Understanding HIGHER EDUCATION

Transcription

1 Understanding HIGHER EDUCATION

2 WHAT IS HIGHER EDUCATION? Higher education (HE) is where you study a course at an advanced level, and upon completion receive a degree certificate. Higher education courses are offered by universities, colleges and specialist institutions. TYPES OF DEGREE The most popular type of degree is a bachelor s degree, which is studied at undergraduate level (before graduation). You may also hear people talk about postgraduate qualifications these are studied after you ve already completed your undergraduate degree. BACHELOR DEGREES, FOR EXAMPLE BA, BSC, BENG, BED BA Bachelor of Arts BSc Bachelor of Science BEng Bachelor of Engineering BEd Bachelor of Education All are the same level of qualification. Undergraduate degrees generally last three years full-time. Some can be four years or longer, and if you choose to study part-time, they can last between four to seven years. Other types of degree you may have heard of: Sandwich (or placement) degrees Sandwich degrees are usually four years, one of which is spent in the workplace doing a job in a relevant organisation, using the skills and knowledge you have acquired from your degree. Placement years are highly recommended; in most cases you will be paid a wage, and more importantly you will finish your degree with relevant work experience as well as your qualification. Joint degrees You can study degrees as single honours, which means one subject (e.g. English), or joint honours, with two subjects (e.g. English and History). If you choose to study a joint degree it doesn t mean that you have more work to do it simply means you split your study time between two different subject areas. Foundation degrees HE institutions also offer foundation degrees (FdA, FdSc, FdEng) which are two-year, full-time degrees in vocational subjects and often include work placements. One of the biggest advantages of foundation degrees is that they often have lower and more flexible entry requirements. You can often top-up foundation degrees to bachelor level by completing courses lasting one year after you ve finished your foundation degree.

3 WHAT AND WHERE SHOULD I STUDY? CHOOSING A COURSE There are approximately 50,000 courses to choose from there s definitely something out there for everyone! If you are unsure of the course you d like to study, start by thinking about topics that interest you, and what types of careers appeal to you. If you are completely lost as to what you d like to study, lots of colleges and universities offer taster sessions to give you a feel of different courses, so try to attend as many as you can. CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE There are almost 300 higher education institutions across the UK and you can apply to any you choose. You can stay at home if you re not ready to leave home, or you may choose to go to the other end of the country. You can even leave the country and study abroad. Have a long think about what you want from your university experience and choose somewhere that is going to suit your lifestyle. This is your chance to go and live in a place that you ve always dreamed of it might be a big city, it might be by the sea. The choice is yours.

4 Higher education what are the benefits? What you learn both inside and outside of lecture theatres will stay with you beyond graduation day. You will learn so much some of it will be harder than other bits, but you ll get lots of support from your tutors and new friends. Higher education is to be grasped with both hands, and graduates often look back on their university years as the best of their life. The benefits of higher education are numerous and varied. Three of the most noticeable benefits are: the chance to study a course you are passionate about; gaining independence; and developing your employability skills and other opportunities. STUDYING The opportunity to study a subject you are genuinely passionate about for an extended period of time is a fantastic one. You no longer have to worry about the subjects that don t inspire you you simply concentrate on your favourite one. By the end of your course you will be an expert in your chosen field. Whichever course you decide to choose, the facilities are likely to be a significant step up from whatever you ve experienced previously whether that s learning with the latest engineering machinery, top of the range sports equipment, or dissecting a real human body as part of a medicine course. Studying is at its most enjoyable and stimulating when you are at university.

5 BEING INDEPENDENT Another key benefit of going to university is the opportunity to study and live independently. Living and studying on your own is very different to most students experiences of pre-university life. You will be entirely responsible for managing your own time. You choose when to study and when to relax, you determine your own social life, you buy your own shopping, you decide where you want to live and what you want to get out of university. Not spending all of your money on clothes, or spending all of your time partying, is a balancing act students must learn at university and then carry forward into their graduate lives. OPPORTUNITIES Going to university also provides many opportunities for personal development, which will benefit you later on in life. Getting a degree will enhance your career prospects in a number of ways. Employers like the commitment and dedication that studying one subject for three or more years demonstrates. It also shows that you are able to work independently and are able to flourish in new, challenging environments. At university you perfect your interpersonal skills and get a chance to practise working effectively as a team, both of which are high on a prospective employers' list of desirable qualities. Attending university also offers plenty of opportunities to work abroad, both short and long term. By going to university you will enjoy the luxury of a more varied choice of careers and have far greater earning potential. Graduates on average can expect to earn at least 100,000 more than non-graduates over their working lives.

6 EMPLOYABILITY WHAT IS EMPLOYABILITY? Employability focuses on developing transferable skills that allow you to be successful in a range of job roles. There are a number of employability skills that you will develop while at university and continue to improve throughout your professional life. To be desirable to employers you will need to able to demonstrate that you possess key abilities, which include: communication and interpersonal skills; problem-solving and creative thinking; and good organisation and time management.

7 MAKING YOU STAND OUT GETTING YOUR DREAM JOB To make yourself attractive to prospective employers you should embrace all of the opportunities that you are offered at university. These may include: volunteering on a community project; participating in a sports team; learning a language; fundraising; and studying abroad. Employers are now increasingly looking for graduates to have relevant work experience when applying for roles, and therefore it is essential to have undertaken some relevant work experience at university. Most universities offer placements and some (including NTU) offer real-life consultancy projects and funding to make innovative business ideas a reality. In order to secure that dream job, you must begin by asking yourself what it is that you d like to do. For some this may be easy, but for most it is a much trickier decision. When deciding upon a career, you should research jobs that you can imagine enjoying and being interested in, and then consider important factors such as salary and career progression. However, the job market is competitive and to maximise your chances of securing that dream job you must develop your employability skills. You might feel progress from school to higher education and finally to graduate employment should be simple and straightforward, but that is not the case. The graduate sector is constantly changing and therefore you will encounter challenges throughout your journey, which is why the modern world of work requires you to be adaptable, resilient and have good employability-related skills.

8 Useful sources of information: independent guide to universities. independent guide to universities. statistics about courses and universities, based on recent students. University and Colleges Admissions Service website, with course search, advice and application. information on the cost of university, and what support you may be entitled to. ANY QUESTIONS? Schools, Colleges and Community Outreach Nottingham Trent University Tel: +44(0) Search NTU Outreach Blog with us at /10/14