Year 12-13 / Level 3 Year 1&2

Information to help you with your Higher Education journey

WHAT IS HIGHER EDUCATION?

Higher education is the level of education you undertake after you have completed secondary or further education (A levels, T Levels, and BTECs). Some people choose to progress straight to higher education aged 18, while others choose to study higher education later in life. There is no age limit - in fact the oldest HE student in the UK, Archie White, was aged 96 when he graduated!

You might study an HE course at a university, in a further education college or with an online provider.

Download this table for a handy guide to the different levels of qualifications in the UK.

IS UNIVERSITY FOR ME?

Benefits of Higher Education

Going to university is a great way to expand your knowledge, meet new people, and enjoy new experiences. This page contains the key information you need to decide whether university is right for you.

There are personal benefits, career benefits and financial benefits to Higher Education.

Career Benefits

Some careers are only open to those who hold a specific qualification, e.g., becoming a doctor or an architect but in general, holding a higher education qualification can open the doors to many other career opportunities which may not always be directly related to the subject studied. This is because higher education helps people develop a transferable skill set which is looked upon favourably by employers.

Personal Benefits

Studying for a degree can help you personally as well as in your career. Moving away or commuting to university helps you become more independent, take on new responsibilities and manage your time in a way you probably haven't up until now. You learn so many transferrable skills at university and meet new likeminded people who can support you to grow academically and personally.

Financial Benefits

In addition to having a greater range of jobs available to them, graduates also attract higher salaries throughout their working life.

WHAT TO STUDY?

Course Guides

If you do want to continue your studies at university, choosing a course can be tough. There's so many to choose from and you want to pick the right one!

It’s important you choose a subject you enjoy and will help you reach your goals. Here are some things to help you choose the right subject for you:

Think about what you enjoy day-to-day – maybe this could be part of a future job role?
Explore different job sites and graduate career options to look for ideas on what you’d like to do once you've finished your studies.
Think about your career goals and the qualifications required as part of a person specification.
Watch our youtube video on how to choose the right degree provider and the right course for you Watch me
Interested in creative subjects? Check out Creative Arts subject Taster workshops (or are these just for teacher section)?
Take a look at UCAS Course Guides to get an idea of the types of subjects you could study, and the industries graduates go on to work in.

APPRENTICESHIPS

Higher Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is like a job, but with an added element of study. You’ll spend most of your time doing on-the-job training, and the rest studying with your college or training provider.

At the end of the apprenticeship, you’ll have an assessment to check you can confidently perform your role. If you pass, you’ll be awarded your apprenticeship (equivalent to a foundation year at University).

Degree Apprenticeships

A degree apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to gain a paid-for degree while getting industry experience and earning a salary.

You’ll spend most of your time working and you’ll also study part-time at university. For example, you might go to university one or two days per week, or in short blocks, such as a week at a time. Overall, you spend about 20% of your time studying vs. 80% of your time working.

Find out more about Higher and Degree Apprenticeships and how to apply

HTQs and VTQS - WHAT ARE THEY?

Higher Technical Qualifications or 'HTQs' are a high-quality technical qualifications that have been developed by employers and awarding bodies, so you’ll get the right training, knowledge, and skills to succeed in the workplace.

There are many different types of HTQs, such as:

higher national diplomas
higher national certificates
foundation degrees
higher education diplomas

For more information visit this UCAS page.

Vocational Technical qualifications or VTQs are practical qualifications for over 16s. They're designed to help you get the skills you need to start your career or go on to higher levels of education.

It is becoming increasingly common for students to apply to higher education with either standalone vocational qualifications or a mixture of academic and vocational or technical qualifications.

BTEC qualifications are widely known and available in sixth forms and colleges. T Levels are newer two-year courses in England equivalent to three A levels, with more subjects available over the coming years. You might also encounter CACHE qualifications, City and Guilds Tech Levels or Cambridge Technicals. In Scotland, Higher National Diplomas and Higher National Certificates offer pathways into higher education. All can be used to progress into higher education.

Often, vocational qualifications tend to link to a broad job area, rather than an academic subject – think engineering, not maths; health sciences, not biology.

Visit this UCAS page for more information on VTQs.

OPEN DAYS

Where to find an Open Day?

If you think higher education might be for you, the next step is attending some open days.

Heading to an open day helps you see if the place feels right. It also gives you a chance to get any answers you need before applying.

You can see a list of open days on the institutions own site or on the UCAS site or check out our Events page to find out about open days near you.

UCAS has some great information on Open Days and how you an get the most from them here

PERSONAL STATEMENTS

What is a personal statement?

An undergraduate personal statement is a chance to get noticed for the unique talents and experiences you have. It’s an important part of the application process as it’s an opportunity to talk about yourself and your passions, outside of your grades.

Check out a list of Dos and Don'ts for your personal statement by heading to our HOW TO APPLY - HE resource section.

