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Higher Education FAQs

What is higher education?

Higher education is any qualification at Level 4 or above. These are the optional qualifications that you can choose to study after finishing sixth form or college. 

Are there different types of higher education qualification?

There are many different types of higher education qualification to suit different learning styles, different career goals and different assessment preferences. Different types of courses take different lengths of time to complete and are studied in different ways. Some qualifications are mainly practical and hands on, some are mainly delivered through lectures and classroom-based study, and some are gained in the workplace. 

What subjects can I study?

There are lots of different subjects that can be studied at higher education level – some are broad subjects which you might study to develop skills and knowledge that could be applied widely, and some are very specific to a particular career or vocation (e.g., nursing or engineering).

Where can I study higher education?

You can study higher education at a university or a college, and sometimes through your workplace through an apprenticeship or vocational course. Different higher education institutions have different options for full and part time study too!

Is going to university or college just like being at school?

If you are a studying a higher education qualification at university of college then some things are like school, but some things are very different! You will usually be taught in a group with other students by a lecturer/tutor (like a teacher) which is similar to school, but your class size could be much bigger than if you were at school and you’ll be responsible for managing your own workload and time. If you’re an apprentice, then your experience will feel very different to school as you will be an employee at a company and learn on the job. 

How much does it cost? 

The cost will depend on what, where, and how you study! Most courses charge a tuition fee (which is a maximum of £9,250) but you can access a tuition fee loan to cover this cost. You will also need to consider how to pay your living costs while studying, but there is also help available for these costs in the form of maintenance loans.