Last year, 1,362 college students told us what really shapes their course and career choices. Now our annual FE Student Choices Survey is back for 2026/27, and we want to hear from even more of them.
We're thrilled to announce the return of our FE Student Choices Survey for 2026/27!
Our goal stays the same: to build a clear picture of further education students across the UK, understanding the course and career choices they're making, and how informed and confident they feel about their futures.
And last year's results showed just how much is changing, and how fast.
What students told us last year
Our 2026 report, What Shapes Student Choices, drew on responses from 1,362 students across 30 colleges and 12 UK regions. A few findings that really stood out:
- Career info is everything. Students who knew lots of related jobs when choosing their course were 57% very confident it matched their career goals. For those who only knew a few, that fell to 33%. A 24-point confidence gap.
- 1 in 6 students wanted more. 17% chose their course wishing they'd had more information about where it could lead.
- Parents are stepping back. 55% said their parents were important in their course decision, down from 74% the year before. Feeling pressured by parents dropped from 49% to 23%.
- Apprenticeship intent is slipping. Students planning an apprenticeship fell from 23% to 17%, while those unsure what's next rose from 13% to 17%.
- AI anxiety has arrived. 43% are worried AI will replace their jobs. A year earlier, AI wasn't even on our list of career barriers. Last year it was named in 11% of barrier responses.
- Uni costs worry most. 77% of university-bound students are worried about the cost of going.
- Career advisers make the difference. Students guided by a career adviser had the best outcomes, but fewer than 1 in 4 students turned to one.
Why this year matters
Some of these shifts happened in a single year. So we want to know: is parental influence still falling? Are apprenticeships bouncing back? Is AI anxiety growing, or are students starting to find their feet?
This year we're revisiting the same key areas, including how and when students make choices, what influences them, and how they feel about what's next. That means we can track the trends year on year and spot what's really changing.
We're inviting all FE and Sixth Form Colleges to share the survey with their current students, whether that's through your usual communications or as part of a careers-based session in college.
The survey takes no more than 5 minutes to complete, and every student who takes part has the chance to win a £10 Amazon Gift Card!
Why ask your students to get involved?
We'll compile the results of this national survey, along with our own Pathways data, into a comprehensive report that will be freely available to all colleges. It'll give you exclusive insight into student-led trends and the choices your students are making, plus clear comparisons with previous years so you can see what's shifting.
The more colleges that take part, the stronger the picture. And the better we can all support students to make confident choices.
Get the survey link
Please direct your students to the following link to take the survey: https://www.career-pathways.co.uk/fe-student-choices-survey-2627
Take the FE Student Choices Survey 26/27
Use this copy for a student email:
Hello!
Make sure your voice is heard by taking the national FE Student Choices Survey. It only takes 5 minutes, and you'll have a chance of winning a £10 Amazon gift card!
https://www.career-pathways.co.uk/fe-student-choices-survey-2627
The survey aims to build a picture of college students across the UK and understand the course and career choices you are making.
The results will inform a report for all colleges, providing exclusive insight that can help how [INSERT YOUR COLLEGE] supports you and all future students at the college.
Read last year's report
Want the full story behind the stats? Our 2026 report covers career awareness, advice and guidance, parents and family, life after college, university finances and AI, plus practical implications for marketing, curriculum and careers teams.
Terms & Conditions for winning a gift card:
- Promoter: this competition is promoted by Pathways, by Float New Media Design Ltd
- Eligibility: You must be a student at a UK college and have completed our Student Choices Survey to be eligible to win
- Competition period: The competition opens on 2nd November 2026 and closes on 30th April 2027.
- Winner selection: Winners are selected at random on completion of the Student Choices Survey. You have a 1 in 50 chance of winning.
- Prizes:
- A £10 Amazon gift card could be won
- Your prize will be displayed on screen and confirmed over email
- The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other alternatives
- Your data:
- Only prize winners are asked to share their email address
- We require your email address so we can contact you with your prize
- Your email address will not be made public
- We will remove your email address from our system once the competition has closed
- We may ask to share your name for publiclity surrounding competition winners, however you can decline this
- General:
- You must be 16 or over to receive a prize
- Only one entry per person is permitted. You cannot win more than one prize.
- A prize can only be won on full completion of the survey and is directly linked to that individual's survey entry. This avoids any prize winner discrepancy as each prize winner's response is tracked in our system.
- Prize winners will be contacted by a representative from Pathways via email, Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5.30pm
- Pathways reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.
