There are more routes into higher education now than ever before, and this roundup of providers shows the various ways in which students can develop the knowledge and skills that lay the foundation for successful careers.
Book an open day at this Yorkshire university
Discover what makes the University of Hull a place where students think differently, live fully and prepare for life beyond their degree. Join the Open Day on Saturday 10 October 2026 or Saturday 28 November 2026 and explore its proudly progressive history and up-to-the-minute facilities, all within a safe and leafy campus. Get answers to questions about UCAS applications, student finance and support, and take a guided city tour through Hull’s buzzing student quarter and hidden gems. Open Day joiners also find out how studying at Hull goes beyond the classroom, with opportunities to study abroad, take on rewarding work placements or volunteer — giving students the skills and confidence to thrive after graduation. Book an Open Day place at hull.ac.uk
Learn the true meaning of luxury retail on a dedicated course
Most luxury education still assumes that understanding Europe means understanding luxury, but the market has moved beyond that assumption. Asia now accounts for the majority of global luxury consumption growth, and what drives a client in Shanghai or Singapore differs significantly from what works in Paris. The EHL x LVMH Certificate in Luxury Retail and Hospitality was designed for this reality. Over six months, students study across two continents, including 10 weeks in Lausanne, Switzerland, a field trip to Paris, two weeks in Singapore and a China immersion. This includes completing two live business projects briefed by LVMH Maisons — one focused on Europe and the other on Asia-Pacific. A career in luxury now requires fluency in both Europe and Asia. Discover more at gs.ehl.edu
Shape the future of game design
Games education is no longer solely about preparing for careers in entertainment, it’s about building the digital capabilities that drive modern business, technology and education. Britain needs more game developers — and more women helping shape the future of digital innovation. At London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA), students develop the creative and technical skills increasingly valued across every industry, from coding and problem-solving to collaboration, entrepreneurship and AI literacy. With flexible study options for London's working population and commuter students, plus valuable networking opportunities within a thriving creative ecosystem, LCCA empowers the next generation of diverse digital talent. Explore Games Design and Games Art at LCCA now.
Take the first step in a career in animation, games or VFX
Escape Studios is one of the UK's leading specialist schools for animation, games and VFX training. Established in 2002, Escape Studios was built by industry, for industry, offering a portfolio of undergraduate degrees, postgraduate master's programmes and short courses, all delivered in a dynamic, close-knit, studio-based environment in London. It’s proud to have more than 50 long-standing industry partnerships with studios including Industrial Light & Magic, Framestore, DNEG Animation, Creative Assembly, Playground Games, ETC and Blue Zoo. Ninety percent of 2022/23 graduates are in work or further study (HESA data), and Escape’s global community of more than 4,000 Escapees has contributed to major productions across film, TV, games and immersive experiences. At the 2026 Oscars, Escapees worked on every film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash, F1, Jurassic World: Rebirth, The Lost Bus and Sinners. Visit escapestudios.ac.uk
Learn to live in a warming world with a specialised degree
Based in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, Black Mountains College (BMC) offers a unique course that equips students with the skills to address social and environmental challenges. Its BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change course combines classroom teaching with hands-on learning in nature, practical skills within communities and a placement, ensuring your education is varied, thorough and directly relevant to the world around you. The college operates on an open admissions approach, valuing passion and experience as highly as academic excellence. Interested in a career that benefit people, planet and community? Black Mountains College’s unique course could be your foundation for a successful career in sustainability.
Join BMC’s Online Open Evening on 1 September or the Higher Education Campus Tour on 9 September.
