School leaver options
Compare your options after Year 12
There is no single right answer. Here is an honest comparison of the four main routes open to school leavers in Northern Ireland, so you can pick the one that actually suits how you learn.
Side by side
| Skills for Life & Work | Apprenticeship NI | Sixth form | FE college | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | Free, fully DfE-funded | Free, employer and DfE-funded | Free, but uniform, books and travel costs | Free at 16 to 18, fees may apply after 19 |
| Money you receive | £40 weekly training allowance, travel expenses and achievement bonuses | A real wage from your employer | None | None, some bursaries available |
| Entry requirements | None, open with or without GCSEs | You must already have a job with an employer | Usually specific GCSE grades | Varies by course and level |
| Time in a workplace | Regular work placement every week | Most of the week, you are an employee | None | Limited, some courses include placement |
| What you leave with | Level 1 or 2 vocational qualification plus Essential Skills | Level 2 or 3 diploma plus paid experience | A Levels | BTEC, Level 2 or 3 diploma or Access course |
| Best suited to | School leavers who learn best by doing and want a route into work | Those who already have, or can get, a job with an employer | Those aiming at university through A Levels | Those who want a classroom-based vocational route |
| Typical next step | Apprenticeship, employment or college | Higher level apprenticeship or promotion | University or higher apprenticeship | University, apprenticeship or employment |
Sixth form and FE college details are general guidance. Check exact entry requirements with the school or college you are applying to.
Which one sounds like you?
You want to work, not sit exams
Skills for Life & Work gives you a placement from the start, a £40 weekly allowance and a qualification without needing a job first.
Find your nearest centreYou already have a job offer
If an employer will take you on, an Apprenticeship NI place pays a real wage while you study for a Level 2 or 3 diploma.
See apprenticeshipsA parent is helping you decide
Our parents' guide covers cost, safeguarding, support and what happens if the GCSE results are not what you hoped for.
Read the parents' guideCommon questions
What is the difference between Skills for Life & Work and an apprenticeship?
An Apprenticeship NI place requires you to already be employed and pays a wage. Skills for Life & Work does not require a job, gives you a work placement, and pays a £40 weekly training allowance. Many trainees use Skills for Life & Work as the step into an apprenticeship.
Is Skills for Life & Work the same as college?
No. College is mainly classroom based. Skills for Life & Work combines training centre delivery with a regular work placement and a weekly allowance.
Can I go to university afterwards?
Not directly, but the programme leads into an apprenticeship or further study, and higher level apprenticeships can lead to a foundation degree.
Can I switch from sixth form to Skills for Life & Work?
Yes. Young people often join after deciding sixth form is not the right fit. Contact your nearest centre to check place availability.