A guide for next steps
Thousands of young people across the UK have now received their exam results and are taking their next steps into further study, training and employment.
Some students will be celebrating their results, while others may be considering different options. Whatever their situation, teachers and careers professionals can play an important role in helping them understand the opportunities available and make informed decisions about what comes next.
This year's results highlight continued interest in engineering and technology pathways, with positive trends across a number of STEM subjects and qualifications.
Some key highlights from this year's results
Level 3 qualifications (A levels, T Levels and other Level 3 vocational qualifications):
- entries increased across key STEM A level subjects, including maths, further maths, computing, design and technology, and physics
- entries from girls increased across all of these subjects
- engineering and technology T Level entries increased by 46%, reaching 8,307 students
- accepted applicants to engineering and technology degree courses increased by 14% to 34,100
Level 2 qualifications (GCSEs and vocational qualifications):
- maths entries increased by 2.2%
- statistics continues to grow in popularity, with entries up 11.2%
- more than 113,000 engineering and technology vocational qualifications were awarded
- design and technology and computing entries declined, highlighting the continued need to encourage more young people, particularly girls, to consider these subjects
While these figures provide a useful snapshot, every student's journey is different. There is no single route into engineering and technology, and young people can choose from a range of pathways. Including A Levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, vocational qualifications and higher education.
Resources to support students' next steps
If you're supporting students as they consider their options, our free resources can help:
STEM career pathways
Our interactive careers resource help students understand the different pathways into engineering and technology careers across the UK. Showing the choices available at every stage.
Real-world jobs
Explore job profiles, videos and case studies featuring engineers and people working in tech from a wide range of sectors. Helping students discover where STEM qualifications could take them.
Neon
Looking ahead to the new academic year? Use Neon to find inspiring STEM activities, employer encounters and careers experiences that help bring future career opportunities to life.
Congratulations to all students receiving results this summer. Whatever their next step, we hope they feel confident about the opportunities ahead and excited about the contribution they could make through engineering and technology.
We’re delighted too that so many young people are opting to study engineering and technology at university level – it’s a great choice for them and welcome news for the sector.
— Becca Gooch, Head of Research at EngineeringUK
