So, what exactly is Higher Education ,and what do I need to know as a Parent/Carer?
Let’s start with the basics!
After leaving school and completing their GCSEs, students will study a Level 3 Qualification at a college or sixth form. This is known as Further Education and is compulsory. These may be A-Levels or BTECs.
They then can continue their studies at a Higher Education institution, such as a university. This is any Level 4 Qualification or above. University is one of the more well-known options. However, they can also choose to complete a Level 4 Qualification at a college or through an apprenticeship.
At a university, they can begin studying for an undergraduate degree that focuses upon one area of study. This typically takes three years to complete. There is also the option to do a foundation degree, which allows them to have an ‘introduction’ to an area of study without the commitment of a full undergraduate degree. They usually take two years to complete and will make up two-thirds of a full undergraduate degree. After completion, the student can also continue to study for a further year to make it up to a full bachelor’s degree.
There are many reasons why a student may choose to apply to higher education, and it may be useful to know some of the benefits to support a young person in their decisions;
- Higher average salary as a graduate – £23,000 p/a*
- To gain new experiences.
- To live in a different area.
- To gain more knowledge about the subject.
- To gain work experience in their area of study.
- To make memories and have fun!
*Current figure for the average graduate salary in the UK as of 2020
Those are just a few examples of why a student may want to apply to higher education, but each young person and their future aspirations will differ. It’s essential that every student has been equipped with the knowledge of every available route for them. This then allows them to choose the best pathway to support their future.
Check out our other pages on how to support a young person when applying to higher education, as well as information regarding student finance.
Keep up-to-date with our news and events pages – they provide the most current developments in the world of higher education to always keep you in the loop.
Don’t forget that we also have our live chat function displayed on the website to answer any questions you may have directly.