Why
go to
university?
Higher Education concerns
• Can be a daunting prospect
• Common concerns include:
- Moving away from home
- Meeting new people
- Living and study costs
- Managing workload.
• Many students are unsure if university is
really for them
• Another potential 3-4 years of academic
commitment
• Is it worth it? How will it be different
from school/college?
HE versus FE
• How is HE different to your FE
studies now?
• HE is:
• A choice from over 150 different institutions
and thousands of courses
• A different way of learning and working to
school/college
• Varying levels of subject
- Foundation Degree
- HND
- Degree (BA, BSC, LLB, BEng, BEd).
HE learning styles
• Emphasis is placed on independent learning
• You can choose a course and modules to suit
your interests and preferred learning style
• Teaching methods include:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Lab/practical sessions.
• Assessment types include:
- Exams
- Essays
- Group work
- Presentation
- Lab reports
- Practical coursework (eg performance, painting, website creation).
Student Support
• Universities have lots of support staff
across many areas, including:
• Study
- Libraries are often open 24 hours to suit you
- Support available for all learning difficulties (often additional
funding)
- Students assigned a personal tutor
• Personal
- Counselling
- Money and Welfare
- Housing
- Health
- Careers
- Religious
• Support is available – just ask!
Personal benefits of HE
• Independence – support available
if needed
• Meet people
• Experience a different part of the country
(or world)
• Explore a personal interest in a subject
• Achieve a qualification towards career
progression
• Gain transferable skills.
Living experiences
• Move to a new town or city
• Meet hundreds of new people instantly
• Meet and interact with people from
different backgrounds to you
• Flatmates are a great support network
• Lots of opportunities for spontaneous
social activities
• Gain independence by cooking, cleaning,
and managing your bills
• Make friends for life!
International experiences
• Many universities run students exchange
programmes, Erasmus is the most
common
• Exchanges to countries all over the world
including France, Greece, USA, China,
Italy and Iceland
• Millions of students take part every year
• Funding available to cover travel and
studying costs
• A chance to experience another part of the
world/culture
• Learn a new language
• Broaden your university experiences
Social experiences
• Students’ Union is home to sports teams,
societies and further support
• Many universities also have a student
newspaper, radio station and TV channel!
• Universities compete with each other in sporting
events and for The Student Media Awards
• A chance to make new friends
• Getting involved improves your transferable
skills
• You haven't got to have any previous experience
or be particularly sporty to join!
Graduate employment
• Universities teach the skills that employers
value
• Lots of employment choice:
- Professional areas
- Graduate schemes
- Non-graduate jobs.
• Two thirds of graduate jobs don’t ask for a
specific degree subject, just that level
of education
• Graduates enter professions at a higher
level
• Degree and university experiences can
enhance your CV
Graduate salaries
• A degree is an investment into your future
• Average graduate starting salary is
£19,300
• Over a lifetime a graduate will earn 20-
25% more than a non-graduate
• Graduates progress faster than
non-graduates
Conclusion
• Your future – a fantastic opportunity
• Improve your career prospects
• Make the most of all the experiences
on offer
• Ask for help and support if you need it
• Best years of your life!