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Thinking about delaying entry until next year?

Although almost 700,000 people have applied to go university or college through UCAS this year, not everyone is necessarily going to be starting a course this autumn. Figures show there has been a 1.4 per cent increase in applicants for 2011 entry.

With exam results coming out in August, some of these people will miss out on their preferred choice.

At this stage, Clearing will come into play for many, but for others, an alternative to university may be an option. So what options are there for those of you who either fancy delaying your application or do not get the grades you were looking for?

If you are determined to follow the academic route, you could look at part-time courses or foundation degrees. Part-time courses can be great as they give you more flexibility to work at the same time. UCAS has a part-time course search on its website from July to September.

Or you can find a foundation degree in a subject related to what you originally wanted to study. This could be a useful way of progressing onto a full-time degree later.

Alternatively, you can look to other countries to study. The US, New Zealand, Australia and other English-speaking nations have opportunities that British students can take advantage of.

Lots of people, however, will use the opportunity to take a gap year before reapplying for entry in 2012. There is no end to what you can do, from volunteering and travelling abroad to doing an internship or getting a job that will help with your degree. With a whole 12 months to play with, you do not need to limit yourself to just one activity.

Steve Burford, founder of Wealthystudent.co.uk, says: "More and more students are looking at other options such as internships, travelling or starting their own business.

"I don't think students should just work for a year to save money for university. Work for six months, go travelling for six months and if you have anything left for university, that's a bonus."

When it comes to finding a job, it may be worth trying to look for something that is related to what you want to do at university or as a career, rather than something purely for the cash. If that is not an option, you could combine a part-time job with volunteer work.

Becci Newton, senior research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies, explains that a year out can also help reassure people that what they want at university to do is the right thing for them. "That gap year activity can help them have an insight their chosen career, or the career associated with the course they are considering pursuing," she says.

Another good use of a year out is to head abroad to learn another language. Not only will this be a great experience, but it could give you a leg up on the career ladder later. Atiyah Wazir-Meadows, online editor at Eurograduate, explains that, as an example, engineering graduates in certain disciplines are in high demand in Germany, with more vacancies than qualified people to fill them.

"Another reason for UK graduates to consider working abroad is language. Many international and high-profile companies have headquarters in non-English speaking countries yet require English-speaking staff," she adds.

For some applicants who do not end up starting a course this autumn, it will be an opportunity to start their own business. The government has launched various schemes to encourage entrepreneurship, while the Prince's Trust provides advice, training courses, development awards and enterprise schemes.

 

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