Over 600,000 students apply to higher education each year in the UK. There are many benefits to attending university such as gaining transferable skills, exploring academic interests, increasing career options, and receiving professional training. It is important for students to consider what career they want to pursue and whether a particular course and university can help them achieve their goals. Students should also consider location preferences, university facilities, clubs and societies when choosing where to study. They should ask tutors and current students questions about class sizes, assessments, support systems, and cost of living. With effective time management and utilizing support systems, students can cope with the workload of university.

1. Higher Education Lucy Wright Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer

2. Over 600,000 Applicants to HE! Transferable skills Academic interest Increased career choice Professional training (doctors, lawyers etc) Financial advantage Job satisfaction Have Fun

3. How to make your choices If you know what career you would like to go into…. -Does it require a vocational or non-vocational qualification? -Does it require postgraduate study? -Does it require professional accreditation? -Does it require additional/work experience? -What’s the competition like?

4. Matching Courses to Careers! If you don’t have a career in mind…. -What subjects do you enjoy? -What subjects don’t you like? -What are your skills, strengths interests?

5. Location Location Location! How close to home do you want to be? Small town or big city? Where are you actually moving too?

6. What Do They Have To Offer You? Academics Societies Sports Facilities Structured independence

7. Clubs and Societies Law Football Chocolate Pantomime Dungeons & Dragons Create your own society!

8. Questions for the Tutors How many students are there per class? How many drop out? How often are the assessments? How do you assess? How often do you get to see them on a one to one basis? How many hours per week are you in lectures / seminars? How many hours per week is recommended for reading?

9. Questions for the Students Is accommodation guaranteed? How much is it? What are the Students’ Union facilities like? What are your fees? Where do you live after first year? What is there to do on a night out / in? How easy is it to get a part time job?

10. Coping With Workloads Study groups Time management Strengths & weaknesses Student Support

11. Where is the Information? Prospectus Internet Current students See it for yourself

12. Top Tips No-one else can pick a University/Course for you. What ever your priorities are stick to them Go visit, eat there Talk to a current student where possible Be quick but don’t rush Score the Universities on YOUR criteria What is the next step after University Stay Positive