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The My World of Work website from Skills Development Scotland offers careers information, interview and CV tips and a job searching facility, as well as a Course Choice section to search thousands of learning and training opportunities.
PlanIT Plus has been developed to help people of all ages to find out about career and learning opportunities in Scotland. The Career Zone contains information on careers in Scotland with lots of useful job profiles, backed up by career planning activities and online career support services.
This site provides information, advice and guidance to help you decide on learning, training and work opportunities. Although focussed on careers in England it contains excellent job profiles. You can email or telephone an adviser - contact details available through the website
National Careers Service website
Wales and Northern Ireland also provide all age information, advice and guidance services. You can email or speak to an adviser - contact details available through the following sites:
The Prospects website is aimed primarily at graduates though it is useful as a tool to find out information about particular careers, and contains a range of job profiles as well as specific information on different work sectors. For those that are still studying, or thinking about returning to study, the best area of the website to search is the Jobs and Work section located at the top of the homepage. From here, there are links to - What Jobs Would Suit Me, Explore Types of Jobs, and Industry Insights. These tools are useful to those who want to explore the different types of careers available, and can be used to identify what is needed academically, and what experience you may need in order to work in any particular profession.
There are websites offering specific information and advice on ways of entering particular careers in particular sectors.
Local Government
If you are interested in working for local government have a look at the myjob Scotland website for advice and vacancy information.
Local government jobs in England and Wales
Local government jobs in Northern Ireland
Teaching
If you’re interested in teaching in England, have a look around the Get Into Teaching area of the Teaching Agency website. It outlines routes into the profession, the funding options and what life is like for primary and secondary teachers. For Scotland, practical information on how to get into teaching is available from the Scottish Government Teach in Scotland site.
Psychology
Use The British Psychological Society (BPS) website if you’re interested in becoming a psychologist. Information around academic requirements and the different routes Into psychology careers are explored in detail in their Careers, Education & Training section.
The British Psychological Society
Social Work
If you’re interested in becoming a social worker, the British Association of Social Workers is a good place to start investigating routes in. The website provides information about entry requirements, training, funding and has links to the Scottish Association of Social Work.
British Association of Social Work
NHS
Whether you want to be a doctor or work as an IT consultant, all NHS careers are explored in detail on the NHS careers website. Two useful places to use on the website are Explore by career, which outlines the huge range of professions available in the NHS, and Working in the NHS, which explores pay, benefits, and long term development.
Volunteer Scotland
Volunteer Scotland gathers together Scottish volunteering opportunities across many different sectors
Below is a link to the do-it website which allows you to start searching volunteering opportunities across the UK straight away.
These annual tables produced by the Guardian's education section rank universities according to teaching quality and student satisfaction. There is a facility to search rankings by subject.
Click here to be taken to the Guardian University Tables website
The UCAS website offers a range of resources to help you make an informed decision about your choice of course, and where to study it. From the homepage there is a Course Search facility which lists just about all the full time courses offered at higher education level across the UK. You can also use this site to search for and link to, any Higher Education Institution in the UK.
Here you can search and compare UK degree courses and universities. Includes student views and student satisfaction ratings.
PlanIt Plus has been developed to help people of all ages to find out about career and learning opportunities in Scotland.
Learning Zone provides information about the courses on offer at Scottish Colleges and Universities.
This website allows you to compare course subjects and different universities in relation to employability after you graduate. Using the search options of subject, career or university, you can explore salary ranges and employability depending on where and what you study.
This site shows opportunities that exist outside of traditional university such as apprenticeships, sponsored degrees, gap years
If you are interested in finding out more about apprenticeships, the Skills Development Scotland website provides information on how apprenticeships work, and links to case studies from people involved in Modern Apprenticeships.
Click here to be taken to the Skills Development Scotland website
The Apprenticeships in Scotland website is an online apprenticeship and training job board for Scotland, where you can search for apprenticeship opportunities by sector.
Click here to be taken to the Apprenticeships in Scotland website
The Apprenticeships UK website has links to apprenticeship information for Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Click here to be taken to the Apprenticeships UK website
Information about getting into a Scottish modern apprenticeship and training at work in Scotland.
NUS Scotland represents all students in Scotland and advocates for students on all kinds of issues. Local NUS offices in each university are great places for information and advice about the institution. The Website is full of details on campaigns, student life, events, money saving offers and finance.
The Student Room is an online student community. As well as being a source of information on all things university related, it also gives you the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues on the Student Forums. There is an A-Z University Guide, useful for those exploring where to study, and links to Student Articles, written by students covering a range of academic, university and careers subjects.
The uni stats website offers you the opportunity to compare different universities using a range of criteria. This helps you to make a more informed choice about where and what to study. Amongst other things, you can search on Job Prospects, National Student Survey Results and UCAS points needed to apply.
You go further, is a networking site for students to chat with other students and university and college staff. You can create your own personal profile, make friends and take part in webchats about all things concerning HE study.
