Routes after school: apprenticeships, college and university
There's more than one way into design, engineering and construction careers. Many people move between routes: an HND can take you into year 2 or 3 of a degree, and an apprenticeship can lead to a degree.
S5 or S6, alongside your HighersFoundation Apprenticeship
Spend part of the week at college and with an employer while still at school. Engineering, Civil Engineering and Creative & Digital Media are common choices.
Level: SCQF 6: the same level as a Higher
Good because
- Real work experience on your CV
- Many universities accept it in place of a non-essential Higher (e.g. Strathclyde)
- Helps you decide if a career suits you
Watch out for
- Takes up option-column time
- Check with your school which FAs it offers
Leave school at 16 or laterModern Apprenticeship
A real job: you're employed, paid at least the apprentice minimum wage, and work towards a qualification. There are over 100 frameworks, including Engineering, Construction (Carpentry & Joinery) and Fabrication.
Level: SCQF 5 to 11, depending on the framework
Good because
- Earn while you learn
- No student debt
- Most take 1 to 4 years
Watch out for
- You need to find and apply for a vacancy
- Competition for the best employers is high: apply early in S5/S6
After S5 or S6College: HNC and HND
Practical, career-focused courses. An HND can lead straight into year 2 or 3 of a degree. For example, Edinburgh College's Mechanical Engineering University Route is HNC then HND at college, then years 3 and 4 at Heriot-Watt.
Level: HNC is SCQF 7 (1 year); HND is SCQF 8 (2 years)
Good because
- Lower entry requirements than university (often 1–2 Highers)
- Smaller classes and lots of hands-on work
- Can still finish with an honours degree in 4 years
Watch out for
- Check which university and year the HND links to before you start
- Some routes need a B grade in the HND
After S6 (you must have left school before you start)Graduate Apprenticeship
A full honours degree while you're employed. You work most of the week and study at university, often one day a week. Frameworks include Engineering: Design and Manufacture, Civil Engineering, and Construction and the Built Environment.
Level: SCQF 9 to 11: the same degree as full-time students get
Good because
- A degree with no tuition fees and a salary
- 4 years of work experience by the time you graduate
- No maximum age
Watch out for
- You must be employed in a GA job: search vacancies from January of S6
- Fewer places than full-time degrees
After S5 or S6, applying through UCASUniversity degree
Scottish honours degrees usually take 4 years (MEng/MArch 5 or more). Eligible Scottish students don't pay tuition fees: apply to SAAS for funding each year.
Level: SCQF 9 to 11: Ordinary, Honours or integrated Master's
Good because
- Widest choice of careers, including chartered engineer and architect
- Strong Advanced Highers can mean starting in year 2
- Widening access offers can be lower than standard offers
Watch out for
- Check required subjects as well as grades
- Art schools need a portfolio, and some courses interview