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What is Higher Education
Higher Education is simply any study above a Level 3 qualification (Levels 4-8). Traditionally this takes the form of studying at a University, but can also include studying in a Further Education college or completing an apprenticeship. There are lots of ways to get higher level qualifications.
Higher Education is split into:
Undergraduate study- this is usually your first degree, hence 'under' graduate i.e. you are not yet a 'Graduate'.
Postgraduate- Once you have finished a degree but want to continue studying, this is postgraduate study as you are completing study post-graduating.
Want to know more about HE?
UCAS has lots of information about higher education you can use to explore whether a degree is the right route for you!
Reality Check
Higher education is not the route for everyone. It may not be a necessary requirement towards a career goal or it could even be something you are not interested in. It might be that there are other routes into the career you want that would suit you better - it's all about researching your options.
Like anything, Higher Education has strict entry requirements, usually a minimum of a Level 3 qualification (sometimes in a certain topic) as well as your Maths and English GCSE, although for some study options they may require other GCSE grades or a certain amount of work experience.
Higher Education might be for you if:
You want to develop yourself personally and academically
You would like to have more options in the future
You are considering a career where a degree level qualification is a necessary route
Qualification (Key Words)
Bachelors/Honours/Undergraduate degree
This is a qualification that will gain you a full Level 6 in a subject. This is the most common form of a degree.
Foundation Year
This is an extra year of study before you do your undergraduate degree, however it is not a qualification on its own.
Sandwich Year
Sandwich years are degrees with an extra year built in to the undergraduate (usually between years 2 and 3) to allow for a placement or year abroad.
Foundation Degree
Unlike a foundation year, a foundation degree is a qualification on its own. Foundation degrees go up to Level 5.
HNC/HND (Higher Technical Qualifications)
HTQs are qualifications that meet the occupational standards for the relevant sector, they are Level 4 and 5 qualifications and linked to a work sector. Read more here.Top-Up Year
If you have achieved up to a Level 5 and want to take it to the next level, you can do a top-up year with an accredited university to push your degree into a full bachelors.
Masters/Postgraduate degree
Once you have an undergraduate degree, you can move on to do a Masters in that subject- or maybe in something else! Most subjects need a base level understanding before you can do the Masters in it.
Did you know? The college offers both courses and apprenticeships at Level 4 and above!
“Graduates more likely to be employed than non-graduates....Non-graduates aged 21 to 30 have consistently higher unemployment rates” (2017, ONS)
“Graduates more likely to be employed than non-graduates....Non-graduates aged 21 to 30 have consistently higher unemployment rates” (2017, ONS)
Watch to find out more about foundation years and how they can help you get to your degree
Check this out to hear more about the benefits of higher education from a real university
Explore the wider benefits of a university degree with a University of Warwick student
What to do next
If you know what career you want to do in the future, check whether your chosen career needs a degree. If it does, research closely into what degrees this might need or be suited to.
It's never too early to look ahead! Use UCAS search function to get a feel for which institutions offer your degree and what they would be looking for.
Make a list of what you're looking for in a degree using our handy guide below to think about what could be on offer and what is important to you.
Compare and contrast degrees and universities using this list, making sure to check those entry requirements against all the other essentials you want from your university experience.
You may need to check with your tutors what your predicted grades might be to help you.
Want to get a feel for whether higher education or the university you're interested is right for you? Attend an open day as a chance to speak to staff and students!
Have everything you need to apply? If you have already achieved a Level 3 qualification or will be achieving it that year you can check out our advice on using UCAS for your cycle.
If needed, you will also need to make an application for Student Finance.
Compare universities and degrees using these links
Other Essential Links
The Essentials- what you should be considering for your university experience
Course Entry Requirements
All courses have entry requirements. These will either be in the form of specific grades (in a A-Levels, BTEC or Access) or UCAS tariff points, which take into account a variety of other grades and qualifications achieved at level 3. Some universities will need you to have achieved certain modules/units/courses before they will consider you. You will also usually need to have achieved Maths and English, and sometimes other GCSEs.
Top Tip: You can choose up to 5 courses, so it is always wise to select a range of grade requirements so you have lots of choice- one stretch goal, one back up, and three within your range. Check with your tutor what your predicted grades might be. You can look at what your grades might be worth on the UCAS Tariff Checker here.
Course (Length, Level, Types of Learning and Assessment)
No degree is the same as the next and not all universities will offer the course that you want to study. Be prepared to shop around! You should compare everything about the course; from the length to the level, the work experience and careers support offered, right down the modules/units and way you are assessed. What does a regular day in the life of a student on your course look like? What makes that university different from another? What are you looking for in your degree?
Top Tip: www.unistats.ac.uk is a great place to see what real students think about your course; when looking at courses online, look out for the phrases in the word cloud!
Location (Home versus Away, City versus Rural)
The environment you study in can be as important as the course! You will be committing to around three years of study, potentially living in a brand new city for two thirds of the year: you need it to be right for you! Do you want to study far from home, close to home, or even stay in Sheffield? Would you commute for university? What benefits would this have? Would you want a big city- as big as London even!- or would you prefer a quieter setting? Does the city or town have a lot to offer outside of the university? Is it easy to get to and from? Not every campus or university is the same, it's all about fit and identifying the positives for you.
Top Tip: Think outside of the box when looking at courses, try not to be put off by a new adventure!
Type of University (Services and Accommodation)
When picking your university it is always worth thinking about the facilities on offer, especially the spaces relevant to your course. You might not need a big library as an art student, but you will need good studio spaces for example. Where will you spend your time studying, but also where will you be socialising? If you plan to live away from home, you might also want to look into the accommodation on offer for both your first year of study and the subsequent years.
Top Tip: Some universities can be very similar if they share a city, so think about the spaces that are only for you as a student at one of these universities if you struggle to make up your mind.
Rank, Reputation and Accreditation
It may be important for you to find a university that is the best at what it does! In this instance you may want to think about the ranking of that university. Is the university one of the Russell Group universities for example, which are recognised as being research heavy universities? Where do they sit in the rankings, based on their work and teaching but does this match up with student experience? Who has accredited the university for their work? Can they all be trusted?
Top Tip: You can check out your university of choice both for their general rank in the league tables but also the course you want to study here. They may not be the same ranking, so it's good to cross-reference.
And finally... The 'Fun' Stuff!
University is much more than a degree! While you study you will have the opportunity to meet new people, prepare for your career and have lots of new experiences. An average university student can be involved in volunteering, be part of a society, do work experience, part-time jobs, play sports and much more. There's loads you can get up to at university, sometimes with a cost but mostly free so look at what exciting things your university might have in store for you.
Top Tip: Freshers week is a whole week (sometimes two!) at the start of term where you will have chance to settle in to university life, meet your future friends and have tasters of all of the above- have a go at everything!
How-To-Choose-Your-Degree.pdfEducation levels final.pdfPage updated
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