What, where, how to study

Overview

Higher education means any study from Level 4 (which is equivalent, in level, to the first year of a university course) upwards – this can include short courses, a range of degrees, occupational courses and even postgraduate qualifications. Courses are delivered through universities, colleges and some training providers. Use the Lifepilot Find a provider tool to find organisations in the South of England that offer courses at Level 4 and beyond.  

There are some courses that help adults prepare for higher education level study that do not require formal qualifications on entry  e.g. Access to Higher Education courses, many programmes offered by The Open University and some courses with foundation years (some might require a GCSE in maths and English).

If you don't feel ready for higher education or one of the preparatory courses then you might want to start with a course related to a personal interest without the pressure of doing a qualification, or by brushing up on your literacy, numeracy or IT skills.

There are also courses and programmes that help people develop or extend their skills and knowledge in a particular job area, such as apprenticeships, and many Foundation Degrees and HNC/HNDs.

Whatever your starting point, think about what you want to get out of a course and your own needs and circumstances.

If you need help choosing the right course, you can get support from a National Careers Service adviser.

Finding the type of course to suit your needs

What you choose, and the way you study, will depend on what you want and need from a qualification.

The better the match between what you choose and your personal ambitions and interests, the more chance you’ll be able to keep yourself going and succeed. 

Explore the different types of courses on offer and complete the Lifepilot Higher Skills Map tool to start thinking about what skills you have to offer (you will be surprised how many skills you have built up in your life!). The qualification planner will help you establish the level of your current qualifications, what qualification you could do next and what's involved in taking different qualifications.

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