16 and Beyond
You’re thinking about taking a Welsh A Level? That’s great. You’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help you with your next steps…
Choosing Welsh as an A Level subject could open doors to careers in lots of different areas, including health, sport, education, journalism, marketing, finance, science, design, and much, much more.
You might not know what job you want to do yet. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time for you to figure it out. No matter what you end up doing, the Welsh language will always be a benefit, whether you’re staying in or Wales moving to the other side of the world. Being bilingual can also help you learn other languages and always looks good on a CV.
So what’s next?
- Talk to your teacher or a careers adviser about your options and how Welsh can tie in with any uni courses, jobs or careers you might be considering
- Speak to someone who’s already doing/done a Welsh A Level to find out more about the course, their experience and where it’s taken them
- Speak to your parents, family or friends to see if they have any advice. They might have also done a Welsh A Level, or can talk to you about the Welsh skills that have helped with their jobs?
Here’s what Catrin, 17, from Abercraf had to say about studying Welsh at A Level:
“I wanted to do a Welsh A Level mainly because my teacher was so amazing and I always wanted to do something I enjoyed.
“The literature, the Mabinogi, hengerdd, the new and old - I enjoy it all.
“You don’t have to do Welsh just to be a teacher, that’s just what I want to do. I’m going to do Welsh and music together at university to keep my options open.”
Other help…
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol works with universities across Wales to offer Welsh language opportunities for students, and can help you to find a uni course in Welsh.
Did you know? The Coleg also offers undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for you to study higher education courses in Welsh.
The Seren Network helps high achieving students dreaming of securing a place at a top university with advice on filling in application forms, interview training, and summer schools with some of the best universities around the world. Lots of graduates who have studied in Welsh have climbed higher and higher, and you could be one of them.
If you don’t want to carry on learning in a classroom, a traineeship or apprenticeship could be a great option for you. Both let you learn at work while still gaining new skills and qualifications. There are courses available in Welsh and bilingually.
Careers Wales can help you to plan your career, prepare to get a job, and find and apply for the right apprenticeships, courses and training. So whatever you decide to do, they can offer help and advice.