NEXT STEPS

We help you in planning and deciding your next steps when you move on. This page has lots of useful information and links.

1. Your future

While at college you will explore your aspirations and identify career aims for your future. You have enrolled on a vocational, or job-related, course so that is probably your main career intention. However, things change, so we also ask you to identify a secondary career area.

Having alternative career ideas is important. On average most people go through around seven career changes, so you shouldn’t expect to do just one thing throughout your employed life.

Aim to develop multiple skills which can be applied across a number of career areas. Don’t limit and restrict your growth or potential! Key tips for the future are:

1. People in the future won’t have just one career, but many.
2. As we all work for longer, it will be your core skills that count.
3. To sustain a non-linear career, we’ll all need to be lifelong learners.

When you finish your course it is unlikely that you will be able to work immediately in your chosen career area. That’s because many creative industries require you to have more qualifications and/or experience. Of course, you could set up your own business if you feel ready for that and we offer advice on this on Level 3 courses.

Just under half of Level 3 at Access Creative College students go on to further study at university, usually on a course relevant to the one they have done. If you are thinking of higher education, make sure to check out the pros and cons, particularly the fees and debt you will accumulate. The rest mainly go into work and this is mainly in entry level industries, such as retail and hospitality.

Some students move into vocationally-relevant work a few years after leaving college, so after university, or after gaining several years of work experience. This is either in a self-employed, or small business, capacity, or as an employee.

2. Personal careers guidance

We've baked your assignments and curriculum around the needs of employers in the industry that you are studying for and beyond. This is to give you a firm platform for you to build an understanding of what you want your next steps to be. Use every opportunity on your course, to develop this understanding. This could be through project work, guest speakers, trips, masterclasses or enrichment opportunities. Your 1-1s with your course tutors also provide you with a brilliant opportunity to reflect on what you want your next steps to be.

If you are not sure of your next steps then there is the chance to book an online career guidance session which will allow you to navigate your options with a qualified, independent careers adviser. These are virtual 1-2-1 discussions scheduled at a specific date and time.

Bookable via this Link.

Your adviser will help you towards achieving your desired career goals, acting as a guide, and leading and setting up a course of action. Sessions are delivered by partner, Positive Steps, and can last up to 45 minutes.

Sessions are available if:

You have made the wrong course choice.
You are thinking of leaving your course.
You are uncertain of your next steps when you finish the course.
You have an Education Health Care plan.

Here are some excellent links to help you in undertaking your next steps

Interview techniques;

Indeed Jobs Interview Technique Video

Barclays Life Skills Virtual Interview Practice

Prospects Interview Questions

National Careers Service Interview Advice

Body Language Tips

Support in Cover Letters

Prospects Cover Letter Advice

UCAS- How to write a Cover Letter

Not Going to Uni- Cover Letter Advice

CV Support

Prospects CV Support

National Careers Service- CV Support

Barclays CV Support

3. The Impact of New and Emerging Technology

It is completely natural to look at the rapid evolution of technology and wonder what it means for the future of work and the industries you are passionate about. Innovations like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are undeniably reshaping the landscape, and unlocking an entirely new world of exciting career opportunities. However this comes with numerous challenges. Our commitment to developing your digital literacy across a broad spectrum of emerging technologies is designed to help you navigate this landscape and ensure you have the absolute best chance to succeed.

Forward-thinking employers across all sectors are actively looking for professionals who possess a balanced skill set with clear digital capabilities. This influences everything from how you communicate and analyse information to what you design or create. Immense opportunities exist for those who know how to utilise new tools innovatively, safely, sustainably, and responsibly. Right now, industries highly value:

Practical Technical Insight: A strong, working familiarity with a variety of digital platforms, emerging tools, and emerging technologies such as AI.
Responsible Innovation: A deep understanding of how to navigate new tech ethically, recognising its strengths while remaining fully aware of its limitations and dangers.

Our focus is on building your confidence across a range of emerging technologies, ensuring you understand both their benefits and drawbacks. Whether this be specialist software and hardware, or AI platforms, this foundation will empower you to lead, innovate, hold others accountable, and contribute meaningfully to society. Employers don’t necessarily need you to build technology yourselves, but they do need practical digital literacy with the ability to use, verify and safely integrate tools if and where required.

