Alternatives to university: apprenticeships and other routes

What are the main alternatives to university?

Alternatives range from paid training in a job to full-time technical study. UNESCO and the OECD group many of them under technical and vocational education and training, whose quality, status and links with employers vary a lot between countries.

Most countries offer several of these options, so research how they work where you live:

• Apprenticeships: paid jobs with structured training, combining work with study at a college or training centre.
• Vocational and technical colleges: practical programmes that lead to a diploma or certificate for a specific trade or occupation.
• Short-cycle higher education: two- or three-year programmes such as associate degrees, higher national diplomas and polytechnic diplomas.
• Professional training: routes such as flight school for pilots or police academy for police officers.
• Employer training programmes: schemes where organisations hire school leavers and train them.
• Self-directed learning: online courses, bootcamps and industry certifications, backed by a portfolio of work.

How do apprenticeships work in different countries?

In an apprenticeship you are employed, you earn a wage and you spend part of your time in formal training. At the end you receive a recognised qualification. Programmes usually last from one to four years, depending on the country and the occupation.

Germany, Switzerland and Austria are known for their dual systems, in which many young people train for two to four years in a company while attending vocational school. England offers apprenticeships up to degree level, known as degree apprenticeships, in which you earn a full bachelor's or master's degree while working. Australia has apprenticeships and traineeships, and South Africa has learnerships that combine workplace learning with a qualification. National training services in countries such as Brazil and Colombia run large apprenticeship and technical training programmes with employers.

Applying for an apprenticeship is like applying for a job. Employers, and in many countries a national government apprenticeship website, advertise vacancies. You usually need a CV or application form, and sometimes aptitude tests and an interview. Places with large, well-known employers can be as competitive as places at popular universities, so apply to several.

Quality varies. A good apprenticeship guarantees time for training, leads to a nationally recognised qualification and gives you real responsibility. Be cautious about schemes that are mainly low-paid work with little learning.

What about colleges, diplomas and associate degrees?

Short-cycle tertiary education, which UNESCO classifies one level below a bachelor's degree, is one of the most flexible alternatives. Programmes usually last two to three years and focus on applied skills.

Community colleges in the United States offer two-year associate degrees, and many have agreements that let students transfer to a university to complete a bachelor's. Canada has colleges that offer diplomas and applied degrees. Singapore's polytechnics, Australia's technical and further education institutes and higher vocational colleges in China train large numbers of technicians. In Nigeria and Ghana, polytechnics and technical universities offer national diplomas and higher national diplomas.

These programmes are often cheaper than a bachelor's degree, many are run by public colleges close to where students live, and many can be studied part-time. That makes them a practical option if you need to keep working or stay near family.

In some countries these qualifications have lower status than degrees, and some employers use a degree to filter applicants. Check job adverts in your country for the jobs you want before you decide.

Which careers can you enter without a degree?

Many careers are open without a degree, although entry rules differ by country. In some countries, even careers such as accountancy have non-graduate routes through technician qualifications followed by professional exams.

Examples of careers you can often enter without a degree include:

• IT support technician: entry-level help desk roles often accept industry certifications and practical skills, with progression into networking or cybersecurity.
• Web developer: employers often hire on the strength of a portfolio, whether you learned at college, at a bootcamp or on your own.
• Airline pilot: most pilots train at approved flight schools or on airline cadet programmes to gain a commercial pilot licence, and must pass a strict medical examination. Training is expensive.
• Police officer: many countries recruit school leavers and train them at a police academy, although some, such as Norway, require a bachelor's degree in police studies.
• Paralegal: in many countries you can train through a vocational qualification or on the job. In a few places, such as the Canadian province of Ontario, paralegals are licensed.
• Skilled trades: electricians, plumbers and other trades train through apprenticeships and often need a licence to work independently.

What are the pros and cons compared with university?

Alternatives to university suit many people well, but they involve trade-offs. Qualification frameworks, such as the European Qualifications Framework and the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework, help employers compare qualification levels between countries, but regulated trades usually still need a local licence.

Weigh up these advantages and disadvantages:

• Advantage: you often earn while you learn and avoid large student debts.
• Advantage: you gain practical experience and workplace contacts early.
• Advantage: training is closely matched to real jobs, so moving into work is smoother.
• Disadvantage: training can be narrow, which may make it harder to change career later.
• Disadvantage: some senior and professional roles, and some work visas, still require a degree.
• Disadvantage: vocational qualifications can be harder to get recognised in other countries than degrees.
• Disadvantage: quality and employer support vary, especially for short private courses.

Do bootcamps and online certificates work?

They can, in fields where employers hire on proven skills, such as web development, IT support, data analysis, digital marketing and design. They work best when you finish with a portfolio of real projects and can explain your work in an interview. Short courses in computer science topics or business management can also help you test a subject before committing to a full degree.

Many countries also offer recognition of prior learning, which lets you gain a formal qualification by showing skills you already have from work. It is available, for example, in Australia, South Africa and many European countries.

Results vary widely between course providers. Before you pay for a bootcamp or certificate, check:

• Independent evidence of what graduates achieved, not only the provider's own claims.
• Whether the course content matches the skills in current job adverts.
• The total cost, refund terms and any agreement to repay from your future income.
• Whether employers recognise the certificate, or whether it is linked to a national qualification.

How to choose the right route for you

Choosing an alternative now does not stop you going to university later. Many people take a degree later, often part-time, and their work experience can make them stronger students.

Use these steps to compare your options:

• Pick the career you want and check whether it is regulated in your country.
• Read job adverts to see which qualifications employers actually ask for.
• Compare length, cost, pay during training and the qualification you receive.
• Check that the provider and qualification are officially recognised.
• Ask whether the route can lead to a degree later, for example through credit transfer.
• Talk to people who have followed the route recently.