Factsheet 1

Things you always wanted to know about higher education

What exactly is higher education?

Higher education - sometimes abbreviated to HE - means courses at a higher level than A levels, NVQ Level 3s, AVCEs and BTECs. You can do a higher education course at a university, a higher education college and at many further education (FE) colleges.

Give me some good reasons for bothering with higher education.

Here are just a few things to be thinking about:

• Graduates are less likely to be unemployed.
• Those with a higher education qualification can expect to earn more over the course of their working life than those without.
• Over the last five years, graduates had double the average number of promotions at work than non-graduates.
• An overwhelming majority of students - 95% - agree that going to university is a worthwhile experience.

Whatever you want to do in life, your career opportunities will be improved if you have a degree or diploma from a university or college. If you want to work in some professions (such as law or medicine) you’ll need a relevant degree.

None of my mates are thinking of higher education. What if I don’t make any new friends?

In the first few weeks of term, there’ll be all sorts of social events laid on, for example Freshers’ Week parties and college or uni club meetings. You’ll meet lots of new people and soon make friends. In fact, you’ll be so busy you probably won’t have time to feel lonely.

Is higher education just for rich people?

Definitely not! Around 720,000 18-20 year-olds are currently doing an undergraduate course in the UK. Colleges and universities are full of students from a wide range of backgrounds, age ranges and ethnic origins.

Will my family have to pay out lots of money?

From September 2006 universities will be able to vary the tuition fees they charge for new starters from £0 to £3,000 per year. However, full-time students will be able to apply for a loan to cover the cost of their tuition fees. The loan is not repaid until the student has left their course and are earning over £15,000 a year. For the most up-to-date information check on www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or contact your Local Education Authority and speak to the Student Support Officer.

How long does a higher education course take?

The majority of courses last between two and four years, depending on the qualification, though some, such as medicine, can be up to six years long. You can sometimes take a higher education course as a part-time student over a longer period.

What kinds of higher education courses are available?

With 50,000 different courses there is a suitable academic or vocational course out there for you. In some popular subjects, such as business studies or computing, there are literally hundreds of courses on offer.

What kind of qualifications can I get?

As a higher education student you’ll probably be working towards one of these qualifications:

• An Honours degree leading to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc). These are usually three-year courses (four years in Scotland, and degrees are named differently in Scotland).
• An Honours degree course including one year in industry or a year abroad. These are usually four-year courses and are sometimes called sandwich courses.
• A two-year Higher National Diploma or Diploma of Higher Education course. These are both popular qualifications in their own right and there’s always the option to top them up and turn them into a degree if you want to.
• A Foundation Degree. A new full or part-time two-year qualification that is geared towards a specific job. This could be anything from forensic science or creative arts to police studies or tourism.

Do I have to leave home to study on a higher education course?

No. Lots of students choose to study at a local higher education college because it suits them better. Others prefer to study away from home and benefit from the experience of leaving home and meeting new people.

How is college or uni different to school?

On a higher education course you are responsible for your own learning. No-one makes you do anything but you have to work hard if you want to make a success of it. If you are a full-time student, you may have to go to the university campus each day for lectures or tutorials. On practical courses, some of your time will be spent in laboratories or studios, computer labs or media centres, or perhaps sometimes in a workplace. Each student has his or her own timetable. If you are a part-time student, you might go to university on one or two days a week, but that depends on your course. On many courses you will be assessed on a combination of coursework and exams.

So, am I going to have to sit through another three or four years of lessons?

No. If you want good grades, you are certainly going to have to put some work in, but it is not about listening to a tutor all day. You will have lectures, seminars and tutorials; you will probably use the library and spend time studying on your own, doing research, reading or preparing work for assessment. You can often fit this around your other commitments.

Should I take a year out first?

A gap year can be a chance to work and make some money, an opportunity to travel, or a way of getting experience, perhaps by volunteering. Most universities will offer a place for the following year to any student who would gain from the experience of a year out.