Post-16 education in Scotland

This information is for deaf young people and families of deaf children in Scotland. Read our information for England and Northern Ireland.

Information for deaf young people transitioning to adulthood and planning their future.

There are a wide variety of choices for post-16 education. In some cases, you might be able to study for more than one kind of qualification at once.

Further education 

Many deaf young people will move on to a further education or 6th form college at 16. Highers are a good option if you want to keep studying the kinds of subjects you did at school, like maths, English or history.

Learn about further education.

Apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships are a great opportunity to gain structured work experience and qualifications if you know what field you want to go into. Apprentices are paid for their work, and apprenticeships are available in all sorts of fields, such as engineering, law, construction, business, beauty and childcare.

Learn about apprenticeships.

Higher education 

Higher education (HE) is a great option for deaf young people who want to study a subject they enjoy to a high level. Going to university or taking a higher education course at college can advance career prospects and expand social horizons.

Learn about higher education.

Employment and work 

Lots of people decide that more education is not for them when they turn 16 years old. Joining the world of work can be daunting but we have lots of helpful information about getting a job, communicating at work and deaf people’s rights in employment.

Learn about employment and work.