What's Next After A Levels? Here Are Your Options

Finished your A Levels and wondering what comes next? You're not alone. Many students feel a bit lost after their final exams, especially when everyone seems to have different plans.

There's no single "right" path after A Levels. Some people head straight to uni, others jump into apprenticeships, and plenty take time to figure things out. What matters is finding the option that works for you, personally.

This guide breaks down all your choices after A Levels. By the end, you'll know your options and feel confident about your next move.

Key Takeaways

• You've got five main paths after A Levels: university, apprenticeships, getting a job, taking a gap year, or vocational training.

• There's no rush to decide everything right now - many successful people changed direction multiple times in their twenties.

• Your choice depends on your career goals, learning style, financial situation, and what genuinely interests you.

• Whatever you choose, you can always change course later - nothing is set in stone.

University: Is It the Right Choice for You?

University gives you three or four years to dive deep into subjects you love whilst building independence and life skills.

It's brilliant if you enjoy academic learning, want to study something specific, or need a degree for your dream career. Think medicine, law, engineering, or teaching.

The social side is huge too. You'll meet people from all over the country, join societies, and probably have some of the best years of your life.

But uni isn't cheap. You'll graduate with around £17,000-£55,000 (opens in a new tab) in student debt (depending on where you live in the UK). Though, you only pay it back like a graduate tax once you're earning over £27,295.

University suits people who love learning for its own sake, want to delay entering the working world, or have clear career goals that need a degree.

To apply, you'll use UCAS (opens in a new tab). Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry application deadlines are in mid October. The equal consideration deadline (opens in a new tab) is mid-January. You can technically apply through UCAS until late June - but you will be less likely to get your places of choice. Writing a cracking personal statement showing why you want to study your chosen subject will help.

If you don't get the grades you need, don't panic. Clearing (opens in a new tab) opens on results day and lets you find courses with available places. Thousands of students get into university through Clearing every year. Check out our guide to applying through UCAS Clearing.

Apprenticeships: Earn While You Learn

• Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab) let you work for a real company whilst studying towards a qualification. You get paid, gain proper work experience, and usually have your fees covered.

• Higher and degree apprenticeships can be perfect for A Level students. You can study everything from engineering and IT to business management and healthcare. Some require specific A Level grades, or some prior work experience.

• The benefits are massive. You'll graduate debt-free with a qualification and years of work experience. Many apprentices get offered permanent jobs afterwards.

• The downside? You won't get the traditional student experience, and the workload can be intense when you're juggling work and study.

• Apprenticeships suit people who prefer practical learning, want to start earning immediately, or have clear career goals in fields that offer good apprenticeship programmes.

• Big companies like Rolls-Royce (opens in a new tab), BAE Systems (opens in a new tab), and the NHS (opens in a new tab) offer brilliant apprenticeships. Check the government's apprenticeship website (opens in a new tab) and apply directly to companies.

• Start looking early - the best apprenticeships are as competitive as university places and often have earlier deadlines.

Read Rosie Brown’s (opens in a new tab) experience as a chartered management degree apprentice at BT.  

Employment

• Jumping straight into work means earning money immediately and gaining real-world experience. You'll develop professional skills that can't be taught in classrooms.

• Entry-level jobs for school leavers include retail management trainee positions, admin roles, customer service, and sales positions. Many offer training programmes and progression opportunities.

• The money helps, especially if you want to move out or start saving. You'll also figure out what you enjoy doing through actual work experience.

• But career progression might be slower without qualifications, and you might find yourself competing with graduates for promotions later.

• Getting your first job takes effort. Write a strong CV highlighting your A Level subjects, any part-time work, and transferable skills from school projects or volunteering.

• Practice interview skills and apply to many places. Job hunting is a numbers game - the more applications you send, the better your chances.

• You can always study part-time later through evening courses or online learning if you decide you want additional qualifications.

Taking a Gap Year

• Gap years can be brilliant if you use them wisely. Travel, volunteer, work, or just take time to figure out what you actually want to do with your life.

• A productive gap year might include travelling, volunteering abroad, working to save money, or doing internships to explore different careers.

• Universities see gap years positively if you can show what you learned from the experience. It demonstrates maturity and real-world perspective.

• The danger is losing momentum or getting too comfortable earning money to go back to studying. Set clear goals for your gap year and stick to them.

