tudents who miss out on their first selection college place this summer season may change to apprenticeships amid cost-of-living pressures, the pinnacle of the college admissions service has mentioned.

Clare Marchant, chief govt of Ucas, informed the PA news company that the chance for children to earn whereas they study by way of an apprenticeship may turn out to be extra enticing than in earlier years.

Hundreds of hundreds of scholars in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will obtain their A-level outcomes this week.

Last week, the Sutton Trust raised considerations that rising prices are limiting younger individuals’s academic decisions after a examine discovered {that a} fifth plan to stay at house throughout time period time in the event that they get into their most well-liked college.

We speak to a lot and plenty of employers who see the summer season as a time that they'll get some actual expertise

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Asked whether or not cost-of-living considerations may result in extra individuals selecting an apprenticeship reasonably than a standard diploma, Ms Marchant informed PA: “I think it’s definitely more acute.

“The cohort that have come to Ucas – who want to apply for an undergraduate course – it is not something that’s deterring them from that.

“The question is, when the chips are down come August 17 [A-level results day], do we see a cohort then switch to apprenticeships if they don’t get their first choice? Potentially.

“The earn while you learn versus going to university might seem an even more attractive option than it has in the past.”

Ucas has seen curiosity in apprenticeships enhance “year on year” by way of its Career Finder web site, which permits individuals to seek for apprenticeship alternatives, Ms Marchant mentioned.

If college students fail to safe a college place on A-level outcomes day, the upper schooling admissions service will signpost them to Career Finder in addition to to clearing, which matches candidates to college locations but to be stuffed.

Ms Marchant informed PA: “There’ll be a number of different things they’ll be signposted to in terms of what their next step might be.

Apprenticeships remain a good option for many young people. It’s certainly possible that a growing number of school and college leavers will choose to study them this year

“If you look at the apprenticeships options, pretty much every big national employer has got apprenticeships up there. You know, from Coca-Cola to Virgin to Deloitte to BA to Jaguar Land Rover, they’re all there. Of course they’re highly competitive as well.

“We talk to lots and lots of employers who see the summer as a time that they can get some real talent.”

From this autumn, faculty leavers will be capable to discover apprenticeship alternatives alongside undergraduate programs by way of the Ucas web site.

Prospective college students will be capable to apply for apprenticeships by way of Ucas alongside an undergraduate diploma software from autumn 2024.

Geoff Barton, basic secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), mentioned: “Apprenticeships remain a good option for many young people. It’s certainly possible that a growing number of school and college leavers will choose to study them this year and this would underscore the need to rapidly scale up the number of high-quality apprenticeships available.

“Schools and colleges will be doing all they can to help students get their chosen university place. Staff will of course be on hand to advise on next steps as necessary, including clearing as well as other opportunities that may be available.

“Above all, young people need to be given the support to choose the right path for them and their decision should not have to be dictated by cost pressures.”