Is Higher Education for You?

The UK has more than 250 universities or specialist colleges offering over 40,000 higher education programmes. These are mainly degree and higher national diploma courses and are, to a large extent, what you go on to after school or FE college, aged around 17 to 19 and armed with A levels, GNVQ, Scottish Highers or some other equivalent. You can, however, leave it for a while and return to higher education later in your life.

Our economy needs more graduates and has invested massively in expanding the number and range of higher education courses. You may well feel under pressure - if you appear to have anything even vaguely approaching the potential to achieve a higher education qualification - to stay on the education production line and become part of the system, another entry in some university's annual statistical returns.

This could lead to a cynical re-interpretation of Einstein's famous formula: e=mc2

But it doesn't have to be like that. Don't be a clone! If you decide that higher education is for you - and it is a very sensible choice for a lot of bright people - make sure that you take the time and trouble to find a course and a university that match your personal requirements.

Remember: Higher Education can be (and usually is) one of the most exciting, rewarding and valuable periods of your life - but it is vital to do your research first!

Navigate - the system. Get a feel of what is available and where. Why should you follow one course rather than another? Do you want to train for a specific career? Do you want to be on the coast or in a big city centre?

Ask - questions. And when you have the answers you need, ask more questions. An enquiring mind is a priceless asset! Use the web, e-mail, 'phone, fax…you could even go and talk to people face to face. Ask those around you: family, friends, teachers, careers advisers and so on. If you don't ask, you may never know.

Search - All unis have websites. All produce glossy prospectuses. Other people produce software and books containing valuable data. Search. Sift. Compare. Choose.

Apply - Most higher education providers in the UK - apart from the Open University - are part of the UCAS centralised applications system. You can apply on old-style paper or you can do it all electronically.

Science / Engineering courses / colleges