Higher education options
If you stayed in education at 16 you've probably been encouraged to consider higher education. But what does this mean exactly, and is it worth it?
"Higher education is different from school – you'll have a lot more control"
What is higher education?
Higher education, also known as post-secondary or tertiary level education, means any non-compulsory education taken after secondary school. However, the difference between higher education and further education is confusing. Basically, further education means courses up to a level 3 qualification, such as A-levels. These prepare you for higher education, which could mean getting a degree, or a work-related qualification such as a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND).
Generally, you'll need qualifications at level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework to enter higher education. This could mean A-levels, Scottish Highers, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs), BTECs or Diplomas. If you want to start work after doing your GCSEs in Year 11, an Apprenticeship can also lead to higher education.
Higher education is different from school – you'll have a lot more control over what and when you study and will be expected to motivate yourself.
Can I go to university if I only have a few GCSEs?
Don't worry if you only have a handful of GCSEs and no A-levels – it doesn't mean you can't go to university. However, you will have to take an Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma (also known as an 'access course'). This is designed for people who left school without the necessary qualifications to get into higher education and prepares students for university courses.
Access courses are offered at most further education colleges and are available in a range of different subjects, such as nursing, art and design, and business studies. Most can be completed in a year or less, although you can also do them over two or more years if you study part-time or via distance learning.
Why should I do a degree?
There are many reasons why a degree will benefit you. Some jobs require or prefer a degree but don't mind which subject it's in. Other careers, such as medicine, optometry and engineering, require you to have a degree in a specific subject. These degrees might be longer than the standard three-year degree. Doctors, for example, have to do a five-year degree course.
It's generally accepted that a degree will give you more career options, resulting in the ability to earn more money. On average, graduates earn more over the course of their careers than people without a degree. According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) the difference in gross hourly earnings between graduates and those educated to A-level or equivalent is 47%.
Do I have to go to university to do a degree?
The majority of students study full-time at university during their degree course. Many move away from home, but this isn't necessary. If you live in a big town or city you'll probably have a university or college close to where you live so you can stay living at home or in your current accommodation.
If you have family or work commitments you might want to study part-time. About 40% of higher education students do this.
Alternatively, home study – or 'distance learning' – involves learning at home rather than attending lectures and seminars at a university or college. You'll have contact with tutors and other students online and occasionally in person. The Open University runs hundreds of distance learning courses and much of the course material is provided online. Alternatively, some other universities offer distance learning for certain qualifications.
Can I continue studying after getting a degree?
Once you have a degree you can take a postgraduate course. The most common qualification is a Masters Degree – usually an MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of Science). Masters courses normally take a year full-time or two years part-time.
An MPhil (Master of Philosophy) is a supervised research course in any subject which takes two years of full-time study. After that students can choose to continue studying for another year to obtain a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).
By Emma Lunn
What next?
- If you haven't got A-levels or equivalent qualifications, visit the Access to Higher Education website to find out about access courses.
- Visit the UCAS website to search for a course and apply for university.
- Confused about where to apply? Read the Lifetracks article on choosing a university to help you decide.
- Studying can be expensive, so read the Lifetracks article on Funding for Higher Education to see if you're eligible for funding.
- If you want to study part-time, search for courses at DirectGov.
- For information on distance learning courses visit the Open University website and read the Lifetracks article on home study.
How was it for you?
What do you think of Lifetracks.com and has it helped you? For your chance to win a £20 Amazon voucher, complete our short survey and help us make the website as useful as possible.
