At MPW Birmingham, the majority of students go on to pursue a university degree after completing their A Level or NCUK programmes. Throughout their time at the college, they benefit from regular one-to-one support with their Personal Tutor, who helps guide them in shaping and achieving their career goals. These weekly meetings provide a valuable opportunity for students to receive tailored advice and encouragement at every stage of the university application process, ensuring they feel confident in making key decisions about their futures. Each year, a number of students also choose to follow the degree apprenticeship route, securing places at leading UK companies. Personal Tutors assist these students as well, offering help with writing professional CVs and conducting mock interviews to prepare them for real-world application processes and workplace expectations.

To further support Year 12 students in planning their next steps, MPW Birmingham runs a week-long careers programme at the end of the summer term. This initiative is designed to ensure students make productive use of their summer break by refining their university or apprenticeship applications, giving them the best chance of securing a place on their chosen course.

This year’s Careers Week featured a variety of talks led by university and apprenticeship representatives, as well as two tailored university campus visits. The week opened with a session focused on writing effective CVs and preparing for interviews, providing students with practical skills to present themselves confidently. Students also attended subject-specific talks covering a broad range of disciplines including Business and Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, Medicine-related courses, Humanities, and Creative subjects. These sessions offered insight into how current A Level subjects can transition into university degrees or apprenticeships.

Workshops delivered by Aston University students gave attendees a glimpse into university life and subject expectations. Hope Nightingale from Aston also delivered a session highlighting the importance of work experience—not only for strengthening university applications but also for enhancing future employability. Students were encouraged to complete two weeks of meaningful work experience over the summer in a field related to their interests, an increasingly important factor for competitive applications.

Another highlight was a talk by Mohammed Hassnain from ASK Apprenticeships, who explored both the benefits and challenges of degree apprenticeships. He also led a workshop helping students begin their initial search for apprenticeship opportunities.

Later in the week, all students took part in a mock interview with a member of the Personal Tutor team, giving them the chance to apply their learning in a realistic setting. Personalised feedback was provided to help students reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement.

Students interested in Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science attended specialist sessions covering key aspects of the application process. In addition, two MPW Birmingham alumni—Sita Cavey-Wilcox, currently studying for her Master’s in Law and training to become a Barrister, and Amir Nasr, now studying Architecture, returned to speak to students. They shared first-hand advice on applications and offered valuable perspectives on adapting to university life.

The week concluded with students beginning their UCAS applications with the support of Personal Tutors. They were also encouraged to use the Unifrog platform, which helps students research courses and draft personal statements. Careers Week left students with a clear set of tasks to work on over the summer, allowing them to continue building their knowledge and narrowing down their options.

As part of the programme, Year 12 students visited two university campuses to gain deeper insights into undergraduate life. Their first visit was to Aston University, where they toured key facilities including lecture halls, the library, and sports centres. Students engaged in employability and skills workshops and attended a personal statement writing session led by university staff, offering direct advice from admissions professionals. The second visit took students to the University of Bristol, where they explored a city-based campus. The open day included guided tours and faculty talks, helping students gain a better understanding of how universities operate and what to expect from academic life. These campus visits reinforced the key messages of Careers Week and inspired students to look ahead with clarity and motivation.