The Aspire Guide - Flipbook - Page 17
Your university options
Imagine that you go to a sixth form in Bradford, and you want to study Economics.
Your predicted A-Level grades are AAB. Your options might include:
A
S
tay at home, and go to the University of Bradford. The entry requirement is BBC - so
you’ll almost certainly get in. The median salary one year after graduation is £18,400.
B
A
pply to the University of Portsmouth with a high chance of an unconditional offer.
Although you’re nervous and worried about the cost, you’re excited at the prospect
of leaving home - moving out gives you more options. However, research shows that
having a guaranteed place makes you less likely to achieve your predicted grades, and
A-Levels will go on your CV to send to employers in future. The median starting graduate
salary for this course is £21,900.
C
Apply to the University of Leeds. The usual entry requirement for Economics is AAA,
but through their “Access to Leeds” contextual offers scheme, they give offers of up to
two grades lower to students who are the first from their family to attend university,
who live in neighbourhoods where a low percentage of young people go to university,
among other reasons. The average salary one year after graduation for this course is
£24,400.
D
Apply to the University of Oxford. They suggest students only apply if they are predicted
AAA, but you could apply for their foundation year programme, open (from 2023) to
students predicted up to two grades below the typical offer, so ABB for Economics and
Management. Students generally then progress onto full degree courses. The average
salary for this course one year after graduation is over £35,000!
The link between university and career choices
Focus: The Creative Industries
Focus: Law
Believe it or not, getting a job in the creative
industries is more likely if you go to a more
selective university, than if you choose
a creative course at a less selective one.
Research shows that creative degrees
are not always necessary for successful
creative careers!7
Many top law firms hire most of their
graduates from the ten universities where
A-Level grade requirements are highest - and
they hire many students who didn’t study law!
Turn to page 46 to find out more.
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