Supporting students to choose the right environment and apply

CPD resources for teachers and careers advisers

Advancing Access
Advancing Access is a partnership between 24 leading universities providing teachers and careers advisers with free resources, online and offline CPD conferences and information on CPD sessions delivered in schools and colleges, and a regularly updated blog.

Resources to support students

General routes information

Pure Potential
Pure Potential provides university, school leaver and career advice. They also publish a popular sixth form guide, which is targeted at schools, students and parents. The website lists university and higher education events and opportunities including open days, application workshops, student finance across multiple universities UK-wide.

University and Higher Education Institutions

Open Days
OpenDays.com is a university and college open day directory.

The Complete University Guide
The Complete University Guide Course Chooser is a tool to help choose the right course – searchable by broad or specific subject area. The tool returns results grouped by institution which can then be filtered by entry requirements e.g. A Level, BTEC, and tariff points.

The Times: How to Choose a Good University
The Times: How to Choose a Good University is a guide for students searching to study at a UK university.

Discover Uni
Discover Uni is an Office for Students’ website housing official information and advice on higher education: both university courses and apprenticeships. The website includes a course comparison tool and official statistics for example, on student satisfaction.

QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings is a world university rankings produced by QS: a higher education company. The rankings help prospective students explore leading higher education institutions by region and subject area.

Study London: List of Summer Schools in London
Study London’s official list of Summer Schools in London.

TEF outcomes and rankings
Teaching Excellence Framework results for UK higher education providers.

Resources from The Student Room

The Student Room is the UK’s biggest and most popular education website, used by over 70% of all students each year. The website provides a student community platform for learners studying from GCSE to University level as well as career advice.

The Student Room: Choosing a university
Choosing a university is a Wiki from The Student Room providing information on deciding which university to study at, university open days and guides for specific universities and Higher Education Institutions. 

The Student Room – Advice on late applications
Advice on late applications is an article from The Student Room providing advice for students who have missed the January UCAS deadline but still wish to submit a UCAS application within the current UCAS cycle.

Unibuddy
Unibuddy is an online platform for students to talk to current undergraduate ambassadors about their first hand experiences.

Resources from UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)

UCAS is a service, which operates the application process for UK universities. The site also provides guidance for use by potential applications to explore their options for university study as well as alternatives to university.

UCAS – Clearance guidance
Official advice from UCAS for students applying to university after the June deadline, or for students who do not accept or receive any offers and wish to apply to other universities.

UCAS – Adjustment guidance
Official advice from UCAS for students who met and exceeded the conditions of their firm choice, but wish to look for another course.

UCAS – Making Changes to UCAS applications
Official guidance from UCAS for students on what to do if they want to change anything about their application.

UCAS – Admissions Tests
Information from UCAS on admissions tests which some universities require applicants to sit as part of the application process.

UCAS – Personal Statement Tool
Official UCAS personal statement tool providing information and guidance on creating a UCAS personal statement.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The Internal English Language Testing System (IELTS) measures the language proficiency of learners wanting to study or work where English is used as a common language. This test is necessary for entry to UK universities if English is not the first language.

Apprenticeships

Intermediate apprenticeships: Level 2 and equivalent to five GCSE passes.

Advanced apprenticeships: Level 3 and equivalent to two A-level passes.

Higher apprenticeships: Level 4 – 7 and equivalent to a Higher education certificate/degree, foundation degree, bachelor’s degree or masters.

Degree apprenticeships: Level 6 or Level 7 equivalent to a full bachelor’s degree or master’s qualification.

General apprenticeship resources

Find an apprenticeship service
Find an apprenticeship is an online search tool from the UK Government Digital Service (gov.uk), which helps prospective applicants to search and apply for an apprenticeship in England.

Resources for Higher and Degree apprenticeships

Higher apprenticeships (level 4 and above)
An online search tool from UCAS for prospective students interested in applying for Higher and Degree apprenticeships. Users can explore some of the higher and degree apprenticeships currently available.