Is University right for me?

On the fence about whether or not to go to university?

Deciding what to do after sixth form or college can feel massive, and you may be asking yourself some questions about where you want your life to go. Whether you’re about to finish your A levels, T levels, or an NVQ level 3, there are a few routes you can take after you’ve completed further education, with university being the obvious one. But is that the right route for you?

From how it could impact your earning potential to paying back student debt, in this blog, we explore the pros and cons of choosing university as your next step towards your career goals, to help you decide.

Pros and Cons of University

Pro: Increase your earning potential  

Universities open doors to jobs that require a high level of knowledge and expertise in the field, which is why they often lead to bigger salaries.  

In fact, figures released by the government in 2025 revealed that young people aged 25 to 29 who attended university and earned an undergraduate degree earn 27% more than those without any qualifications.  

And over your working life, you could earn up to £100,000 more than those without a degree. However, these figures can often depend on which course you choose and the grade you acquire.  

Pro: Meet people from diverse backgrounds 

Although the main point of university is to study your chosen subject in detail, it’s also about meeting people, having fun, and experiencing a life where your friends become your family.  

Whether you go to university in Scotland or head down south into England, you’ll meet people from across the UK, and sometimes even the world. This gives you the chance to connect with people from various walks of life, those you might not have otherwise met.  

If you’re looking for love, recent research found that 20% of students in the UK found ‘the one’ at university, and according to another study, 12.17% went on to marry them. 

Pro: Turn your passion into a career  

If you’re passionate about a subject and find great joy in learning more about it, going to university could help you turn your passion into a career.  

Whether you’re an avid reader who wants to write your own book one day or a history fanatic who wants to make an archaeological discovery, there are more than 35,000 courses available at universities across the UK.  

If you’d like to explore where your chosen subject could lead, check out the Prospects website. From career advice and applying to university to postgraduate study and finding work experience, it’s full of handy tools to help you discover just how far your passion could take you.  

Pro: Set yourself up for other opportunities 

It used to be quite common for people to choose a career and stick with it until they reached retirement age. But these days, this is rare. Some people switch careers to improve their salary and work-life balance, whereas others may not have realised what their career choice involved until they started doing it.  

The good news is that most undergraduate degrees can help you gain qualifications in other areas.  For example, if you study art but decide later down the line that you’d like to become a primary school teacher, as long as you have a GCSE grade 4 or above in English, maths and science, you’ll be able to apply for teacher training PGCE courses and apprenticeships.  

You could also apply to other graduate programmes or complete a master’s and work towards a PHD. Your undergraduate degree provides a strong foundation to build upon if you ever want to switch careers or work towards more qualifications in the future.   

Pro: Experience independence with others your age 

When you reach 18, university gives you the chance to taste independence within the safety of university halls alongside lots of other people who are the same age as you. 

This can make the transition to independent living less lonely because you’ll be joined by more than 250,000 other 18-year-olds leaving home for the first time. You won’t be navigating bills, groceries, and budgeting alone; you’ll be in it together with your housemates, making sure someone remembers to buy toilet paper! 

Con: Student debt  

One of the biggest things that puts people off university is the cost. I mean, who wouldn’t be intimidated by the idea of being in over £50,000 of debt after just three or four years?  

Well, as a care leaver in Scotland, you’ll be entitled to free tuition at Scottish universities and additional funding to reduce the amount of debt you’ll owe. This includes a Care Experienced Student Bursary (CESB) of £9,000 and a £2,400 Special Support Loan.  

You also won’t have to pay any of your student debt back until you’re earning over £32,745, and it will come straight out of your pay packet. Student loans won’t appear on your credit report, and only the amount you pay each month towards the debt will be considered in mortgage and other credit applications.  

Con: Postpone earning an income 

University courses typically last between 3 and 5 years, depending on which course you choose and whether you complete a foundation or work placement year.  

Most young students choose to study full-time, which means you’ll have to postpone earning a full-time income until you graduate.  

