Higher Education (HE) refers to any qualification studied at Level 4 or above, i.e. qualifications taken after A Levels or Leve 3 vocational courses. A well-known route is studying for a degree at a University, however, there are many HE opportunities that allow young people to study at a College, University, or in the workplace such as Higher Apprenticeships, HNDs/HNCs, Foundation Degrees and Degrees.
Why Higher Education?
Higher Education will bring benefits to your son or daughter that last throughout their life, no matter which pathway they take, including:
- Access to a wider range of jobs and the opportunity to earn a higher wage
- Gaining transferable skills which can be applied to the world of work and adult life
- Opportunity to try new activities and meet new people
- Opportunity to gain real work experience whilst studying
- Increased confidence through presenting work and working in teams
Applying to Higher Education
The first step to applying is for your son or daughter to decide what and where they would like to study. Key things to consider are:
- What subjects they are good at and are interested in
- What courses would help them with any career plans they have
- How they best like to learn
- What difference institutions can offer them in terms of facilities, price and support
- Where they would like to study
Applications for HE are usually made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Your son or daughter will need to register and create an account on UCAS.
The deadline for most applicants is typically the January of the intended start year.
Universities and Colleges will send their responses to applicants through a service called UCAS Track. These will either be Conditional, Unconditional or Decline. Once your child has received replies from all of the institutions they have applied to they will need to choose a first (firm) and second (insurance) choice and decline other offers.
On results day, UCAS Track will notify your child to let them know whether their firm or insurance choice has accepted them onto their chosen course.
Help and Support
Students will receive a range of talks and a helpful booklet in College which will help guide them as to how to apply to UCAS and they will receive 1:1 support from our expert careers team.
Helpful websites:
www.futureme.ac.uk
www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
www.gov.uk/student-finance
We can take them higher
Middlesbrough College offers a number of higher education courses, allowing your child to achieve their careers aspirations all in one place!
Our partnership with the Open University - the UK's largest University underpinned by world-leading research - means we are able to deliver affordable, job-focused degrees for those who want to study locally.
The benefits of studying for a degree at Middlesbrough College are:
- We provide affordable degree study that is more cost-effective to the student, whilst retraining more contact time with tutors and flexible learning hours.
- We offer more teaching hours than a traditional University and our class sizes are smaller meaning more contact time with the tutor.
- We work with over 2000 employers and can therefore offer a wider range of work placement and internship opportunities, improving employability prospects.
- Our courses are delivered on campus by up-to-date industry specialist teachers who spend a period of time each year updating their skills and knowledge by returning to the industry.
Find out more about our University Level courses