants to have strong IT skills, and you’re not that confident with computers, it may not be the right one for you. But there are thousands out there, and you can use our Apprenticeship Search to find one that matches your strengths.

Some allow applicants to apply from the age of 16, some prefer applicants to have come from full-time education, others don’t. There really is a huge variety of requirements, allowing for more people to find something that works for them.