But, as we said earlier, your degree could lead to a higher income in the long run. This means you need to weigh up what’s more important to you, earning an income now or postponing a full-time income to go to university and potentially increasing your earnings over the course of your career.  

You also have the option to study part-time while working full-time. However, you’ll need to be willing to give up your free time and have enough self-discipline to get your university work done.  

Con: No guarantee of a job  

Around 800,000 students graduate from university each year. Some of these graduates will go on to further study, while others will begin looking for graduate opportunities and jobs in their chosen field.  

If you study something like Medicine, Nursing, or Dentistry, it can significantly increase your chances of securing a job because you’ll be in high demand. Whereas if you study a popular course, such as Law, Media or Psychology, the job market within these subjects can be far more competitive, making it more difficult to secure a role in your chosen field.  

As a result, you might need to broaden your search or consider further study to make your application stand out once you finish your undergraduate degree.  

Questions to ask yourself

Now that we’ve covered some of the key pros and cons of attending university, it’s time to reflect on whether it’s the right step for you.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do you know which subject you’ll study?

If you’re passionate about a particular subject or know which one you need to study to reach your career goals, that’s great, and university could be a good fit.

However, if you’re not sure what you really want to do and are thinking about picking a course at random, it’s unlikely to work out. You’ll be studying your chosen course around 35 hours a week, and if it’s something you don’t enjoy, you may end up failing or dropping out, but you’ll still have to pay back that student loan.

It can feel like a lot of pressure to decide what you’d like to do for the next 50 years when you’ve had no experience in the workplace. So if you’re unsure, explore other options – you can always apply to university later in life.

Do you actually need a degree?

You don’t need a degree for every career. For example, if you want to become a firefighter, you’ll complete an apprenticeship and ongoing training, and if you want to become a pilot, you’ll usually complete a training course, such as the British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy.  

So before you commit to university, think about whether it’s really necessary for your chosen career.  

Do you have the discipline to study?

Regardless of which course you choose, you’ll be required to complete at least 12 hours of independent study each week. This might include pre-lecture reading, writing notes, and doing research, which means you’ll need self-discipline to get out of bed or say no to that night out so you can crack on.

If you think you’ll struggle to remain focused, you might want to consider other options available to you.

Could you earn your degree another way?

University isn’t the only way to gain an undergraduate degree. Companies across the UK offer degree apprenticeships, where you work in the industry while gaining your degree. It usually involves working for 80% of the time and studying for the other 20%.  

Degree apprenticeships are a great way to earn while you learn and get industry experience that will help you stand out above other candidates when you apply for future jobs. What’s more is that you won’t have to pay a penny for your degree, as it will be covered by your employer and the UK government.  

Still unsure?

We hope this blog has given you lots of food for thought and helps you decide whether university is right for you.

But, if you’re still unsure, talk through your worries with your foster carers, social worker, or pathway coordinator; they are all here to help you succeed and find a career you’ll be happy in.

What does staying put mean and why does it matter?

18th birthdays are a huge milestone for any teenager, but for foster children, turning 18 often marks the end of their time in foster care. While some young people may be excited about  transitioning to independent living, others might need a little more time  with their foster families before moving on 

That’s where ‘Staying Put’ comes in. Staying Put bridges the gap between foster care and independent living. It’s a stepping stone that helps young people get used to adult life before tackling it on their own.  

Join us as we explore staying put in more detail, including what it is, how it differs from foster care, and the benefits it can have on young people. 

Staying Put in foster care

What is Staying Put in foster care? 

These days, in a typical family, it’s rare for a teenager to leave home when they turn 18. Even if they decide to continue their education at university, they can usually return to their family home when the semester ends.  

This allows young adults to explore the world and learn what it means to be independent, all while still having the safety net of their home and family to fall back on if things don’t go to plan. 

Staying Put is an arrangement that gives young people in foster care the opportunity to do the same and can alleviate anxiety about what will happen when they turn 18 and have to manage life on their own. 

