Would anyone know???

[Daisiesanddaffodils24]

My son only just has decided that he does not want to continue with his engineering apprenticeship and would like to go to university instead. Is he too late for this year? I know that ucas normally has to completed by January but I wondered if there is any kind of clearing or last minute option with ucas?

He can apply now - he can check via UCAS which universities are still open to applications from home students. He will need an academic reference, though, and will have to declare what he has been doing since leaving school.

https://digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/results/courses?searchTerm=Engineering&studyYear=2025&destination=Undergraduate&postcodeDistanceSystem=imperial&pageNumber=1&sort=MostRelevant&clearingPreference=None

He can do UCAS extra, or go through clearing x

Thank you SO much @MarchingFrogs and @AelinAG. I knew that you guys would know.

At this point, it would just be a normal application, albeit with no guarantees that places are still available at universities he really wants.
Extra is for when you've used all five options a d hold no offers (either because you've had five rejections, or because you've turned down all those that you've had). Clearing opens on July 5th, although iirc, all new applicants through UCAS from the week before that automatically go into Clearing.

Another option would be to wait another year, making an application for 2026 as soon as UCAS opens up in September for that intake. That way, he would have the full range of courses available for his A level / BTEC / IB grades.

Thank you. My preference would be that he waits another year to really be sure of his choices, however I suspect that he will not want to wait. I just don't like the idea of him rushing into something without thinking it through but I guess that is teenagers for you!

Not too late - UCAS Extra and failing that Clearing. For Extra, look at the courses he is interested in, it’ll show if there’s still space (should say extra next to it). And Clearing is not like it used to be; many people use it to change their degrees once they receive their results. Contact your son’s Head of Sixth and explain the situation.

Thank you @JJMama. I have given him this info and he is currently sitting on his laptop, he really didn't know what he wanted to do when he was at school so I am hoping that a year of working has given him some direction.

Anytime - I work in this area of education so feel free to contact me if you require any extra info. And definitely not an issue he’s worked for a year - students often need some time to clear their minds about what they want to do. Just tell him that he should put everything into what he decides, when he decides it. Good on him for knowing where he wants to go in life and going for it.

Aw that is so kind, really appreciate it, thank you!

@Daisiesanddaffodils24 So is he looking for a full time engineering degree or something different? If he’s tasted engineering then a broader degree isn’t a bad idea at all. However try and go for a MEng. What discipline of engineering? (If that’s what he wants?)

He is doing a lower level apprenticeship in a manufacturing factory, but has now decided that he wants to do civil engineering. Ideally he would like a higher level apprenticeship, but is also looking at university. His grades at A'level were BBC which I'm not sure is enough for uni, although it seems to be enough for higher level apprenticeships. He did get an A* at GCSE maths.

I know precisely NOTHING about engineering hence the queries on my part!

https://digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/results/courses?searchTerm=Civil%20engineering&studyYear=2025&destination=Undergraduate&postcodeDistanceSystem=imperial&ucasTariffPointsMin=0&ucasTariffPointsMax=112&pageNumber=1&sort=MostRelevant&clearingPreference=None

Hi, I’ve just posted a link which hopefully has worked. (Just about to get on a ferry!) If not then BBC equates to 112 UCAS points so go to the website and filter by courses with those points. His grades are good and there’s no shortage of courses available.

No need for your son to do a low level apprenticeship. He’s studied at Level 3 already and has decent grades. If you’re looking at other apprenticeships then he needs L4 or above.

He can do. Bachelor of Engineering or Masters - explore all the opportunities!!

Thank you so much @JJMama! This is really useful as I wasn't sure how many points he has. Will research courses and get the thinking cap on. Enjoy your trip!

No

Extra is only for people who have used all their choices.

OP's son can put in a regular application, he would just have to ensure that the university is still accepting spaces.

Probably a decision he'll regret when he's scrambling for a job after.

Actually, I take back my remark on regretting it - I assumed he was doing a different sort of apprenticeship.

He has decent grades, but some universities may require specific grades in math &/or physics.
Depending on the university he wants, he may need to take a degree with a foundation year.

Depending on the university he wants, he may need to take a degree with a foundation year.

UEA, for example, has the BEng wirh Foundation Year course at CCC, The three year course is AAB with A in Maths and B in either Physics, Further Mathematics, Design Technology, Computing Science, Electronics, Chemistry, Geology or Biology.
(Contextual offer: BBC with B replacing the A). These may change in Clearing.

But he’ll want to be checking which courses are available in UCAS extra to determine where he can apply!

Hi @Pinkissmart, just wondering what you mean about scrambling for a job? Are there no opportunities in civil engineering? Serious question.

@Daisiesanddaffodils24My DH was a founder of a medium sized civil engineering consultancy. There are jobs!!!

The thing your DS need to consider is BEng or MEng in civil engineering. BEng leads to Incorporated Engineer and MEng to Chartered Engineer. MEng usually requires higher grades. However BEng students can usually trade up if good enough so don’t be hung up on MEng at the moment.

I assume he has maths A level so starting to look at universities - Cardiff BEng is BBC. Plenty of other courses at similar universities will be asking for around the same. Surrey is BBB. They might move a grade. Oxford Brookes has Construction Project Management BBC. Civil Engineering at UWE is 112 points. Don’t discount former polys.

He will almost certainly get something and don’t be afraid to look at RG or top 30 in CUG. There are a number of degrees like the OB one which are not as mathsy as civil engineering. It just takes a bit of trawling through. There are jobs though.

Thank you @TizerorFizz! Unfortunately he doesn't have maths A level, just maths and additional maths at gcse. I'm beginning to wonder if he should take a year to work and do his maths A level to give him more options. Or look at foundation degrees in civil engineering which are offered at our local tech. I dont want him to struggle with a degree if his maths isn't up to standard. If he is determined that this is what he wants he might just have to take the scenic route, which is fine by us as he is only turning 19 next month.

You’d have to pay for him to take Maths A level as he’s aged our school wise. He’d be better doing your other option of a foundation degree, if the Y1 courses are not suitable. He’s moving forward then.

Yes ideally he’d have stayed on at Sixth Form and taken Maths, Further Maths and Physics, but as you said, there are scenic routes too!

Absolutely. I think for A level he just picked the easiest subjects he could do as he had absolutely no intention of going to university!

My teen is doing civil engineering at university. We are in Scotland and she needed AAAB but a lot of the course is Maths orientated wiith calculations galore. It’s intense.

im sure one of the required subjects was Maths at a higher level aswell as a science too.