{"id":1619,"date":"2020-07-29T22:19:14","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T21:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/gatewaysresources\/?page_id=1619"},"modified":"2020-11-08T16:55:56","modified_gmt":"2020-11-08T16:55:56","slug":"understanding-higher-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/gatewaysresources\/home\/teacher-home-page\/understanding-higher-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding higher education"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nGateways Resources<\/a><\/span><\/span>
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Understanding higher education\u00a0<\/h1>\n

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We know that as teachers and advisors you will already have a strong understanding of what Higher Education (HE) is. \u00a0However, the landscape of HE study is always changing so we\u2019ve outline what HE study currently means in the UK and why, at Gateways, we think HE provides amazing opportunities for personal and academic development for young people.\u00a0Higher education has changed, and is constantly changing to fit the needs of the wider community (both person focused and career focused) and as a result the contemporary HE landscape is very different to these traditional universities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Higher education is now much more varied, and is accessible to everyone, no matter what their background, interests or future goals. Higher education refers to any qualification at Level 4 or above. In the UK, there are over 400 different higher education institutions (not just universities), with approximately 90,000 different courses for students to choose from; from Medicine and Dentistry, to Sport Psychology, to Fashion Marketing, and everything in between. With this much choice, in both location, subject area, and the format of teaching, there is something for everyone.<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”University undergraduate degree study” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n

Understanding higher education\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We know that as teachers and advisors you will already have a strong understanding of what Higher Education (HE) is. \u00a0However, the landscape of HE study is always changing so we\u2019ve outline what HE study currently means in the UK and why, at Gateways, we think HE provides amazing opportunities for personal and academic development for young people.\u00a0Higher education has changed, and is constantly changing to fit the needs of the wider community (both person focused and career focused) and as a result the contemporary HE landscape is very different to these traditional universities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Higher education is now much more varied, and is accessible to everyone, no matter what their background, interests or future goals. Higher education refers to any qualification at Level 4 or above. In the UK, there are over 400 different higher education institutions (not just universities), with approximately 90,000 different courses for students to choose from; from Medicine and Dentistry, to Sport Psychology, to Fashion Marketing, and everything in between. With this much choice, in both location, subject area, and the format of teaching, there is something for everyone.<\/p>\n

University undergraduate degree study<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the most common form of higher education, and students will receive a \u2018Bachelor\u2019s Degree\u2019 through going to university to study their first degree. Bachelor\u2019s degrees typically take 3 years to complete, but this can vary depending on the course and whether students choose to study abroad, do a year in industry, or complete an integrated masters. University is not only known for the qualification received, but for the all-round student experience that is available for students when they attend university. This includes the chance to live away from home, join societies, and meet people from all over the world. University is seen as a \u2018stepping stone\u2019 into adult life, where you gain a lot more independence and responsibility, but also have a huge support network behind you, including financial support, careers support, disability support, and much more. Most students at University will study full-time, though some institutions specialise in part-time study or distance learning, for example, the Open University.<\/p>\n

In choosing to go to university, pupils will be able to select from approximately 50,000 different courses across 400+ institutions in the UK alone. Students should research the different degree programmes available to them \u2013 there will be many courses they have never heard of, but might be very interested in pursuing further. The best place for students to find this information, and to think about where they would like to study, is through the UCAS search tool:\u00a0https:\/\/www.ucas.com\/search<\/span>.<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0For more information about UCAS\u00a0visit our UCAS and the applicant journey page<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Universities do not have curriculums so many courses with the same title can be taught completely differently across the different institutions, and<\/em> have different course content. Most degrees have some core topics all students must study to achieve a base level of knowledge and skill in the given subject area, but alongside this students will be able to take modules in topics that are of specific interest to them. Those module choices will be driven by the specialities of the academic staff at the university.<\/p>\n

Below is an example of first and second year students should research the different degree programmes available to them \u2013 there will be many courses they have never heard of, but might be very interested in pursuing further modules on the University of Manchester\u2019s\u00a0BA English Literature degree for 20\/21 as an example of a course which offers students a chance to study areas of their interest in depth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year 1 Course unit (module) Title<\/strong><\/td>\nCredit rating<\/strong><\/td>\nMandatory\/optional<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reading Literature<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nMandatory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mapping the Medieval<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nMandatory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theory and Text<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nMandatory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
English Literature Tutorials<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nMandatory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Literature and History<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Year 2 Course unit (module) Title<\/strong><\/td>\nCredit rating<\/strong><\/td>\nMandatory\/optional<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
American Literature and Social Criticism, 1900-Present<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Creative Writing: Fiction<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chaucer: Texts, Contexts, Conflicts<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gender, Sexuality and the Body: Theories and Histories<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Writing, Identity and Nation<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Creative Writing: Poetry<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Creative Writing: Poetry<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medieval Metamorphoses<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renaissance Literature<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old English: Writing the Unreadable Past<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Satire and the Novel: English Literature of the Long Eighteenth Century<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Modernism<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Romanticism (1776-1832)<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nOptional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Studying HE at an FE college <\/strong><\/p>\n

There are a growing number of FE colleges across the UK, that now teach higher education qualifications; including Higher National Diplomas and Certificates, Foundation Years, and in some cases, full Degrees. Colleges will be linked up with a university that offers the given course, but will focus on teaching students the skills and knowledge needed for a particular field. They tend to focus more on practical skills and vocational routes into given careers. Some students will choose to study at an FE college as the class sizes are less crowded, the overall size of the institution is smaller, and this gives them the opportunity to study from home and reduce additional expenses.\u00a0FE Colleges will teach a wide range of HE courses, including Business, Administration and Law, Education, Arts and Media and Technology. FE colleges also tend to provide more opportunities for part time or evening study.<\/p>\n

Within Greater Manchester there are a number of FE colleges who offer degree course, including The Manchester College and Salford City College.<\/p>\n

To find out more about the courses on offer, follow this link: https:\/\/nationalcareers.service.gov.uk\/find-a-course\/search<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Degree level apprenticeships” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n

Degree Apprenticeships <\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many different types of apprenticeships available, but a degree apprenticeship is a relatively new Level 4 qualification geared towards students who have a clear idea of the career that they want to pursue, and can be a great alternative to university.<\/p>\n

Through a degree apprenticeship, young people can gain the skills, qualifications and experience needed to get into a specific career, as they combine work, training and study; whilst earning a wage of their own (\u2018earn while they learn\u2019). An apprentice will spend the majority of their week in work (a minimum of 30 hours), where they will focus on learning to do the job. They will learn from colleagues, attend training sessions, and will be buddied up with someone more senior, who will monitor and review their progress. For the rest of the week (usually one day), they will attend a college, university or alternative training provider, where they will complete assessments to test both their academic learning and occupational competence.<\/p>\n

Apprentices will gain a head start in their chosen profession and gain a full degree, without needing to pay student fees. They will also be paid a full wage, whilst still studying. Students must be well organised and able to cope with competing demands of work life and academic study at the same time, and they are not as commonly available as degrees at HEIs or FE colleges so students so many who take up apprenticeships will have to move away from home.<\/p>\n

There are a huge number of webpages designated to finding out more about apprenticeships, but here are a few that we would recommend looking at:<\/p>\n

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