• If you're planning to apply to university later, you can either defer your current offers or apply during your gap year for the following September.

• Make sure your gap year activities relate to your future plans somehow. Volunteering abroad looks great, but so does working in a relevant field or learning new skills.

Vocational Courses and Other Training Options

• Not everything needs a full degree. HNDs, diplomas, and professional qualifications can get you into specific careers faster and cheaper than university.

• These courses are brilliant if you want practical, job-focused training, rather than academic theory. Think graphic design, beauty therapy, construction, or IT certifications.

• Vocational courses are usually shorter than degrees - anywhere from a few months to two years. You'll spend more time on hands-on learning and less on essays and exams.

• Many lead directly to employment or can be topped up to full degrees later if you change your mind.

• Research courses carefully. Check what employers in your target field actually want and whether the qualification is recognised by professional bodies.

• Local colleges offer loads of vocational courses. Visit their open days and talk to current students about their experiences.

Not Sure What To Do? How To Decide

Feeling overwhelmed by all these choices? That's completely normal. Here's how to work out what's right for you.

Think about what you actually enjoy doing. Do you love researching and writing essays? University might suit you. Prefer hands-on problem-solving? Consider apprenticeships or vocational training.

Consider your long-term goals. Where do you want to be in five or ten years? Work backwards from there to see which path makes most sense.

Talk to people already doing what interests you. Most professionals are happy to chat about their careers if you ask politely.

Your school's careers advisor can help you explore options and arrange work experience. Don't ignore this brilliant free resource.

Money matters too. Can your family support you through university? Would earning immediately make a big difference to your situation?

Remember, there's no shame in not knowing what you want to do at 18. Many successful people didn't find their passion until much later.

Your Timeline After A Levels

Results day is usually the third Thursday in August. That's when your next steps become clearer. See our Results Day articles for more insights.

• If you got the grades you need for university, congratulations! You'll start in September and should prepare for freshers' week.

• If you missed your grades, Clearing opens immediately. Log into UCAS and call universities with available places. Move fast - the best courses fill up quickly.

Apprenticeship applications often close earlier than university ones. Some big companies recruit in autumn for the following September, so start looking early.

If you're taking a gap year, now's the time to finalise your plans. Book travel, find volunteer placements, or start job hunting.

Whatever you choose, use the summer to prepare. That might mean reading around your university subject, researching your new employer, or planning your gap year adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my mind after choosing a path?

Absolutely! Loads of people change direction in their twenties. You can transfer between university courses, switch apprenticeships, or go back to study after working. Nothing you choose now locks you in forever, so don't stress about making the "perfect" decision.

What happens if I fail my A Levels?

Don't panic - you've still got options. You can resit your exams, look at foundation courses at university, consider apprenticeships that don't require specific grades, or take a gap year to plan your next move. Failing A Levels isn't the end of the world.

Is a gap year looked down on by universities?

Not at all! Universities can value gap years if you use them constructively. Travel, volunteering, work experience, or learning new skills all show maturity and real-world experience. Just make sure you can explain what you gained from your gap year.

What if I want to travel and study at the same time?

You've got options. Some universities offer study abroad programmes, you could look into remote learning opportunities, or consider working abroad through programmes like teaching English. Many people combine travel with online courses or distance learning these days.

Final Thoughts

There's no single right answer to ‘what to do after A Levels?’. The best choice is whatever works for your situation, interests, and goals. As a long-term A Level tutor, I have seen students follow so many different routes, from gap years to apprenticeships to straight to university - everyone is different. 

Don't feel pressured to follow what everyone else is doing. Your mate might be heading to uni, but that doesn't mean it's right for you. Trust your instincts and choose the path that genuinely excites you.

Whatever you decide, throw yourself into it fully. University, apprenticeships, work, or gap years can all be brilliant experiences if you make the most of them.

Take time to research your options properly, talk to people who've been there, and remember that you can always change direction later. Your twenties are for figuring things out - enjoy the journey!

References 

• Gov.uk (opens in a new tab) Student Loan Statistics (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS Deadlines (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS Clearing (opens in a new tab) 

• UCAS Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)

• Rolls-Royce (opens in a new tab)

• BAE Systems (opens in a new tab)

• NHS (opens in a new tab)

• Government's apprenticeship website (opens in a new tab)