University destinations for our IB students

The vast majority of St Clare’s graduates go to university as the next step in their career. Institutions all over the world welcome our students. During your two years at St Clare’s, you will be well-prepared for and guided through decisions and applications.

Most students start university immediately, while a number choose to develop their personal skills and interests by taking a “gap year”. During a gap year, students usually travel, work or volunteer. This can improve their career prospects prior to continuing in education.

Students have been successful in taking places at prestigious universities around the world. This year’s excellent results have ensured success for our students, particularly at a time when competition is strong. Many students have had offers from universities in different countries and been able to take up their first-choice university.

US and UK university league tables
For 2017, 29 St. Clare’s graduates, have been placed in the Top 20 UK universities as ranked by the independent Complete University Guide 2017, with 21 in the top 10 (see below). Eleven students are taking up places in Top 100 US universities, 9 of them at Top 50 Institutions and a further 2 have gone on to a Top 35 Liberal Arts College according to the standard ranking list by U.S. News and World Report. Rankings represent an average of each university’s provision, for example in teaching, research, entry standards, staff-student ratio, degrees awarded, job prospects, resources, retention rates and spending per student.

Students have chosen to study a range of subjects including: Aerospace Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Science, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Classics, Computer Science, Criminology, Drama, Economics, English Literature, Fashion Marketing, Fine Art, Film Directing, Genetics, Geology and Nutrition, Global Sustainability Science, History, Information Management for Business, International Aviation Management, International Development with Economics, Law, Liberal Arts, Management, Medicine, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Philosophy, PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics), Physics, Psychology and Social Anthropology.

St Clare’s is an international school and, as such, our students view universities from a global perspective. This year 59 (59%) of our current students are progressing on to a university in the top 1% in the world as measured by the Times Higher Education World Rankings and the QS World Rankings.

Classed in the other category are also specialist institutions who are top in their field. This includes:

• 3 IE # 4 European Business School (Financial Times Rankings)
• 4 Bocconi #10 in the World for Business and 17 for Economics (QS World Subject Ranking)
• Parsons School of Design (Paris Campus) #5 on the Global Fashion School Rankings (Business of Fashion Rankings 2016)

We pride ourselves on helping students to make well-informed choices and applications for their future. Our careers and higher education programme provides a strong foundation for future study, work and life. Students comment on its value many years after they have left St Clare’s.

Quotes from students:

It was easy to find useful information on the Careers website. In leading up to university application, there was always support available to help with UCAS and personal statements. Throughout the first year, we were encouraged to do career research, so everything was not left to do at the start of the second year, which would have been impossible!

You could pop in to see Melanie whenever you had a question; you never felt that you had to make decisions on your own.

With the UK — helped me to choose universities based on the factors that were most important to me. 

With the US — helped me to navigate the college admissions process as a St Clare’s student. Also helped me to come up with a really good list of colleges to apply to.