Or head to youtube for tips on how to write an amazing personal statement.

COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS

Thinking of applying to Cambridge or Oxford ("Oxbridge")? Or interested in studying medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry?

These universities and courses have a specific application process and timeline you'll need to be aware of. Head to our University resource section for information, tips and resources to help you with your application.

Check out the helpful resources in our How to apply - HE section. To make a start watch this great webinar to give your Personal Statement a kickstart!

EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND SUPER-CURRICULAR

'Extra curricular' is activities that are done outside of usual school work like hobbies, sports and personal development whereas 'super-curricular' is additional subject learning that goes beyond what was covered in class . Both of these types of activity can help you get where you want to be.

Check out our resource page to find out how you can boost you opportunities through extra activities.

STUDENT FINANCE

Paying for University

Tuition fee loans

Tuition fee loans are there to cover the cost of the course. Currently, universities and colleges are able to charge up to a maximum of £9,250 per year for a typical full-time higher education course. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course. You would apply for the entire cost of your tuitions fees, and it’s paid straight to the university or college where you study.

Maintenance loans

Maintenance loans are available to help with the everyday costs of living, for example: accommodation, food, utility bills and socialising etc.

For maintenance loans, the amount you can borrow depends on your family’s household income and when you’ll live, whether staying with parents or carers or moving out. If you’re going to university in London, the maximum loan amount available is higher to account for the higher cost of living in the capital.

Head to our Student finance resource to find out about more about how student finance works, including the new Plan 5 repayment scheme; how to apply for it and some helpful budgeting tips and calculators to help you plan how you will manage your money.

CAREERS

Finding a Career

Deciding on a career can be really confusing and difficult if you aren't sure what you want to do after school or college but a good starting point is to think about what you like, what you don't like, what you are good at.

Why not explore these resources to help you start thinking about it:-

You can also visit our Careers resource section for lots more information and tips to help you explore what career might be right for you.

FOUNDATION YEARS + GATEWAY ENTRY

What is a University foundation year?

Foundation years are an extra year of study at the start of a course that allows students who don't have the required entry requirements to study a degree. They give students the opportunity to learn more about the subject and develop the necessary skills for the course.

Foundation years tend to be studied at the university you wish to do your full degree at. You apply for a course through UCAS which has a foundation year such as ‘BA Business & Marketing with Foundation Year’.

Foundation years may be a good option for you if:

You studied different subjects at A-Level to the course entry requirements
You did not get the required grades for the course
Your qualifications aren’t accepted for the course e.g. a BTEC

Does Student Finance cover a foundation year?

Yes. You can get a tuition fee loan and the maintenance loan to cover a foundation year from Student Finance.

An increasing number of universities are offering foundation years. Look at our Find A Uni Search Tool to find a university that offers a foundation course in your area of study.

Click here for more information

What is a gateway programme?

The purpose of Gateway programmes is to promote the uptake of higher education among those groups that are traditionally under-represented at university.

Usually gateway programmes offer a route in to courses for those whose academic grades would not allow them to be considered for direct entry but who fulfil certain widening participation criteria.

NEXT STEPS - APPLIED WHAT NOW?

Once your UCAS application has been submitted you can breathe a sigh of relied. But what do you need to do next?

1. Wait for your offers

Track our application and any offers through your UCAS hub. There are different types of offer you could get from your university or college choices. they come through at different times too so don't worry if you don't hear anything for a while.

You might get an invitation to an interview rather than receiving an offer from a uni or college right away.

2. Reply to your offers

You may need to wait for exam results if your offer is conditional on them.

3. Keep your details up to date.

Its really important to keep your contact details up to date to make sure you don't miss any notifications.

4. Adding an extra choice might be possible if you have no offers from your intial selections.

5. Think of a Plan B.

Worried that you might not get any offers or your might miss your grades? Don't panic. Whatever happens on results day rest assured there are lots of options available to you. Download our Student Survival Kit to help you be prepared.

You may also want to check out this handy Guide to Clearing from The Student Room

MISSED THE JANUARY UCAS DEADLINE BUT STILL WANT TO APPLY TO UNI?

Don't panic. Although the UCAS deadline has passed, there's still time to apply to start university this year although you may find some courses have started to fill up or perhaps have closed completely.

Before the January deadline, all applications have to be given equal consideration. The new deadline you're now looking at is 30 June 2024. Everyone – whether a home or international candidate – gets until then to submit an application for immediate consideration.

The big difference is that it's now first come, first served so the earlier you send your application in the better, but don't rush it.

Check out this article by Uniguide for more information.

CARE EXPERIENCED LEARNERS

Support for care leavers

If you are in care, or have experience of being in care in the past, there's lots of support available in higher education to help you with finance, accommodation, and settling in.

Useful links:

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

It’s always important to look after your mental health and wellbeing, alongside your physical health too. We’ve included links below to organisations, articles and videos that may help.