RESEARCHING COURSES
This page is about researching Higher Education courses - if you are looking for college courses, please see the menu on the left and select 'FIND A COLLEGE COURSE'.
"Higher Education" or "HE" means any course at level 4 or above.
Understand your basic choices:
When people talk about 'Higher Education' they are usually talking about a bachelor's degree, which is a Level 6 qualification.
But there are now lots of different paths. Think about all of the options before deciding what is right for you!
Find out about different kinds of HE courses HERE
Where can I study?
1. University
This is the most common place to study higher education. There are over 150 universities in the UK, varying in size and whether they offer lots of courses in different subjects, or focus a range of specialist courses. There are 1000s more universities across the world too, check out the 'University abroad' page for more information; and the 'UCAS' page to find out more about applying in the UK.
2. Further Education College
You can study HE courses at Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6 (i.e. get a full bachelor's degree) at some colleges. Studying via a college doesn't affect your ability to get a student loan to cover costs, and often the tuition fees are lower than at universities. Like college, these courses are in vocational subjects and can often be studied while working.
Some colleges link up with partner universities who 'validate' the degree courses the college offers. For example, Westminster Kingsway College is partnered with Middlesex University for HE courses they teach (more information is here).
3. Higher & Degree Apprenticeships
You will still be linked to a university or college, chosen by your employer, but most of the time you'll be working in a paid job. Connected to that job will be a relevant degree which you will study with a university or college part-time, supported by colleagues at your workplace as well as academic staff.
You can find more information about the Higher Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships route HERE
Choosing a subject to study
Level 2
GCSEs or Vocational courses
Come and to talk to a qualified Careers Adviser to help you think through your options and make some decisions.
Traditionally...
3 years
full time
(in England)
Include year abroad
Four year options
Level 4 & 5
Shorter courses
Distance learning
Add a work placement
Apprenticeship route options
Part - time study
Level 3
at school or college e.g.: A levels or BTEC
Level 4, 5, 6
at a Higher Education Institution
Researching online
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Advice from UCAS about getting started: HERE and use their great course search tool.
Plus two great online tools provided by college
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Use the Higher Ideas software to match your interests or current course to relevant HE courses. Use the other resources to identify career paths and the relevant degrees that compliment them.
Access both of these tools via HERE
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One stop shop for 'destinations' - compare university courses to each other and create useful shortlists of your research based on your predicted grades and different interests. Also use this to compare to alternatives to uni.
Try things out for yourself
1. Go to an Open Day to visit a university you're interested in...
2. Sample a university lecture to see if you enjoy it!...
3. Stay at a university for a week or more to have a university experience and learn a lot...
Want to know how to find these options? Have a look HERE