What is higher education?

Higher education, or HE for short, allows you to learn about subjects that you are really interested in.

You end up with lots of new skills and a qualification that can help you land your dream job.

Plus, you will have lots of fun along the way.

Doing a higher education course is not like being at school.

If you are not sure that HE is for you then think about these 7 points and see if you change your mind!

1. There is not just one type of HE course

There are courses to suit everybody’s needs, likes and dislikes. Here are some of the types of courses available. Click on each one to learn more…

• Bachelor degrees

• Foundation degrees

• Higher National Diplomas and Certificates

• Certificates and Diplomas in Higher Education

• Postgraduate

2. Full-time HE courses can last between 1 to 5 years

A Certificate in Higher Education can take only a year to complete, a Foundation degree usually takes two years full-time and some Honours degrees can take up to five years to finish. If you study part-time, then your course will take longer to finish.

3. The way you learn can be flexible

You can study full-time, part-time, online, by distance and you can even train while working!

4. From Forensic Science to Beach Resort Management, there will be a HE course to interest you!

There are over 50,000 different courses that you can choose from, at around 500 different universities and colleges throughout the UK. So you can choose a course to suit your interests and career goals.

Read more about the courses available in the subjects I can study section.

5. It isn’t just for students with good A levels

There are lots of ways to get a place on a higher education course, for example through vocational qualifications like Advanced Apprenticeships and BTEC Nationals.

6. People of all ages go into higher education

People choose to start a higher education course at various points in their life. Some people go into higher education after they have been working for a few years, some after they have been working for many years. Others go on to higher education straight from their previous study whether it was A levels, a BTEC National or an Advanced Apprenticeship.

7. Higher education is not like being at school

Higher education is a whole different ball game. No one makes you do the work, there is no law forcing you to be there. You are there because you want to be there and you choose the subjects that interest you.