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Is University for me?
Benefits of Higher Education
Going to university is a great way to expand your knowledge, meet new people, and enjoy new experiences. This page contains the key information you need to decide whether university is right for you.
There are personal benefits, career benefits and financial benefits to Higher Education.
Career Benefits
Some careers are only open to those who hold a specific qualification, e.g., becoming a doctor or an architect but in general, holding a higher education qualification can open the doors to many other career opportunities which may not always be directly related to the subject studied. This is because higher education helps people develop a transferable skill set which is looked upon favourably by employers.
Personal Benefits
Studying for a degree can help you personally as well as in your career. Moving away or commuting to university helps you become more independent, take on new responsibilities and manage your time in a way you probably haven't up until now. You learn so many transferrable skills at university and meet new likeminded people who can support you to grow academically and personally.
Financial Benefits
In addition to having a greater range of jobs available to them, graduates also attract higher salaries throughout their working life.
What to Study
Course Guides
If you do want to continue your studies at university, choosing a course can be tough. There's so many to choose from and you want to pick the right one!
It’s important you choose a subject you enjoy and will help you reach your goals. Here are some things to help you choose the right subject for you:
- Think about what you enjoy day-to-day – maybe this could be part of a future job role?
- Explore different job sites and graduate career options to look for ideas on what you’d like to do once you've finished your studies.
- Think about your career goals and the qualifications required as part of a person specification.
- Take a look at UCAS Course Guides to get an idea of the types of subjects you could study, and the industries graduates go on to work in.
Student Finance
Paying for University
Tuition fee loans
Tuition fee loans are there to cover the cost of the course. Currently, universities and colleges are able to charge up to a maximum of £9,250 per year for a typical full-time higher education course. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course. You would apply for the entire cost of your tuitions fees, and it’s paid straight to the university or college where you study.
Maintenance loans
Maintenance loans are available to help with the everyday costs of living, for example: accommodation, food, utility bills and socialising etc.
For maintenance loans, the amount you can borrow depends on your family’s household income and when you’ll live, whether staying with parents or carers or moving out. If you’re going to university in London, the maximum loan amount available is higher to account for the higher cost of living in the capital.
Student Loan Repayment
Apprenticeships
Higher Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is like a job, but with an added element of study. You’ll spend most of your time doing on-the-job training, and the rest studying with your college or training provider.
At the end of the apprenticeship, you’ll have an assessment to check you can confidently perform your role. If you pass, you’ll be awarded your apprenticeship (equivalent to a foundation year at University).
Degree Apprenticeships
A degree apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to gain a paid-for degree while getting industry experience and earning a salary.
You’ll spend most of your time working and you’ll also study part-time at university. For example, you might go to university one or two days per week, or in short blocks, such as a week at a time. Overall, you spend about 20% of your time studying vs. 80% of your time working.
Find out more about Higher and Degree ApprenticeshipsLink opens in a new window.
Careers
Finding a Career
Deciding on a career can be really confusing and difficult if you aren't sure what you want to do after school or college but a good starting point is to think about what you like, what you don't like, what you are good at.
Why not use resources like the UCAS Careers Quiz, the Skills Assessment or the Prospects Career Planner to start thinking about it.
UCAS
What is UCAS?
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education.
It's the one-stop-shop for course guides, application information, university open days, you name it.
They support 1.5 million students every year to explore entering higher education, employment and apprenticeships and manage almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.
Personal Statements
What is a personal statement?
An undergraduate personal statement is a chance to get noticed for the unique talents and experiences you have. It’s an important part of the application process as it’s an opportunity to talk about yourself and your passions, outside of your grades.
Check out a list of Dos and Don'ts for your personal statement by heading to the UCAS websiteLink opens in a new window
Or head to youtube to watch how to write an amazing personal statementLink opens in a new window.
Open Days
Where to find an Open Day?
If you think higher education might be for you, the next step is attending some open days.
Heading to an open day helps you see if the place feels right. It also gives you a chance to get any answers you need before applying.
You can see a list of open days on the institutions own site or on the UCAS site.
Opportunities for Students
Where can I sign up for programmes and support with ThinkHigher or local universities?
You can see what projects ThinkHigher are running by heading to our projects page.
If you are interested in finding out what programmes are available in Coventry and Warwickshire you can head to our partners page to see what is on offer.
Care Leavers
Support for Care Leavers
If you are in care, or have experience of being in care in the past, there's lots of support available in higher education to help you with finance, accommodation, and settling in.
University of Warwick Care Leaver Support
Coventry University Care Leaver Support
Care Leavers - Going to Uni PodcastLink opens in a new window
Mental Health
Mental Health Support
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education.
It's the one-stop-shop for course guides, application information, university open days, you name it.
They support 1.5 million students every year to explore entering higher education, employment and apprenticeships and manage almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.
Other Resources
Find more support