Higher Education

We have looked around to see what sources of information are available and useful to young people looking to make a decision on Higher Education. The fact is, figuring out what you want to study can be a hard decision and there are lots of things to consider. We’ve made a start at outlining those decision below and we hope you will find useful information and tips about higher education. If you think we are missing something or would like to add to what we have, drop us an email on info@opportunitiestosuccess.org.uk

1. Selecting a subject to study
2. Academic or practical courses
3. Full, part-time or distance learning
4. Colleges, Universities & Higher Education Colleges
5. Applying for college or university
6. Course fees
7. Going to University

1. Selecting a subject to study

There are many subject areas to choose from for further education, and selecting the one that is right for you may seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t need to be. You can either think about it from the perspective of which subject relates to the career path you think you might chose e.g. if you want to get into marketing a marketing course will help. Or you can pick a subject that interests you, most people are in this boat as not everyone knows what they want to do when they leave school.

As well as subject matter knowledge, all higher education courses will also help you develop skills for the workplace. For example you will learn a lot about how to work with people, time and work load management. You might even want to consider a course which allows you to do a sandwich year which means doing a four or five year degree and spending your third or fourth year in a job placement.

You will also notice that you can study very specialised courses or general courses, that is, a course that is completely focused on finance or a general business course that covers all aspects of business including finance, law, marketing, management and computing. This may be the best way to gain an understanding of a subject area before focusing on the specific area that interests you the most. The great thing about A-Levels is that they allow you to select a diverse set of courses so you give yourself the best chance of finding something you like. Other college vocational courses (such as NVQs) will allow you to gain practical experience of a subject so you can decide how it suits you and take a decision on how to proceed.

If you are still undecided about which subject to study speak to your school or college careers advisor, or visit the Connexions website which goes through a variety of options which can help you decide.

2. Academic or Practical Courses

Your options for learning range from the highly academic to the very practical. In selecting the right one for you, you need to think about how best you learn e.g. in a classroom or from doing the job or a bit of both.

A-Levels and degrees are the more academic route of learning, while National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and courses offered by industry bodies will take you down the more practical route. If you would prefer to learn on the job see our Careers section.

Your local college or sixth form will have information about A-Levels and entry-level NVQs. UCAS is a good place to start for information about degrees and higher-level NVQs. For courses developed by industry bodies we recommend you visit your school careers advisor or visit the local library to see what options there are in your area. Alternatively, why not try searching online for the industries you are in interested in and seeing what they offer for young people. You will often find they refer to these as vocational courses or apprenticeships.

Have a look at DirectGov’s guide to the options you have at 16.

3. Full, part-time or distance learning

Today there are many options for studying from full to part-time courses where you have to attend lectures in colleges and universities, to distance learning from home.

Studying timeframes are typically:
• Full-time study – attending college or university up to 5 days a week
• Part-time – attending college or university a few evenings a week
• Distance learning – studying from home a few evenings a week

Most courses last 1 to 3 years, however if you are studying part-time or doing distance learning, courses can last for several years. A typical 3 year degree, can take from 4-5 years to complete part-time. Colleges and universities will be able to provide you with details of the course lengths.

Bear in mind that there are several types of courses which you will be unable to do as a distance learner. Courses involving sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) or any kind of medicine, often involve a lot of practical lab sessions and these will be conducted on the college or university premises. Additionally, courses for subjects such as studying to be an electrician, plumber or mechanic also require physical attendance to the practical sessions.

4. Colleges, Universities & Higher Education Colleges

If you are about to leave school, you should have already started looking for courses at your local college or talking to your careers advisor about what you would like to do. It is worth noting that in the main colleges provide post-secondary eduction (e.g. A-Levels) as well as vocational courses (e.g. NVQs) or courses for the community (e.g Beginners I.T). In addition some colleges also have the status of Higher Education Courses, meaning that they are able to offer courses up to degree level. This means you can take a vocational course like an NVQ and convert it into a degree with extra studyt. Additionally, you can start a Higher National Diploma (HND) and if you like, pursue that through to degree level.

