Higher Education

With so many courses and places to choose from, it's a difficult decision.

Higher education can be a lot of fun, but it's also a big commitment - in time, money and work. You might be thinking should you go at all, given the cost these days. But graduates on average do go on to earn more money than people who do not have a degree. There are some jobs for which you must have a degree.

There is a lot of information around about higher education so we only cover some of the key points here to get you started. As a general rule, young people need to have completed a level 3 qualification.

For detailed information, contact UCAS. Also, take a look at our publication for post 16 students 'GO: Your Way Forward. We have the main reference books in our Connexions Centres - you can come in and have a look.

Honours degree

Most honours degree courses take 3 years. Some take longer, e.g. language courses and degrees with a work placement. Most are full-time but many can be taken on a part-time basis. A degree is usually subject based (history, politics) but some are vocational (dentistry). You may see letters like BA, BSc, LLB or BEng when looking at information about degree courses. If you do an arts type course, you usually get a Bachelor of Arts, if a science based course, a Bachelor of Science - these are the most common degree titles. But some subjects have specific titles, for example, a law degree usually leads to LLB and engineering to a BEng.

Higher National Diploma or Certificate (HND/HNC)

These usually take 2 years, but may take three if you do a work placement. You can decide to go onto a degree course afterwards; this can take another one or two years. HNDs/HNCs are work related courses. You study a work area such as business studies not an individual subject like maths.

Foundation degrees

These are employment-related qualifications designed together with employers to give students the skills, experience and specialist technical knowledge employers need. Foundation degrees can be studied on a full or part-time basis, through work-based, distance or web-based learning. They take two years if you do them full-time. You can turn it into an honours degree with a further year of study.

Diploma in Higher Education

This two-year course is similar to a degree but covers less. Some people do an extra year to get a degree. Sometimes it is combined with professional/vocational courses. 

What is student life like?

Going to university or college of higher education is an experience in itself. It may mean living away from home for the first time and maybe managing on a tight budget. It can also give you the chance to meet people from different backgrounds. You may not spend as much time in classes but you'll be busy doing your own research. And a lot of students now work part-time during term time as well as the holidays to supplement their income. 

What do you need to do to get a place at university?

• In the first year of an advanced level course draw up a list of what you're looking for: subject area, geographical location, how long you want to study for, your learning style (exams or course work), and think about the grades you are likely to get.
• Use the UCAS website or University & College Entrance, The Big Guide to get a list of places offering courses that interest you. Then look at websites or prospectuses for universities and H.E. colleges that interest you. Find out about open days and visit if you can and check out the UCAS Events Calendar too. This year UCAS are combining two events to make one large London Category A event and 3 events in Scotland to cover the Glasgow/Dunbarton and Renfrewshire areas. Make at least one back up plan in case you don't get the grades you expect.
• Complete the UCAS form - you can get this from your school or college. Always do a draft copy first and get someone to look over it. UCAS application procedure: there is a central application for universities and Higher Education colleges. The closing date is mid-January for most courses and mid-October for Oxbridge and for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses. Usually you will get to hear if you have a place by April.
• And if you haven't got an offer, you can try UCAS Extra between the end of March and June. Later you can go into clearing, see what places are available and apply for these.