Choosing what to do after high school is an exciting milestone, but it can also come with lots of questions. As a parent or carer, you want to help your young person make an informed decision and feel confident about the path they choose.
At UCM, we offer a range of 'earn while you learn' opportunities which are popular options for GCSE-leavers. This means your young person balances working full time alongside studying (usually one day a week).
Whether your young person already knows what apprenticeship course they want to study or is still considering their options, we're here to help every step of the way.
Exploring Their Options
Our website is the best place to start researching the opportunities available at UCM.
You can view our apprenticeship courses by either clicking on the 'Courses' tab and selecting:
- Apprenticeships (most of our apprenticeships are listed under this tab as the student works full time in their job but is released for one day a week to study with us)
- Further Educations (some of our apprenticeships are classed as Further Education for the first year as they are full time courses)
Explore courses by subject area, and click on each course to find out:
- What the course is about
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Entry requirements and qualifications needed
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Course duration and study expectations
- Career pathways and further study options from that course
Encourage your young person to explore courses that match both their interests and future ambitions. It's completely normal if they're still unsure what they want to do. Don't forget, they can also speak to the career's adviser in their school.
Check out our Alumni Success stories for inspiration.
Visit Us at an Open Event
Nothing compares to seeing UCM in person, and our open events give young people and their families the opportunity to:
- Meet lecturers and support staff
- Explore our campuses and facilities
- Find out more about specific courses
- Ask questions about applications and admissions
- Learn about student support and enrichment opportunities
- Hear first-hand about the student experience
Visiting allows both you and your young person to get a feel for college life and discover what studying at UCM is really like. Open events are also a great opportunity to discuss future goals and understand which courses best fit their aspirations.
Visit our events page to find out when our next open event is.
School Liaison
Our School Liaison team visits all the Island's high schools from Year 9 - 13. Students from Ballakermeen High School, St Ninian's High School, Castle Rushen High School, Queen Elizabeth II High School and Ramsey Grammar can access:
- Year 9 'School Links' options assembly and/or options event
- Year 10 Taster Session
- Year 11 assembly and/or options event
- Year 12 Taster Session
Our team will also attend King William's College options event, the Employment & Skills event, Graduate & Young Professionals Fair and HE Fair, so there's plenty of opportunities for young people to find out their options.
The Application Journey
Applying to UCM is designed to be straightforward and supportive. When your young person has selected the course they want they can apply online. After that:
- They will receive a confirmation email from our applications team.
- Once their application has been reviewed by our faculty they will be given an unconditional offer (where they have met the course requirements), a conditional offer (where they haven't met the course requirements yet) or will be contacted about options we think are more suitable for them.
- Our applications team will send them useful information by email from the time they apply until they join us, so make sure they are regularly checking their emails.
- On GCSE results day, make sure they upload their results to our portal as soon as possible, so our team can check the results and either transfer their offer to unconditional or provide them with alternatives if they haven't met the course requirements. We also hold a post-exam result day information event every year, so you;'re both welcome to attend that if you need to.
- Once your young person has a unconditional offer they will need to accept the offer and complete the online enrolment information.
- That's it - they are officially a UCM student and they are starting their studies starting with our Induction and Freshers Week.
We know that waiting for exam results can feel stressful. If your young person doesn't achieve the grades they expected, our team will work with them to explore alternative options and find the best route forward.
If you or your young person have questions during the application process, our applications team is always happy to help.
Financial Support and Funding
Many parents and carers naturally want to understand the costs associated with study and what support may be available.
Depending on circumstances, students may be eligible for financial assistance and grants through student support schemes. Guidance is available on. Here's some useful links to help you understand the fees and financial support that is available:
Transitioning from High School
Moving from high school to UCM is a step towards greater independence, and it's only natural for students to feel a mix of excitement and nerves about this transition. Our teams support students throughout the transition process, including:
- Our School Liaison team visit schools to provide information about Student Life at UCM
- Visits during the summer for students identified by the schools who need that additional support
- Freshers Week activities to help them settle in
- Opportunities to meet new friends and build confidence
- Welfare and pastoral support available throughout their studies
For students with identified additional learning needs, our SENCO and Student Services teams work closely with them before they begin their studies to ensure they have the support they need from day one.
Support for Every Student
We want every student to have the opportunity to thrive. Your young person can access a range of support services including:
Student Services
Our Student Services team can help students with:
- Personal concerns and wellbeing
- Financial advice
- Future planning and progression
- Careers information and guidance
Study Support
Students can access support to help them develop effective study habits, organisation skills and academic confidence, as well as help with their UCAS personal statements. Find
Your young person will be able to access support with their studies during one-to-one or drop-in sessions. This can include:
- revision sessions for students re-taking English and/or Maths
- study skills (essay planning and research techniques)
- skills building in areas such as spelling, algebra, percentages, and punctuation
- personal statements for UCAS applications
- Curriculum support
Additional Learning Support
Learners with special educational needs, disabilities or additional learning requirements can access tailored support to help them achieve their potential.
Student Life Beyond the Classroom
Studying at UCM is about much more than gaining qualifications. Your young person can benefit from a wide range of opportunities that help them build confidence, independence and employability skills, including:
- Be a Student Ambassador
- Be a member of the Student Council
- Share their views in our Learner Voice survey
- Take part in enrichment events and activities
- Build skills and confidence through volunteering opportunities
- Visit business and learn from industry guest speakers
- Take part in career-focused events and workshops
These experiences help students develop valuable transferable skills while making their student experience.
Careers and Future Progression
From the moment your young person join us, we begin preparing them for their next step. Employability skills are embedded throughout our courses, supported by:
- Meaningful work-based learning opportunities
- Careers advice and guidance
- CV workshops
- Interview preparation
- Engagement with employers
Whether your young person hopes to progress to university, higher education at UCM, an apprenticeship or employment, our teams are here to help them achieve their ambitions.
Facilities and Learning environments at UCM
Our campuses provide modern learning environments designed to support both success on their course and student wellbeing.
The Hive
The Hive is much more than a library. Your young person will be able to:
- Access books and academic resources
- Use computers and study spaces
- Borrow laptops, ipads, powerbanks and chargers
- Work collaboratively with classmates
- Relax in dedicated wellbeing spaces
- Use games and puzzles
Real Working Environments
Many courses benefit from access to industry-standard facilities and real working environments that mirror the workplace. These experiences help students develop practical skills and confidence while studying.
Social Spaces and Catering
Your young person will have access to comfortable social spaces and catering facilities, providing opportunities to relax, eat with friends and make the most of their time on campus. We offer breakfast, lunch and snacks, and your young person can bring their own lunch (we even have a microwave for students to use if they want to warm up their own food).