SAAS is an agency of the Scottish Government giving financial support to all eligible students doing a course of full-time or part-time higher education in the UK. This website provides all the information on student funding and allows you to apply for your financial support.
The student finance section of the Directgov website is the place to go for all the information you need regarding student finance. The Quick Guide To Student Finance section will provide you with information on university costs, when and how to apply, and eligibility criteria. The Extra Help section gives information on Childcare, and the Adult Dependant’s Grant, and details of funding available to disabled students is also explored.
You can also link directly from this website to Student Finance Northern Ireland, Student Finance Wales, and the Student Awards Agency Scotland, which detail the differences in funding across the UK.
Click here to be taken to the Student Finance pages of the Directgov website
The Student Loans Company website offers some information about the different types of funding available, this information can be found under the Services section. The website has a useful contacts page, so no matter where in the process you are, there are dedicated teams to offer further advice: go to Contact Us section on the Home page.
BPP University College is a UK degree awarding body providing its own qualification awards dedicated to business and the professions. Students can study part time at different city-centre locations in the UK e.g. London and Manchester or completely online. Students can also study a two year accelerated degree in business or law. All programmes are clearly listed on home page.
A unit of Reid Kerr College in Glasgow. The Distance Learning Unit offers a range of programmes certified by the Scottish Qualification Authority, NEBOSH, Chartered Management Institute, Chartered Institute of Marketing and a range of other professional bodies
University of Essex Online courses are delivered by Kaplan Open Learning, an experienced online learning provider. The latter offers a range of foundation degrees and a smaller number of top up honours degrees. Degrees online are mainly Business and Management, Marketing and Criminology. In order to start a degree you will need to have GCSE grade C or above, or its equivalent, in English and Mathematics and a pass in any A level. If you do not meet the minimum academic standards, you will need to demonstrate that you are currently working and have a minimum of three years of relevant employment. If you are a UK or EU citizen and live in England you may be eligible for a government-backed student loan so you won’t have to pay any tuition fees for your undergraduate degree course up front.
Click here to be taken to the University of Essex Online website
UHI offer online learning degrees delivered entirely by computer and over the internet. These include programmes in Psychology, Child care, Health Studies and Business Studies
The ICS is a well established distance learning provider offering qualifications at secondary, FE and HE level. The type of qualifications ICS offer can be identified at the top of their homepage. Click on the qualification you are interested in to see a full list of the subjects offered. Course costs will vary depending on the qualification you choose to study – some financial support may be available to students on low income. To find out more ring the free main enquiry number on the Website.
The OCA is a distance learning provider which specialises in creative subjects up to degree level. From the homepage the Courses section takes you to a list of the subjects offered at OCA, and from which you can explore them in more detail. Follow the link ‘About OCA’ from the homepage to access information on Enrolment, including payment options and financial assistance or ring number on Homepage to speak to member of advisory team. Through accreditation of previous study or of a portfolio of work it may be possible to gain credits which provide exemption from some Level 1 and 2 course units
The Open University is a well established distance learning provider and offers a range of qualifications at degree and postgraduate level which are taught via distance learning. The Study at The OU website provides information on how studying with The Open University works, and what support you gain whilst studying. The website also offers an extensive online prospectus which enables you to search the courses and qualifications available.
Click here to be taken to the study pages of the Open University website
The type and level of financial support you are entitled to varies, and depends not only on where you live but on your income, previous qualifications, level of intended study and when you intend to start studying. To find out more about eligibility criteria, use the financial support section of the website for more details.
Click here to be taken to the Financial Support pages of the Open University website
If you have already completed some study at HE level, you may be able to claim credit for this and apply it to a qualification with the Open University. Use the Credit Transfer website for more details.
Click here to be taken to the Credit Transfer pages of the Open University website
International organisation partnered with several UK universities to offer both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees which are delivered by online distance learning. Undergraduate degrees are offered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and application is made through Rdi. From the homepage you can link to qualifications and subjects available and free phone number for enquiries. If you are a UK or EU citizen and live in England you may be eligible for a government-backed student loan so you won’t have to pay any tuition fees for your undergraduate degree course up front.. Other flexible payment options are available
Many Higher Education Institutions are developing their distance/open learning provision (particularly at postgraduate level) as technology for delivery improves. It is always worth checking with prospective institutions to see if they offer anything by this method either by using their course search facilities or by simply contacting them directly. Some examples of undergraduate degrees can be found on the following links
Robert Gordon University
Click here to be taken to the RGU website
Edinburgh Napier
Click here to be taken to the Edinburgh Napier University website
The University of London external degrees programme
Lead Scotland, (Specialists in Linking Education and Disability), is a voluntary organisation set up to widen access to learning for disabled young people and adults and carers across Scotland. Their services include:
Lead Scotland Information Service:
Freephone: 0800 999 2569
E-mail: info@lead.org.uk