Also known as ‘When I’m Ready’ in Wales and ‘Going the Extra Mile’ in Northern Ireland, staying put arrangements allow a young person to continue living with their former foster family until they’re 21 or longer, depending on their circumstances and readiness to move on.  

How do stay put arrangements differ from foster care? 

When a young person turns 18, they become an adult, which means children’s services are no longer responsible for them in the same way. If they continue to live in your home, they essentially move from being your foster child to being an adult lodger under a Staying Put Agreement.  

This gives them the chance to remain in a safe, stable, and familiar home while they gain life skills, qualifications, and work experience to help them become more equipped for independence.  

Staying Put arrangements are made between the local authority, young person, and you, rather than through FCA, and the services they require are different. They will still receive support, usually until age 21 or up to 25 if they’re in education or training. 

Another key difference between Staying Put Agreements and foster care is that if you foster another child while your former foster child lives with you, they’ll need a DBS check because they’ll be considered an adult member of the household. 

Is there a fostering staying put allowance? 

Yes – if your former foster child continues to live with you through the staying put scheme, you’ll receive an allowance from your local authority.  

How much is the staying put allowance? 

The amount you receive will differ depending on your local authority. Your young person will also be expected to cover some of their living expenses, such as rent, utilities, and food, using their income from wages, universal credit or housing benefits.  

This also helps young people learn how to budget for their expenses, ready for when they start living independently.  

Is staying put allowance taxable? 

Like fostering allowances, fostering staying put payments fall under Qualifying Care Relief, which means they are typically tax-free.  

5 benefits of staying put for foster children

    1. Stability as they transition to independent living

      If you’ve been long-term fostering a child, they have likely become part of your family and feel at home in your household. This secure base helps them heal, grow, and look forward to a future without limits.

      Now, imagine having to leave your foster home and your school or college, while at the same time running a household and cooking for yourself for the first time, and starting a new job, training, or education. Even with a pathway plan, doing everything at once would be unsettling and incredibly overwhelming. You might feel like you’ve been set up to fail, with no one to turn to when things don’t go as planned.

      By offering your foster child a home beyond 18, you’ll be helping them navigate each step towards independence gradually, making the transition far more manageable. And because Staying Put Agreements are made in advance of a young person’s 18th birthday, you’ll also ease anxiety about what will happen when they age out of foster care, as they’ll know they’re still welcome in your home.

    2. Prevent care leaver homelessness

      Young people who’ve been in care are at higher risk of becoming homeless, sofa surfing, or living in unsafe accommodation. In 2024, Become, a charity that supports young care leavers, shared shocking figures from Government data about the number of care leavers who are homeless.

      It reported that between 2023 and 2024, 4,300 care leavers aged 18-20 were homeless – a 54% increase over the past five years.

      Life on the streets is no place for anyone, let alone a young person who has already lost so much and is living with the trauma of their past experiences. Homelessness puts them at even greater risk of alcohol and drug misuse, poor mental health, and even death.

      When you continue to provide a safe home for your former foster child, you protect them from becoming homeless when they age out of care. You also give them the chance to build a foundation that can safeguard them from homelessness in the future.

    3. The gift of a continued sense of belonging

      Trauma can make it difficult for young people to feel like they belong, something we all need to reach our full potential. It may have taken years for your foster child to feel like they belong with you, your family and in your community. They may also have built local friendships and lean on support from community groups.

      If your young person has to leave when they turn 18, there is no guarantee that they’ll be able to stay in the same area. This means it could feel like going back to square one to find out where they belong, which can be even more challenging if they’ve experienced multiple moves during their time in foster care.

      If you agree for your young person to stay in your home, you give them the gift of a continued sense of belonging, which is vital for their confidence, self-esteem and personal growth. It also sends a powerful message – they are truly part of the family, and you value them so much that you want them to stick around.

