• UCAS

Smart Choices: Broadening Your Horizons

A free online course from UCAS to help students understand the wealth of UK higher education opportunities open to them.

10,808 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

This course has been designed by UCAS to help you better understand the study and training opportunities open to you. The wide range of subjects, universities, and options available can be overwhelming. Exploring your choices and making decisions can be quite daunting. So we’ve put together a set of materials to help shape your thinking.

Choose the right subject and pathway for you

By signing up, you’ll discover more about your options and enhance your ability to make choices that are right for you. We’ll provide insight into choosing subjects and the different pathways that can be taken after school, through higher education or other training routes, to your chosen career path.

You’ll find useful tips from students and hear from admissions tutors about what skills and aptitudes they look for in applicants, and the key things you need to consider in order to make the right decisions and choices for you.

Understand study and career opportunities

The course includes short articles for you to read and videos to watch, plus activities and quizzes with tips to help you better understand the study and career opportunities. There is also the chance for you to learn from and support other learners through online discussions.

On completion, we believe you will be in a much stronger position to answer the question ‘What do I want to do next?’

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Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone considering their post-18 higher education and training choices, to help them explore their options, and broaden their awareness of what higher education in the UK has to offer.

Who will you learn with?

I'm a team manager in the Customer experience contact centre dealing with applicant queries.

Who developed the course?

UCAS

UCAS is an independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression. Our services support young people making choices after their GC

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

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You can use the hashtag #FLsmartchoices to talk about this course on social media.