Universities do not generally offer post-secondary education or vocational courses, however some offer a Foundation Year for some degree courses which provide you the opportunity to get up to speed on the course before you start the first year of the degree.

It is worth noting that some colleges and universities will specialise in specific subjects e.g. Imperial College is known for its Science and Accounting courses. Although it is called a college this is very much a university (confusing we know!). By attending a specialist place of study you will have access to the leading lecturers and latest equipment. If you know exactly what subject you want to study it is worthwhile trying to find out if there is a specialist university or college for that you can apply to.

There is often a high standard of entry required to get into some specialist colleges and universities, you should bear this in mind when planning your application and ensure you know what is required of you. Speak to your teachers, parents or carers about getting extra support to find out this information or get the grades you need. You can also take a look at our Mentoring Initiatives section to see what support options may be available in your area.

If you are already at college visit the UCAS website for details of higher NVQs and degrees.

5. Applying for college or university

Once you have decided on the course you want to study the process is pretty straightforward. For college courses you contact the college direct. If you are in school, you can speak to your teacher or careers advisor about how to do this, there will usually be a form to fill in and you may want to pay them a visit prior to submitting the form to make sure you are happy with your choice..

For university courses you must apply through UCAS. In both instances you may need to attend an interview (although this is rare for college unless you are applying to a specialist centre). If your application is successful, the college or university will offer you a place on the condition of you achieving certain results. If you already have your results, they may simply advise you when their next start date is for the course you have chosen.

If you are waiting for exam results, once your grades come out you will know if you have a place or not. With universities, they will know your grades at the same time you do and may contact you immediately to let you know if you have secured your place.

We all want you to get your first choice, however don’t worry if you don’t. If you miss out on your college grades, contact the college direct and discuss alternative options with them in most cases, they are willing to accommodate and may offer you the option to start at the college and take a make-up class. Alternatively they will offer you a different course.

If you miss out on the grades for the university course you wanted, it is likely you have other options as a back up as the UCAS process allows you to select up to 6 universities and courses. If for any reason, you are not able to get into any of your 6 options, you can go through the Clearing Process to find an alternative university or course. Clearing can be a very difficult process, there are several students trying to get a small number of places available, therefore you have to be ready to spend the time phoning universities up and getting some options on your plate.

It is not ideal to rely on clearing, but it is there as a back up. Many students go through clearing every year and end up performing amazingly in their studies.

6. Course fees

Everyone in the UK has the opportunity to go to college and university. College is free for most students straight out of school and generally up to around the age of 19.

University courses charge a fee and depending on your financial circumstances your parents/guardians may be able to pay the fees in whole or you may need to take a loan to cover course fees and your living costs. As of November 2010, there have been changes to the fee structure of universities meaning some institutions will charge more. Universities will be able to chose to charge up to £9000 a year in fees. This is just for the course, as a student you will also have to consider your rent (if living away from home), transport costs, food and sustenance as well as purchases for your books and learning materials.

Do not let the cost of university put you off going. Research has shown that on average those who go to university earn more than those who do not (source: The Times Online). Also, the Student Loans Company is a government body set up to offer loans to students which you can pay back once you have a job and are earning above a certain salary.

Don’t forget that when you go to university you have to make sure you have enough money for living costs, although not ideal for some more demanding courses, most students find that taking a part-time job helps.

For information about student financing and paying for university course fees visit the DirectGov section on Student Financing.

7. Going to University

University should be a great life experience for you. It may be your first experience living away from home, and will definitely be a great opportunity to meet new people and develop social skills.

If the university you select is away from your home town/city, don’t worry. All universities offer help and support to ensure you settle in and find you way quickly. Ultimately, its about making the decision which suits you and the subject you want to study best. Going away to university is a big step and there are many life lessons that will come with the academic learning. These are just as important to the process of learning how to survive in the career competitive world out there.