Learning Highway - Higher Education - FAQs
Do you need a lot of money to go to higher education? I keep reading about student debt?
Higher education does cost money - but it is an investment for the future. The government allows higher education institutions to charge up to £3000 a year in tuition fees and most do charge this figure. But you won't have to pay these until you have qualified and are earning above a certain salary level which is currently £15,000. Student Loans are available to help with living costs - and grants for students from lower income families. You would repay the loans at the same time as the tuition fees.
I think I would be homesick if I went away. Can I stay near home?
Yes, so long as the course is offered locally. There is a very wide choice within daily travelling distance in Surrey.
When would I have to apply for a course?
Traditionally, full-time courses start in the autumn term. You would apply approximately one year ahead of entry. If you wanted to start a course in autumn 2006 you would apply in autumn 2005. Many universities though, are beginning to offer courses that start in January or February. These are usually of particular interest to local students. Application and entry dates to part-time and distance learning courses are flexible.
I don't think I'm confident enough to go to university. Should I try?
If you are not confident now - you will be by the time you leave! Gaining assurance and independence is part of the experience.
I want to get into a very popular career area and I have been told that I will need relevant experience. Will I be able to get any part-time work that would be relevant to a future job while I'm at college?
Make early contact with the college careers service. They will have information on vacation employment which is directly relevant to some careers and will also be able to point you in the right direction for obtaining unpaid experience - all too common nowadays unfortunately, in some industries. They will also be able to help you relate any voluntary or paid work to future employment by showing you how to acquire and log work-related skills that employers demand - even from non-relevant work.
I am applying to do a degree course in my late 30s after bringing up a family. Will I be very out of place among younger students?
Personal experiences vary but most mature students report that they get on very well with the other students and soon forget about any age difference. You might feel a little hesitant about speaking up in discussions at first but you won't be the only one. Younger students will be nervous too! You might feel more comfortable if there are other older students on the course and you would be able to give each other moral support. It would be a good idea to contact the admissions tutors of courses that interest you and ask whether they get many mature applicants.
I've started an Access course. I know what degree course I want to do but how can my tutors write a reference at this stage?
Admissions tutors will understand that your referee does not know you very well as yet and that it will be difficult to predict how well you might do. The referee can put a brief reference on the UCAS form and add that s/he will supply a more detailed one later. A copy of this second reference should be sent to each of the universities you apply to - NOT to UCAS.
Can I get a loan as a mature student?
You can apply for a loan from the Student Loans Company if you are under 50. If you are aged between 50 and 54 at the start of your course you can still apply - but must be able to show that you plan to return to employment when the course ends.
As a student will I have to pay council tax?
Students are exempt from paying this tax, so there should be no problem if you live in a hall of residence or share private accommodation with other students. If you shared with one (non student) adult they could still claim the 25% single occupancy discount. If there are two or more other adults in the property the full tax is payable.
Is it easy for students to find term time jobs?
Most students now work for around 12 - 15 hours a week in term time. (More is not advised.) At many places you will find that some jobs around the campus (cleaning, office work, catering) are reserved for students and that the Students' Union employs students in its bars and shops. But many colleges and universities and go further than this by running job shops to help to find part-time work that fits in with students' free time.
Do I have to know what career I want to do before I go to higher education? I'd like to do history. What can I do with that afterwards? I don't want to teach.
A lot of people don't know what they want to do when they start a higher education course. Others think they do and change their minds! Over 40% of jobs for graduates do not specify a particular subject. Employers are looking for common skills that any degree subject should teach - written communication, oral presentation, solving problems, handling large amounts of information, and critical reasoning. You should also make sure that you gain experience in team working and some numeracy and IT skills, (either through your course or in part time work/student societies.) Equipped with these, history graduates are working in careers as different as accountancy, advertising, broadcasting, computing, journalism, law, marketing, personnel, sales and social work.
Why should I think about higher education when I'm only in Year 10?
Because if you begin to get together some ideas about what you might like to do, you could find choosing which course to do after Year 11 becomes easier.