Higher Education
If your son or daughter is thinking of going to University or HE college, they need to start planning their application during Year 12.
From January of Year 12 they need to start their research into the range and types of courses, and the institutions which offer them. They can get information through university & college websites, prospectuses, attending open days and talking to sixth form/college staff and Connexions Personal Advisers
Before applying your son or daughter will need to:
- Compare the content of courses (Degrees/courses with the same name may be different at each university or college.)
- Find out about entry requirements (grades / points needed) and decide whether these are within their reach..
- Make sure that the institution offers facilities to accommodate their needs and interests, for example, assistive technology, music rooms, studios...
- Check whether the university provides accommodation and what support they give to students looking for a place to stay.
- Find out about funding. (The Money for Study section in the Young People's part of this website provides lots of useful information.)
- If possible, visit their chosen institutions.
Applying for a full-time higher education course
Your son or daughter will need to send in their application during Year 13. Most applications for higher education are made from school or college. Applications are accepted from mid-September and the closing date is 15 January, except for Oxford and Cambridge, medicine, dentistry or veterinary science applications, for which the closing date is 15 October. (Young people wanting to apply to specialist institutions, e.g. music colleges, should make enquiries about the application process as these tend to be different. Applicants who want to study for a nursing diploma should also check deadlines as some courses start in January).
Some universities require that an admissions test is taken before a student is allowed on certain courses, such as law, medicine and some science and engineering courses.. It is your son/daughter’s responsibility to ensure that they are entered for these tests..
Your son or daughter can get help with their application from Sixth form / college staff and Connexions Personal Advisers.
For more information on choosing and applying for HE courses, visit the Parents’ section at www.ucas.ac.uk or the Education and Learning section at www.direct.gov.uk.
The Young Persons's section of this website has useful information for anyone considering HE.
