Further Education
Maybe you want to gain some qualifications or get some more or simply want to do something for pleasure? Further and Higher Education Colleges throughout Northern Ireland will have something for you. They offer a range of academic, vocational and leisure courses eg. A Levels, Catering, Yoga. Take your pick! You may attend full-time, part-time, a few hours during the day or evening – all depends on the course you choose.
If you need some help on deciding what further education course to do get some advice and guidance from a
Careers Adviser in your area or from the Educational Guidance Service for Adults (
EGSA).
Perhaps you know what course you want to do but don’t know where it is offered ring learndirect on freephone 0800 100 900.
Or, if you simply want to know what courses are available in your area have a look at the
Association of NI Colleges (ANIC) website.
Higher Education
Did you know that there are 60,000 courses spread over approx 700 universities and colleges! So if you decide to go to university there’s bound to be a course that will suit you. Very often, going to university is the first experience you will have of living away from home for three, four years, maybe more, so you need to choose your destination carefully!
Which Course
There are five main types of full-time degree courses:
Single Honours
|
You will graduate in one subject. In the 2nd and 3rd year of your course you can choose subject options. These vary slightly according to the institution. |
| Joint Honours |
This involves studying two subjects, that may be related but can be quite different. |
| Combined Honours |
This involves two or three subjects, each of which is studied equally. |
| Major/Minor Courses |
You choose two subjects, one of which is studied over a longer period than the other. |
| Sandwich |
This involves alternating periods of study and work-related experience, which usually means studying for four years. |
Choosing a course from the vast amount available isn’t easy and then trying to match the course to a university, well….. you’ll just need to spend some time doing research. It’s your choice and you want to do something that interests you and that you will enjoy!
You’re probably wondering where on earth you can get all this information.
Don’t worry, there’s loads of help available. Use college/university prospectuses, which are available in schools, local Careers Offices and libraries. Alternatively look them up on the web either individually or by visiting the UCAS website which contains a course search.
Applying in the UK
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) handles applications for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK. The system gives applicants the chance to make responsible choices of course and institution and also gives universities the chance to choose their students.
You can apply for up to five courses. Research your course choices so that you don’t end up applying for courses you know nothing about! Find out as much as you can about the institutions you are interested in – elements of the course, accommodation, nightlife etc. Think about what’s important to you and if you have a disability there will be other things to consider such as access to lecture rooms, canteens etc. Weigh up the pros and cons of them and then finalise your five.
How to Apply
If you’re at school or FE College there will probably be a Careers Teacher to discuss your form with. You could get help from a
Careers Adviser in your local JobCentre, Jobs and Benefits Office or Careers Office.
If you wish to apply for a full-time undergraduate course at university or college, you can use the
UCAS secure online application system.
If you are not applying through a school,college or centre, you will still be able to use the
UCAS secure online application system. You will be required to answer a few eligibility questions before you can start your applicatio
You could get help from a
Careers Adviser in your local JobCentre, Jobs and Benefits Office or Careers Office.
When to Apply
You must apply,in the year before you do your ‘A’ Levels or other exams:
- between 1 September and 15 January for most courses
- or between 1 September and15 October for Oxbridge, Medicine or Veterinary Science
- or between 1 January and 24 March for Art & Design Route B
What Next
UCAS sends copies of your form to the universities you are interested in and they decide whether to offer you a place or not. UCAS will inform you as decisions are made. Offers will be conditional ie you need certain grades or unconditional ie you are accepted with what you currently have. Send your reply slip to UCAS, if you receive more than one offer you can only hold two:
Clearing
Don’t panic if you don’t get an offer or don’t get the grades you need. There’s still a good chance you’ll get to university through the clearing process which starts in August after the results come out. It helps to place students into courses where there are still vacancies. UCAS will send you a ‘Clearing Entry Form’ along with an instruction leaflet.
Move on to the next page for information on
Applying to Colleges in the Republic of Ireland
Open University
The Open University is the UK’s largest university for part-time higher education, offering supported open learning materials for undergraduates and postgraduate qualifications in many subjects.
Look at the
Open University website for detailed information.
Useful Links
For information on Northern Ireland Universities/Colleges click below.
The Queen's University of BelfastUniversity of UlsterAssociation of Northern Ireland Colleges(ANIC)Stranmillis University College
St Mary's University College Click on
UCAS for more detailed information on applying.
For advice and guidance on applying to university contact your
Careers Adviser For a short route to information on higher education have a look at the Higher Education & Research Opportunities
(HERO) website.