School leavers who have not been able to go to university to pursue their dream of becoming an accountant should not feel dismayed, as there are other options available, including ones with finance packages. 

While university degrees are highly acclaimed, they are not the only way to advance in your chosen career. 

This is good news for those who worry about the substantial loans they would have to pay back if they went to university, with tuition fees alone costing up to £9,250 a year, not including living expenses. 

An alternative option for those who want to work in finance is taking out an Advanced Learner Loan to complete AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualifications. 

Those who finish their Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting can consider a job as tax managers, senior finance officers, commercial analysts, bookkeepers, and accountants. 

People who take out the AAT funding, which is provided by the government, only need to start paying it back once they are earning more than £27,295 a year. 

It is easy to be accepted for, as household income is not taken into account and no credit checks are conducted. There could even be the possibility of getting more funding for living expenses, depending on your circumstances. 

If you want to pay off your loan sooner, you could opt for voluntary repayments. Otherwise, the funding is taken out of your wages in varying increments, according to how much you earn.