Where can I study?
The majority of higher education courses are offered in universities, although Further Education Colleges also offer a range of higher education courses.
There are hundreds of higher education providers and thousands of courses throughout the country. Here are some of the things you might consider when making a choice:
Location
Some specialised courses may only be available at a few locations so there won't be much choice. However, most courses are available in a wide range of locations.
Some students want the experience of moving away from their home to study, and there are plenty of opportunities for this. However, increasingly students prefer to study in their local area, and for Higher Futures students there are lots of courses available within easy daily travelling distance, in South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Notts.
Institution size and type
Your overall student experience will vary according to the size of the higher education institution. A large university will have thousands of students and offer many opportunities for social and leisure activities, additional learning, facilities and services such as accommodation and job shops, and an active student union with organised social events, clubs and societies, plus opportunities for volunteering and work related activity. Teaching is likely to be a combination of lectures (sometimes very large numbers of students) and seminars (class sized).
Higher education courses in a college have a much smaller number of students, most living locally. There are no large lecture groups, with most teaching taking place in class sized groups which suits some students better. Higher education students are usually in a minority and may or may not have separate studying and social facilities. University colleges are specialist higher education units run by colleges, and are somewhere between the two.
Grade differences
The grades required to get into courses don't necessarily reflect the quality of the course, although sometimes they do. More often they reflect the popularity of the course (a case of supply and demand) or the institution offering it, or even the location. Cities are always popular, small towns or those a little 'out of the way' can be less attractive to potential students, so may offer lower grades. Colleges may offer lower grades than universities because they have fewer applicants.
League tables and guides
Several websites provide 'league tables' of universities and courses if you are interested, but treat these with caution and find out what they are measuring. Some focus on the reputation of the institutions for research - not necessarily the most important factor when choosing your first degree. Things which may be more relevant include teaching quality, facilities, employment prospects etc. There are also some guides which tell you about the non-academic features of institutions such as transport, social life and accommodation, and you may also find these useful (Potter guide, PUSH guide, etc.). You can find these online or in careers libraries of colleges.
I need help!
Contact the Higher Futures adviser in your nearest college or university.
Contact your Higher Futures adviser >