While you are with us, we hold a firm commitment towards the development of what employers tell us are skills needed by you in the workplace. We determine these as The Skills for the Future which include, Creative Thinking, Collaboration, Digital Literacy, Problem Solving, Organisation and Communication. These skills are baked into the design of your course, your assignments, your support packages and enrichment opportunities. It's fundamental to your experience here at the college. Whilst tech can support you as tools in these areas, these are predominantly human skills which employers need from you. The development of empathy and emotional resilience is at the heart of the subjects that we run and not something technology could ever replace.

Your Voice, Your Identity

Crucially, technology such as AI does not—and should not—replace your unique creativity. That belongs to you. We embrace your individuality and are here to support that. Whether collaborating with AI or adapting to other digital advancements, these tools should only exist to enhance your potential, not to replace your ideas, identity, or sense of self. They are simply more tools for your tool kit.

4.Skills for the Future

5. Applying to university

If you decide to go into Higher Education study, or undertake an apprenticeship, we will help you in navigating your options and making applications.

This process starts at the end of Level 3 Year 1, where we encourage you to attend a Higher Education event, such as UCAS Discovery, where you will be able to meet with representatives from universities and training providers. We will also provide opportunities to meet and/or visit our partner HE providers, dBs Institute and Confetti. dBs operate from campuses in Bristol, Manchester and Plymouth and Confetti have sites in Nottingham and London.

In the first term of the 2nd year you will confirm your choices and we will then assist you with your UCAS application. You will be tasked to complete this before Christmas, ahead of the final UCAS deadline in January. We have a dedicated UCAS Guide which has all the information for making your application. It's also worth you bookmarking this link here to UCAS where you could keep an eye on various open days.

Great ways to help prepare yourself for pulling together a personal statement for UCAS. Start pulling together thoughts on the following;

1. Why this course?

Explain your motivations for choosing the subject, what excites you about it, and how it aligns with your future career or goals . You can discuss specific modules, books you’ve read, or podcasts you've listened to that sparked your interest.

2. Preparedness for your qualifications and studies

Detail how your current or previous studies (A-levels, Scottish Highers, BTECs, etc.) have prepared you for the course. Highlight the transferable academic skills—such as critical analysis, essay writing, or research methods—you've developed.

3. Preparation beyond formal education

Discuss relevant experiences outside of school or college. This is your chance to mention hobbies, part-time jobs, volunteering, or work experience that demonstrate your dedication and key skills.

TIP; Very few students sit down and write a brilliant personal statement on the first try. Instead of rushing a full draft under pressure in the autumn term, you could use the summer to casually gather ideas. Note down wider reading, podcasts, documentaries, volunteering, or academic projects that demonstrate a genuine interest in the chosen subject. Keep these ready and in your back pocket.

Key Deadlines to Keep in Mind

1 September 2026: You can officially pay and submit your completed application to UCAS.
15 October 2026 (18:00 UK time): Deadline for any courses at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as most programs in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science.

2027 Deadlines (Main Cycle & Clearing)

13 January 2027 (18:00 UK time): The standard Equal Consideration Deadline for most undergraduate degrees

6. Higher education & training guide

Our partner HE institution dBs Institute has a great range of music and games degrees available in Bristol and Manchester, while Confetti, our campus partner in London, has a wide range of creative degrees.

If you’re a music artist looking to gain practical career development skills, but don’t want to undertake a full degree, then ACC’s Artist Development Level 4 course is a great option. It’s a full year of self-reflection and brand development with live showcases and an action plan for your future.

If you’re 19+ you may be on one of our 1 year Access to HE courses, in which case you should be aiming to go to university when you finish.

To provide you with more guidance on HE and training options, we have a HE & Training Guide, which highlights creative options by subject area across various relevant regions of England.

7. Careers guide

For careers information, advice and guidance, check out the following links: Link for Independent Careers Advice and Guidance Through our Parners at Positive Steps.

Here are some other great links for you.

CREATIVE