    4. Your guidance and support for longer

      Let’s face it, although 18-year-olds are considered adults in the eyes of the law, they are still teenagers who need guidance and support to navigate the world.

      If you foster a teenager and they continue to live with you after 18, you have more time to teach them crucial life skills, such as cooking, budgeting and managing stress – everything that comes with running a home and being independent.

      You may have already introduced your foster child to some of these skills, but when they start their first job, claim benefits, or attend university, they’ll have the chance to put them into practice, knowing you are there to help them if they need a little advice. And when the time comes for them to move on from the family home, you’ll know you’ve done everything in your power to prepare them for a successful independent life.

    5. Improved long-term outcomes

      Staying Put agreements were first introduced in 2014, after trials through pilots between 2008 and 2011. According to an Action for Children report, during these pilots, it was found that “Young people who stayed in their foster home when they turned 18 were more than twice as likely to be in full-time education at 19 than those who did not”.

      When young people leave care, if they’re faced with homelessness, a lack of stability, a lost sense of belonging, and limited support, it becomes far more difficult for them to continue education or training. After all, how can a young person focus on their studies when they’re worried about where they’ll sleep tonight, how they’ll pay their bills, or who they can rely on?

      Staying Put Agreements help young people continue education and training, which can protect them from poverty, improve their outcomes, and give them the chance to have a successful and fulfilling life.

FCA support for foster children reaching adulthood 

At FCA, we understand the impact trauma can have on a child’s present and future. That’s why we apply a therapeutic approach to their care through our Team Parenting model. This supports their entire well-being and includes input from therapists, education leads, social workers and support workers.  

When you foster with us, you’ll also enrol in our training programme, where you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to help children heal, grow, and prepare for life after care. Our support for children in foster care includes support groups, our young people’s forum, fun activities, and events, which are all designed to help children feel valued, heard, and part of a community. 

We also run an AQA Awards scheme and employability workshops alongside offering opportunities for care leavers to become consultants. These experiences boost employability, build confidence, and improve prospects.  

On top of this, every foster child has access to our Being in Care Hub, where they can find resources, guidance, and advice on education, well-being, and independence. 

Want to learn more? 

If you’re thinking about fostering and want to learn more about staying put and FCA’s support for young people ageing out of foster care, please get in touch! Call us on 0800 098 4148 or submit an online enquiry form and we’ll be in touch. 

Staying Put in fostering

Supporting Your Foster Teen During Transitions at School and Beyond

As we move into September, many children across the UK will be starting back at school. We’re sharing advice on how to help your foster child to navigate their teenage years while at secondary school, as well as how you can support your foster child once they turn 18.

The challenges of teenage life  

We all remember what it was like to be a teenager— a changing body, changing friendships, the pressure of achieving at school. Many teens feel a deep desire to be accepted by others, trying to figure out their place in the world all while experiencing massive hormonal, physical and brain-based changes. It’s no wonder why most people find their teenage years challenging!  

When you add the difficulties of being care-experienced into the mix, things become even more complex for teenagers in care. When you choose to foster a teenager, it’s your responsibility to help your young person to navigate their ever-changing world. Here are 5 tips to help you to support a teenager through their exams and beyond.  

5 ways to help your foster child at secondary school

  1. Make your home a haven.

    Secondary school can be stressful in so many ways, from exams to navigating the complexities of school social dynamics. It’s imperative that your young person has somewhere safe and calm to unwind. Ensuring that your foster child’s room is a the right environment for them to be able to relax, get some alone time and do their schoolwork and exam preparation is essential.

    Don’t take it personally if your young person prefers to spend a lot of time in their room after school—  a long day of learning surrounded by other kids and so much pressure can be overstimulating, and taking the time to decompress with a gaming session or by chatting over Facetime with friends might be just what they need after a long, tiring day. Respect their boundaries and make your home a place of calm, comfort and open communication.

