Choosing an HE course
You may be one of the lucky people who know exactly what you want to study. However, most people need to take some time to weigh up alternative course ideas.
It’s a good idea to start your research in January of Y12 so you’ll be ready to apply for a course in the autumn term.
Developing course ideas
It’s important to study a subject you’re interested in and enjoy. It’s also worth thinking about what type of career you want once you’ve graduated. The following resources will help get you thinking about the type of HE course that might suit you.
- Kudos On-line and E-clips are careers matching programmes that help you find careers that fit in with your interests. Both of these resources are free to use at your local Connexions Centre, and once registered, you can use Kudos On-line wherever there is internet access. Ask your Connexions Personal Adviser to get you started.
- Jobs4U is a good place to research what qualifications can help you enter particular careers. It is particularly useful if you already have some careers in mind.
- www.ucas.com has developed the Stamford Test to help prospective HE students decide which course and institution might suit them. It is a short questionnaire which can help you match your interests and abilities to possible higher education subjects. UCAS TV has ‘How to Guides’ to help you choose a course, plus case studies and video diaries.
- www.prospects.ac.uk provides information on what you can do after HE (by subject area studied).
Choosing a university or college course that suits you
After researching which courses will help you achieve your career aspirations, you’re ready to check out what’s on offer and whether you have the skills or qualifications required to get accepted onto the course. Focus your research by drawing up a short-list of courses to apply for. You are allowed to apply for a maximum of five.
- www.ucas.ac.uk Select ‘Course search’ to find out about full-time courses and Foundation Degree courses on offer.
- http://careersadvice-findacourse1.direct.gov.uk has information on full-time and part-time HE courses.
- www.unistats.com allows you to compare information (including entry requirements) for different subjects and institutions. You can also find out what sort of jobs recent graduates are doing and what students said about the quality of their HE experience.
- www.prospectusfinder.co.uk has university prospectuses to order or browse online. You can also browse university prospectuses at your local Connexions Centre.
- Talk to people - Make sure you go to Staffordshire HE Convention on 23rd June 2010 to speak to staff and students from Universities and Colleges throughout the UK. There are also seminars to attend to get the facts about choosing courses and studying specific subjects. NB – use the guidebook to plan for your visit.
- Go to university and college open days. Check for details on individual university and college websites.
Remember: Choosing the correct course for you is an important decision. Your Connexions Personal Adviser is on hand to help you plan your future.