Advance your career with a flexible, online course from a top university
Looking to upskill in a new role while already at work without relocating or need a flexible way to learn in-demand new skills while balancing personal, family and work commitments? Postgraduate online learning at the University of St Andrews offers a flexible, high-quality way to advance your career from anywhere in the world. Delivered by internationally recognised academics, programmes combine academic excellence with practical, career-ready skills. Learners benefit from fully flexible study, with no fixed lecture times, allowing study around work and personal commitments. Courses are designed to develop in-demand expertise across a range of disciplines, supported by a global learning community. With over 600 years of educational heritage, plus flexible payment options, St Andrews provides a world-class, accessible route for students to achieve their professional and personal ambitions. Discover more at st-andrews.ac.uk
Discover a modern, online education that’s built around your child
At Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA), the UK’s fastest-growing independent online school for 11–18-year-olds, live, interactive daily lessons keep students connected to teachers and classmates in real time. Every student receives weekly one-to-one mentoring, building their self-management, motivation and confidence. Meanwhile, extracurricular clubs, trips and enrichment create a genuine global community. For student-athletes and performers, it means an education that travels around training schedules and rehearsals rather than competing with them. For internationally mobile and modern lifestyle families, it provides consistent, high-quality schooling wherever life takes them. High achievers can be challenged more than a fixed timetable allows. Those needing SEND can benefit from a genuinely personalised environment, without compromising on rigour. Find out more about September 2026 enrolment at mva.com
Send your child to a school that values the individual
Some schools are defined by their size. Dwight School Dubai is defined by the strength of its community and the caring relationships within it. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School, it offers a globally recognised education where every child is known, supported and encouraged to discover their own spark of genius. The community is enriched by 70 nationalities and strengthened by Dwight’s global network of schools across New York, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Hanoi, Cairo and online, giving students and faculty opportunities to connect and collaborate. Dwight School Dubai knows that choosing the right school is about finding the place where your child will be safe, happy, grow and be truly known. Learn more at dwight.ae
Kick off your career in professional sport
University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) is a leading destination for specialist undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses in the sports and football industry, offering a range of degrees awarded by its validating partner, University of East London.
Wembley Stadium forms part of its London campus and its city-wide campus in Manchester encompasses Piccadilly, Media City at Quay Plaza, Exchange Quay, Belle Vue and exclusive learning experiences and premier events at Etihad Stadium. Courses span key industry areas including football business, sports management, coaching and analysis, media, marketing, finance, law, events, scouting and recruitment, psychology and broadcasting. Through unrivalled access to industry experts, guest speakers, networking opportunities and work placements, UCFB graduates have gone on to secure roles with organisations including FIFA, UEFA, The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, Premier League clubs, Formula 1, BBC Sport, Sky Sports and Wimbledon. Visit ucfb.ac.uk
Get ahead of the revolution by specialising in AI
As AI adoption accelerates, businesses are under increasing pressure to integrate AI into their operations. This has created a growing demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between business and AI. Recognising this opportunity, ZAKA has launched the Certified AI Consultant (CAC) programme, the first of its kind worldwide, to create a structured pathway into AI consulting for people from all backgrounds, without requiring any coding or technical experience. Throughout the programme, participants learn how to identify AI opportunities inside businesses, design practical AI roadmaps, and guide companies through AI adoption and implementation, enabling them to build careers as trusted AI consultants. Since its launch, 100-plus professionals have joined the CAC programme and graduates have already started working with clients and offering AI consulting services. Could this be you? Visit zaka.ai
Prepare for a creative future at one of Europe’s leading contemporary music schools
With more than 40 years of experience helping students build careers in the music and creative industries, The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance offers specialist music education at campuses in London, Liverpool, Leeds and Glasgow, delivering industry-aligned degrees and higher education qualifications rooted in real-world practice and creativity. You can study music at Cert HE, BA (Hons) and postgraduate levels with a focus on areas that reflect the modern music industry. Other course options include, music performance, music production, songwriting, event management, music marketing and music business. Students benefit from a tight-knit community, hands-on learning with real industry gear, workshops with visiting professionals and pathways into creative careers. Explore courses at icmp.ac.uk
Put the library in your pocket and save with a digital textbook app
Falling behind on reading is one of the most common reasons students struggle to keep up. Perlego gives students on-demand access to over 1.5 million academic, fiction and nonfiction titles from the world's leading publishers, all in one app, for a single subscription paid monthly, termly or annually. It means not trekking to the library before your book loan is up and no expensive last-minute purchases before exams. Many university students underestimate the cost of textbooks, but Perlego’s expansive collection of titles makes searching for what you need simple. Titles can be read on any device from the app, as well as read aloud on your device or through headphones to make studying smoother, fitting around lectures, jobs and commutes.
Get 20% off your first term’s subscription with code UNIVERSITY2026 at perlego.com. Cancel any time and read until the end of the billing cycle. Valid until 16th October 2026.
This content is brought to you by Living360, a digital lifestyle destination keeping you up to date with health and fitness, food and drink, homes and gardens, beauty, travel, finance trends and more.