  2. Support their independence.

    A key part of attending high school as a teen is what it teaches children about being responsible and independent, whether that’s hitting deadlines, getting themselves to and from school or starting to make their own big decisions, like choosing their GCSE or A-Level subjects. You can support them from behind the scenes by developing close relationships with teachers and any support staff involved in your foster child’s success, such as SENCO leads and education specialists.

    Remember not to solely rely on school to teach them all of the skills they’ll need to flourish as an adult; while they may receive a PSHE lesson and a cooking class or two on huge life skills like budgeting, household management and keeping themselves fed and healthy, they’ll learn far more at home if you take the time to offer your experience and some hands-on learning.

  3. Celebrate their wins— both big and small.

    Nothing feels quite as good as knowing that the people who you care about are fighting in your corner. Whether it’s getting their homework in on time after a difficult week or smashing their exams, show your foster child just how proud you are of the effort they put in to get through each school day.

    A simple ‘well done’ or a hand-written card can really help your foster child to feel proud of their achievements at school. While there’s no need to spend big, having something exciting to work towards— such as a pair of new trainers or a family meal out to celebrate them finishing their exams— can be hugely motivating to help your foster child achieve.

  4. Teach them about navigating relationships and staying safe.

    School isn’t just about teaching kids Maths and English. It’s about learning how to be a member of society, and how to navigate relationships with others— both people we get along with and those we don’t. You can play a key role in helping your foster child to develop their social skills by helping them to gain a healthy understanding of relationships, whether that’s their relationships with school friends, teachers, or people they become interested in romantically. Check out our guidance on understanding healthy relationships to help spark a conversation.

    There can also be a lot of pressure to fit in school social circles, and another element which you’ll likely see play out in your foster teenager’s social life is risk-taking. It’s a normal part of teenage development, and teenagers gain a heightened sense of reward from talking risks due to heightened sensitivity in their developing brain. Your role as a foster parent is to help them balance those risks. Don’t rely on school alone to teach them about potentially challenging topics such as sexual health and making safe choices around substance use— our training for foster parents on these subjects and more will help you to approach these topics with confidence and openness.

  5. Help prepare them for the future.

    Leaving school and approaching the time where they’ll soon be leaving care can be a scary and exciting time for any looked after child. Foster children who are approaching 18 have many options available to them, including pursuing further education in the form of BTEC qualifications, A-Levels and T-Levels, as well as apprenticeships in all kinds of fields, from carpentry and joinery to catering and beauty-related courses. Using the Government’s Find an Apprenticeship service can really help to kickstart your young person’s career search.

    Post-18, your young person’s next step options include finding their first job and pursuing a career, taking on further education at university or even a Degree Apprenticeship, an option which allows young people to get a degree while earning a wage, without going into debt for their trouble. Don’t forget to take advantage of the resources available for care leavers pursing higher education.  

Looking for resources for your foster teenager? Our advice hub for young people contains tons of tips and articles on navigating the ups and downs of teenage life, such as skills for independent living and how to find your first job.  

How can I support my foster child when they leave school? 

Worried about how the young person in your care might navigate the transition to independent living as they approach 18? Perhaps it’s time to consider a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement with your foster child.  

‘Staying Put’ in foster care means that your young person can live with you past the age of 18, for as long as the two of you agree to it. Learn more about what it means to Stay Put as a care leaver, or speak with your supervising social worker to find out more.  

Could you foster a teen? 

Across the UK, there are many older children and teenagers who are waiting for homes. Perhaps you’d love to foster a teenager, but worry that you’ll struggle to navigate the complex issues which can prop up in a teen’s life as they approach adulthood. Don’t worry— you’ll have all the support and training you need at FCA, and we’re only ever at the other end of the phone when you need us.  

Fostering teenagers really is uniquely rewarding. You’ll have the chance to build a lifelong bond, share your skills and help shape a young person’s future as they step into their independence. If you believe you could support a teenager through fostering, contact our team today to learn more, or learn more about the unique benefits of choosing to foster a teenager.  

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