Going to University or College

If you've decided to continue your studies after school and go to university or college there are two key choices ahead of you.  Where and what to study.

What to study

Some students know from the outset what course they want to study it might be something you've enjoyed at school or the first step to a particular career, but if you're unsure of what to study, don't worry.  As well as degrees in the traditional academic subjects you may have previously studied, there are also course in subjects you may never even have considered including football and the media!  Some courses even offer a year in industry, or learning abroad, just to give you a taste of a possible future career and of course, to let you put your studies into practice.

But whether you know what to study or not, there is a lot of help and advice available to you and not just from the universities and colleges themselves, all of whom will have their own websites.  Simply use the Google search engine (external link) to look for your college, or course, of choice.

The HERO site (external link) offers advice about things to consider when choosing your course and there may be more than one qualification suitable for the career you want to pursue.  The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) (external link) also offers a full list of every course available in the UK and you can search by a variety of methods, so that if you are determined to attend a university in Scotland, you can narrow down your search to only scottish universities.

If you're interested in finding out the best possible route to take to pursue a specific career,   then visit the Worktrain website (external link) which includes details of just what a particular job entails, what training and qualifications are required, as well as the opportunities that exist in that area.

Where to study

Your choice of course may influence where you decide to study some courses are only available at certain universities or colleges or you may have chosen your course based on where you want to study.  However, what you choose to study and where doesn't matter, as long as it's a choice you're happy with.  And remember, university isn't the only place to continue your education, there are a range of colleges up and down the country that have courses you may be interested in, or you may decide not to go away to study at all, but to study online.  Learndirect (external link) offers a range of online courses that you can study anytime, from the comfort of your own home.

Visiting the HERO site (external link)  allows you to search for universities and colleges around the country. From there, you will be able to find information about the university and the courses it offers. There may also be details about open days, so if you are really interested, you can pay a visit and see the place for yourself.

Most universities and colleges now have quite detailed websites that will not only let you search for particular courses, but will also give you a feel about what each institution is like.  Again, the HERO site's map pages are useful for finding them.

Applying for college

When you start planning what and where you want to study, its always a good idea to think about the application process you'll have to go through.  The UCAS website (external link) is the best place to find details of admissions policies and you'll also be able to order an UCAS application pack for applying for a place at the institution of your choice.

The UCAS site will also give you details of when your application has to be submitted by in order for it to be processed.  In general, for entry on a course in September, applications must be in by January of that year.

Access Courses

With more and more people keen to continue studying later in life, there are many more opportunities for people who may not have had the right qualifications when they left school to still get on a degree course.

Access courses are available in some instances for people who do not have formal qualifications, and many universities also offer part-time options for those who don't want to study full-time. Details can be found on individual university and college sites, but also on the HERO site.

Student life

For many young people, going away to study is the first time they will have lived away from home and it can sometimes be quite daunting.  Most universities and colleges do their best to makes sure you feel as welcome as possible and the tradition of 'freshers' week which allows you to mix with other students, explore the campus and find out about clubs and societies on offer always proves popular.

With the issue of student debt in the press more and more, you may be a little worried about how you will cope, but again there is a lot of information designed to help you get by.  The National Union of Students website (external link) (all students will automatically become a member of the Union) is always a good first port of call, as is the Department for Education and Skills' Student Support website (external link), which includes information about applying for a student loan.

But remember, as well as studying, being at university and college is also about having fun and enjoying yourself, but if there is any time that you feel you'd like to talk to someone - whether its because you're homesick, worried about your finances or wondering how you're going to cope with your studies, there are always counsellors and advisors on hand to help.

Local Universities and Colleges

• University of Chester Website  (external link)
• West Cheshire College Website    (external link)
• Mid Cheshire College Website (external link)
• South Cheshire College Website (external link)
• Priestley College Website (external link)
• North East Wales Institute (NEWI) of Higher Education Website (external link)