Further Education: Further education colleges offer a variety of courses and qualifications to suit all needs, interests and abilities. They may also provide a more local venue for players to continue their education and sport simultaneously.

Higher Education: If a player is keen to attend university then they need to do some research on the institution and the course they would like to study. Things to consider include – location, type of university, cost, subjects, quality and reputation, sport, facilities etc. It is a good idea that they also speak the WRU PL Manager who has expertise in this area and will make links for the player directly to the course leader to get the full picture about sport and their chosen course. Questions to ask will include – sports facilities, training, coaches, travel (Director) and flexibility, part or full-time study, distance learning material, understand elite sport (course leader) etc.

Foundation Degrees: This is a government initiative that widens access to HE. Students normally do two years at an FE college and then their final year at university. There are reduced entry requirements, but all the benefits of being associated with a university. More information available at http://www.foundationdegree.org.uk/.

August
- Anxiety about leaving home, friends etc
- Excited but unprepared for what is to come – wondering if they will fit in?

September 
- Registration
- Settling into accommodation
- Adjusting to new surroundings
- Adjusting to different learning environment
- Adjusting to less structure than at school
- Feeling Homesick
- Question academic programme – have they chosen well?
- Coping with freedom and testing self-imposed boundaries
- Establishing friendships

October 
- Time management becomes a major issue – need self-disciplined approach to study
- Financial stress – recognition of the need to budget
- Integrating sport and study difficult
- Surprise at lower marks in assessment
- Reading and study skills challenged – what seemed to work in the past might not be enough

November 
- Increased academic stress due to accumulation of work
- Feeling physically drained
- May have second thoughts about HE
- May question their own intellectual capacity to cope with course

December 
- Preparation for examinations
- Academic workload can feel overwhelming
- Financial stress increases due to Christmas gift purchasing
- Temptations to increase socialising at expense of academic progress

January 
- Examinations
- Some feel very homesick after long break at home for Christmas
- Poor marks could indicate a heavy course load, complex material and a subject area that does not fit with the individual’s interests.
- May wish to transfer course
- May wish to withdraw from course
- Time and thoughts occupied with next year’s accommodation or summer employment opportunities

February 
- Winter Blues
- Problems settling into semester two modules
- Worries about progression into year two of course

March 
- Coursework completion
- Accommodation for next year
- Concern about marks and academic results – how this will influence progression
- Integrating social events such as formals so that academic progress is maintained

April 
- Completing final coursework elements
- Preparing for revision
- Balancing time off over Easter with the need to prepare for examinations

May 
- Examinations
- Anxiety about academic performance
- Marks obtained and impact on progress
- Securing summer employment
- Moving home – recognising that the freedom they have now become used to may conflict with parental view – need for negotiation