Starting university is one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life. Yet as Covid-19 cases rise across the UK, many new students are currently self-isolating in halls of residence to reduce the spread – almost the antithesis of the typical university experience. As one poster in a window at Manchester Metropolitan University put it: “[£]9k for what?”

It’s a question that many current and prospective students are asking themselves, especially following the challenges of this summer’s A-level results and increasing uncertainty around how universities will operate with social distancing measures in a rapidly changing situation.

Around 15,000 school leavers have already chosen to remain at home and defer their university places until 2021. The Scottish education secretary also announced this week that students who are struggling in university accommodation can return home if they are collected by their parents, either to continue their studies remotely or take a gap year with the intention of returning in 2022. Others across the UK may now follow this lead.

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This means that many young people may be reconsidering their decision to attend university this year or next (or even whether to do so at all) and wondering what to do with the extra time they have available, particularly given ongoing travel restrictions that could hamper plans for a "traditional" gap year abroad.

The alternative to university 

That’s where the idea of an "apprenticeship gap year" comes in – offering an opportunity for young people to gain additional skills that will aid their future employment.

AAT has already seen a rise from young people who left school this summer enquiring about taking an apprenticeship in accountancy during their year out. Additionally, many parents have enquired about their children studying for AAT qualifications directly, alongside searching for an apprenticeship placement. Although apprenticeships take longer than 12 months, studying for vocational qualifications as part of a gap year could have some significant benefits for young people.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed a sharp increase in the rate of unemployment for 16- to 24-year-olds, with fears that the figure could go up by 600,000 this year. Meanwhile, the hospitality and retail industries, which make up a large part of the jobs done by young people during their gap years, are continuing to be particularly hard-hit by the pandemic. This means that students may now be looking at alternative employment routes, including vocational qualifications or apprenticeships.

There has also been unequivocal support for apprentices from the government, with businesses being offered £2,000 for each apprentice they hire under the age of 25 in order to encourage them to boost their apprenticeship intake – which may give a further advantage to those planning to take a vocational qualification and who may later look at starting an apprenticeship.

And for those who are not ready to enter an office or other external work environments, the good news is many vocational qualifications, including AAT accountancy and bookkeeping qualifications, can be accessed online. Although some colleges and training providers are still closed, AAT saw a 26 per cent rise of new students studying remotely in August compared with July. Students who decide to return to university can also begin studying now, pause their studies and complete them after graduating, or continue to do so alongside degree courses.

Boosting career prospects 

In fact, for some students, studying vocational qualifications during their gap year could lead them directly into employment via apprenticeships or other routes, without the need to go to university at all. That is not to say all students who are deferring their university places should no longer take them up; many will continue their studies remotely or return to campus in future. But others may find that they enjoy the world of work. Many AAT members who chose not to study at university have ended up going into roles such as managing their company’s finances or working at the very top of global organisations.

So for those young people who are unsure what to do next, getting a vocational qualification before starting university could be the answer – giving them the bonus of a degree upon graduation and a technical qualification, making them more attractive to employers and helping to boost their career prospects for the future.

Rachel Staples is the head of qualifications at AAT