Sitting in a lecture hall at the London School of Economics, an Italian student named Francesca felt more prepared than nervous as she contemplates her next few years at the University of the Year 2025 (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide).
“The University and Careers Counselling team is very comprehensive and there for you whenever you need anything,” says Francesca, who is now studying Politics and Philosophy at LSE.
“I believe the support I received gave me the chance to apply and get into this university. From personal statements to Higher Education Fairs, I got to know the university, myself, and the subjects I want to study.”
Unmatched and unlimited guidance
St Clare’s, Oxford, Francesca’s alma mater, equips students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to navigate the path from education to meaningful futures. Its unmatched University and Careers Counselling team provides individual support and an embedded careers programme to help students reach the best university, internship, or gap year for them worldwide.
At this co-ed day and boarding school in North Oxford, England, about 95% of graduates progress to their first-choice university. They enter competitive programmes at world-renowned institutions, including Princeton University, University College London, the National University of Singapore, and more.
“The Careers department here at St Clare’s is just amazing because they have these three people that are ready to support you in any possible way,” says Pietro. “I had one-to-one meetings with my University and Careers Counsellor, which were very helpful because she explained all my opportunities in the UK, US, and all around the world. She also gave me some ideas on what to research in my free time, and what types of courses I could look into.”
Pietro is now studying the World Bachelor in Business, a highly competitive programme that awards three degrees from the University of Southern California, the Hong Kong University of Science, and Bocconi University.
St Clare’s University and Career Counselling provision provides unlimited one-to-one guidance alongside a rigorous careers education programme that continues to support your child up to three years after graduation. Source: St Clare’s, Oxford
Support from start to end
Getting into the world’s best universities starts with knowing what students want out of their future. At St Clare’s, students can join experiential learning and self-reflection sessions to discover this. Should they decide to apply to Oxbridge, US universities and medicine programmes, specialist support are available. Students also benefit from regular workshops designed to enhance their professional readiness, covering CV writing, presentation skills, and interview preparation.
“The Careers programme stood out to me, as the focus from the start was ‘what you want to do,’ and I think that separates St Clare’s career support from a lot of others I’ve had or heard of,” says Melanie, an American graduate now studying Public Health and Data Science at UCL.
The team’s online learning tool adds another layer of features. Student can explore subjects and opportunities around the world for internships, gap years and summer schools. And as a test centre for digital SAT, student can access expert tuition offered at competitive rates.
The University and Careers Counselling host many events for students to connect and learn, from the Careers Launch Day to the college seminar series. Source: St Clare’s, Oxford
Big events to accommodate big aspirations
Another reason why the school’s university and career preparation is among the world’s best? Career and education events with seemingly no shortage of options for students. The Higher Education Fair, one of the largest school-based fairs outside London, hosts representatives from over 90 universities and 20 countries. During Careers Launch Day, Pre-IB and IB students can explore higher education and career pathways through university admissions guidance, gap year planning, and practical workshops.
Then there’s the Pre-IB Careers Day, which promotes key employability skills such as creativity, communication, presentation, teamwork, organisation and initiative, and the College seminar series, which bring special insight into undergraduate study from visiting lecturers, many from Oxford University.
Building essential life skills
Resilience, independence, and maturity define St Clare’s graduates. Alumni often say they feel exceptionally ready for university and beyond, not only because of its rigorous academics, but also due to the character they developed through the IB World School.
For Sheeta, who graduated in 2024, the IB Diploma programme gained her many skills, particularly in organisation. The six IB subjects and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) projects felt like a series of tutorials to navigate a hectic university schedule. She mastered effective study skills and improved her time management.
“My teachers were my biggest supporters during my IB Diploma journey. At first, I really struggled,” says Sheeta, who is now pursuing Veterinary Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College. “But with their help, especially in organising what I needed to learn, finding resources to help me and just continuously supporting me, I was able to achieve a much higher grade than I thought I could.”
Learning to lead
Pietro, Melanie, Sheeta, and Francesca – their success to top universities are testament of one more thing St Clare’s does well: nurture students to lead with purpose.
Students in the first year of the IB programme can participate in the Student Leadership Programme, “Learning to Lead.” It’s a co-curricular experience designed to nurture global-minded, independent young leaders through decision-making, teamwork, ethics, and initiative. They’ll apply leadership theory to hands-on practice, attend high-profile speaker sessions, complete impact-driven community projects and become forward-thinking agents of change ready to lead the future.
Click here to learn more about St Clare’s, Oxford’s university and career preparation today.
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