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Beyond School
Making the leap from school to university can be daunting for even the most confident student. To help, we’ve brought together a team of experts to bring you all the advice you need to navigate the move to higher education – whether you’re at the application stage or packing your bags and ready to fly.

Where to start?


If you’ve never lived away from home before, heading off to university is a huge step. Bex Tear, head of Badminton School, tells us how parents can help their teenagers prepare; offers advice on what to do when things get overwhelming and reveals what she wishes she’d known before her own university days.  And if you’re starting university this term, make sure you read our Freshers’ Week tips from students who have recently been through it all themselves.






We asked Toni Campbell, deputy head pastoral of Edgbaston High School for Girls, to give us her advice on settling into university. Two former pupils talk students through the ups and downs of university life – and offer practical tips for freshers embarking on this exciting new chapter of their educational journey.

First steps: university applications
If you’re in the sixth form and thinking about heading to university, the autumn term is your time to get ahead. University applications open in September – but what if you don’t know where to begin? Watch our video with Bella Eccles, founder of career-mentoring consultancy Tinker Tailor, and listen to her brilliant advice on everything from narrowing down the right course to understanding your options if university doesn’t feel right for you.


Once you’ve decided what you’d like to study, it’s time to turn your attention towards the all-important personal statement. From dos and don’ts to how to make your work experience count, get organised by watching Bella’s video below.


US university and college admissions

The US boasts some of the most distinguished and best-known universities in the world – but the admissions process can be a complicated and competitive minefield. As more and more UK students look to the US as an alternative to British universities, we asked Rachel Edgell, college coach and academic mentor at ESM Prep, to untangle the US application process and explain the key differences – in both timeline and content – between the two.



It’s widely accepted that getting into a US university is no mean feat – and dazzling grades or extraordinary talent in another area isn’t always enough to secure a place. We asked two schools to weigh in, telling us the most important things to bear in mind when embarking on the admissions process, and how they help support students with their applications to US universities. Find out more here. 

Careers support

University isn’t right for everyone – and if it isn’t for you, it can be tricky to decide which path to take. Don’t panic: launching on 13th September, the Future Leaders Project is all about building a bridge of connectivity between education and business; making careers support more relevant; and inspiring students from all backgrounds to step up and become the leaders of their own lives. We asked the team to tell us a little more about the project’s pioneering work: read more here, and then head to the Future Leaders Project website to sign up and access a wealth of free resources to help you take the next step.


Managing your finances

We all know that leaving school leads to much more independence – particularly when it comes to your finances. But what’s the best way to budget and save for university? We asked the wealth-planning team at LGT Vestra to talk us through the various things that sixth-formers, young adults and their parents need to bear in mind when planning their finances for university and beyond – watch their incredibly sound advice below:




We'll be constantly updating this page with new advice from experts, so keep your eyes peeled....
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