A-level students on careers advice, AI anxiety and alternative pathways

As A-level students across much of the UK await their exam results, new insights from Prospects' Early Careers Survey reveal a shift in how school leavers are approaching their futures

University is still the most common expected next step for students finishing college or sixth form, although it's no longer seen as the default option by many, according to the survey. Increasingly, students are interested in apprenticeships and other non-traditional routes, driven by financial pressures, changing perceptions of career success, and growing confidence in alternative pathways.

University still leads but the gap is closing

The Early Careers Survey 2025 found that 52% of A-level students planned to study full-time at university, a drop from 59% in 2022. Meanwhile, 25% intended to take up an apprenticeship, up from just 15% two years ago. This marks a clear trend that university is no longer seen as the only, or even the best, route to a successful career.

When the group of students not planning to go to university were asked for their reasons, they seemed less concerned about finances, with only 38% citing cost as a deterrent, a notable drop from 51% the previous year. Instead, their decisions were increasingly shaped by the immediate financial and practical benefits of alternative routes. 

More than half of these respondents (51%) said they were motivated by the opportunity to start earning money straight away, up from 40% last year. Additionally, 39% believed they could receive better training through a job or apprenticeship, a significant rise from 28%. This suggests a growing confidence in hands-on learning and vocational pathways.

Confidence in alternative routes is growing

There is a growing sense among students that university isn't mandatory for career success. In 2025, 39% of students said they believed they could have a good career without going to university, up from 36% in 2024 and 32% in 2022. This growing confidence in vocational and work-based learning reflects a shift towards valuing practical experience, financial independence, and job readiness.

Even among those choosing university, motivations appear to be changing. Passion for their chosen subject still played a significant role (71%), but fewer students highlighted career prospects as a major influence (35%, down from 46% in 2024). Conversely, financial considerations like the potential for a higher salary have become more prominent, with 35% saying it had a large influence, up from 31% last year.

For students who planned to go to university, financial pressures remain a concern:

• 53% were worried about the cost of living
• 51% were concerned about tuition fees.

These anxieties are not necessarily deterring students from higher education altogether, but they are prompting many to consider their options more carefully. In contrast, those choosing not to go to university appear to be less driven by cost concerns and more motivated by the immediate financial and practical benefits of alternative routes like apprenticeships, which offer the chance to earn, train, and progress without the burden of student debt.

AI is influencing career thinking

Artificial intelligence appears to be playing a role in how A-level students think about their future careers. While it's still a relatively recent consideration, initial findings indicate it may be having a growing influence.

• 9% of A-level students said they had changed their career plans because of AI.
• The data suggests that students who changed their plans were experiencing greater uncertainty about their career paths (56%), compared with those who didn't change their plans due to AI (28%).

When asked how AI has changed their career plans, students expressed a mix of curiosity, caution, and strategic thinking in their open text responses. Some were pivoting towards AI-related careers in technology and legal AI regulation, while others were reconsidering careers in translation, art and computer science due to fears of automation and job displacement.

The survey found that AI was also being used as a source of careers advice. In 2024:

• 17% of students actively sought careers advice from AI tools such as ChatGPT or Copilot.
• 79% of these students found the advice from AI tools helpful.

While AI tools are becoming more common, human guidance continues to play a central role in careers support. The majority of students still turned to people they trust for careers advice:

• 72% teachers or lecturers
• 60% family
• 44% careers professionals
• 25% industry professionals.

When asked how useful these sources were, students gave the following feedback:

• 93% found industry professionals helpful
• 87% said the same for careers professionals
• 86% said teachers and lecturers were helpful
• 80% found their family helpful.

This shows that, while AI is becoming a useful tool, students continue to place high value on personal, human interaction when making important decisions about their futures. As AI tools become more common, careers services have a chance to complement them with the personal understanding, empathy and experience that technology can't replicate.

Written by

Laura Greaves

Information analyst

Prospects Luminate