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Returning to Study. An Insight into Higher Education Pippa Waller Routes to Higher Education. An Insight in to Higher Education. What can I study? How do I choose? What do I need? What will it be like? How will I fund it? Will I….? What sort of support is there?. Is it just me?.
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Returning to Study An Insight into Higher Education Pippa Waller Routes to Higher Education
An Insight in to Higher Education • What can I study? • How do I choose? • What do I need? • What will it be like? • How will I fund it? • Will I….? • What sort of support is there?
Is it just me? Higher Education never an option Fresh start Change of priorities since schooldays Inspired by a subject Career enhancement Doing something you have always wanted to do Change of domestic responsibilities
What can I study? Types of Qualifications • ‘Bachelors’ Degrees (BSc, BA …) • Sandwich degrees • ‘Honours’ (Hons) • Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education • Foundation Degrees • Higher National Diplomas
What can I study?Subject areas • Vocational/ • Professional • Teaching, • Social Work, Health Professions, Medicine • Law, Engineering, Architecture… Academic History, English, Politics, Modern Languages, Criminal Justice, International Relations… Work-related Psychology, Business Studies, Natural and Physical Sciences, Computing…
How do I choose? Career considerations • Profession-specific qualifications • Ensure job profile is right for you • Get work experience, speak to people in the field • Websites: Careers and professional bodies • What happens if you change your mind? • Is there a job at the other end? • Research: Labour market; graduate destinations • Be proactive about improving employability • Consider ‘sandwich’ courses
How do I choose?Subject considerations • Personal fulfillment/enjoyment • What subjects interested you in the past? • Hobbies? May be a connection! • In need of ideas? • Try UK Course Finder or other guidance packages • Ensure the course goals match yours • look beyond the title and general perception • look at subject combinations
What do I need to get in?Academic requirements • General Admissions policy • ‘Ability to study at a higher level’– advanced level academic study • ‘Recent’ academic study • Specific subjects in some cases
What do I need to get in?Possible qualification routes • Access to Higher Education • ‘Year zero’ courses • A and AS level • BTEC/Edexcel qualifications • Open University credits • Foundation degree pathways • Other qualifications/experience
What do I need to get in?What Admissions Tutors look for • Focus, enthusiasm and commitment to choice of course • Genuine interest and understanding • Experience for professional qualifications • Potential to benefit from the course and from higher education generally • Relevant skills and qualities to succeed
How do I apply? • UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service • 15 October Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary Medicine, Oxbridge • 15 January All other applications • Advisory deadlines but strongly recommend meeting them • will guarantee your application is considered • Application distributed to Universities
What will it be like?Common learning and teaching styles • Face-to-face’ learning • Lectures & tutorials • Group work • Presentations • Lab work • Placements • Private study • Research • Directed • Discussion • Contact hours • Operational hours Responsible for own learning
What will it be Like?Assessment methods • Examination • Coursework, reports & essays • Practical assessment • Problem-based learning • Seminar presentations • Group projects
How will it be funded? • Student Finance England • Tuition fee loan • Maintenance loan (upper age limit) • Maintenance or Special Support Grant • Adult Dependant’s Grant • Parents’ Learning Allowance • Childcare grant • Disabled Students’ Allowances • University • Bursaries under the ‘OFFA’ agreement • University Access to Learning Fund • Other • Social Work Bursary Subject to meeting eligibility criteria and means-testing
How are health professions courses funded? Fees paid by DoH Dip HE Non means tested bursaries BSc (Hons) Means tested bursaries Reduced rate student loan University Access to Learning Fund Subject to meeting eligibility criteria
Ah yes, loans…. • Not credit scored • Low interest • Charged from point of borrowing • Repayments start April after graduation if earnings > £15,000 pa • Government writes off outstanding balance 25 years after this date
Will I….. ever find my way around!? fit in? manage financially? fit it all in? be able to study with dyslexia? be good enough?
What we can do • Academic support • Tutor • Learning Skills • Disability ASSIST • Careers • Library • Media workshops • Computing • Practical/personal • Accommodation • Freshlings Nursery • Chaplaincy • Health & Welfare • Students Union • Funding • Transitions
What it’s all about • Studying something you love • Personal accomplishment • Meeting new people • Improving your prospects • Improving self-confidence • Indulging and enjoying yourself!