Higher Education

An introduction for parents and students

What is Higher Education?

Higher Education is not just another word for university.

It is about furthering your education, learning new things, being in charge of your choices and getting to where you want to be in the future.

Why go on to Higher Education?

Attending University or College invites you to experience a rich cultural and social scene and meet a variety of people, whilst studying something you love.

Higher Education can lead to:

• Higher future earnings: Graduates earn an average of 35%

more than the average national wage and graduate unemployment has been half the national average for decades.

• A greater choice of job• Employers value graduates’ skills

and the dedication and commitment taken to complete a course.

Other opportunities

• Making new friends for life• Being part of a team/community• Independence• Self responsibility• Learning valuable life skills• Sense of achievement

What can you study?

There are more than 50,000 different full and part-time courses available at institutions all over the United Kingdom.

Courses range from traditional academic subjects such as English to less familiar ones like Philosophy, and a whole host of work-related (vocational) courses such as accountancy.

Where can you study?

• Higher Education courses are available not only at universities but colleges• Prospectuses are easily accessible • Open days at various institutions give an insight to

university life. www.opendays.co.uk• If you are unsure where you’d like to study, Unistats’

Course Assistant may be useful. http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/

• Our students have gone all over the country!• From Dundee to

Falmouth, Canterbury to York…• Bristol, Plymouth

and Exeter all remain popular options.

The application process (1)

• Students will apply through UCAS• They need to write a personal statement• A reference will be written by their Subject Teachers

and Tutor

The application process (2)

• The reference process takes 2 to 3 weeks• On-line forms cannot be sent without payment• Forms will not be sent unless they are of the correct

quality and standard

UCAS Dates and Deadlines

• Students applying to Oxbridge, medicine, veterinary and dentistry, drama and music must send their completed applications by 15 October• Students applying for all other courses must send their

completed applications by the beginning of December

Oxbridge/Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary• Interested students need to start their preparations early• Pre-entry tests (e.g. MCAT, BMAT, LNAT, STEP) need to be

registered for in the summer holidays and taken in September

• Students meet with Mrs Gover in September to get an idea of the application process

• A sample of students’ work has to be submitted in November• Mock interviews will be offered by Subject Leaders, Principal,

Deputy/Assistant Principal in November

What can parents do to help?

• Talk to your child about what they really want to do• Encourage them to broaden their horizons• Encourage reasoned ambition• Organise visits to universities• Read personal statements• Keep them calm