Frequently Asked Questions

It could be one of the most valuable things your child ever does, for good reasons:

• Better career prospects
  Employers are increasingly looking for skilled and educated workers.  A Higher Education qualification can set your child up for a greater choice of jobs and for some careers you can’t start without one. It could mean higher pay too.

• Confidence and independence
  Student life will give your child the chance to meet new people from a wide range of backgrounds and to take part in sporting and social activities.  This will help them become more self confident and independent before they enter the world of full time work.

Find out more by reading the online Aimhigher publication, Help Your Child Into Higher Education.

No, A levels are just one way to get onto a degree or other Higher Education course.  Depending on what your child wants to study, other qualifications can be just as good, such as a BTEC National, a 14-19 Diploma or an NVQ Level 3.

Find out more at Qualifications Explained.

There is a huge range of courses on offer, and not just full-time degree courses.  Many new programmes can be studied while working part-time, including work-related Foundation Degrees and industry-focused Higher National Diplomas.

It’s important that your child studies subjects that they enjoy, but they will need to check whether their chosen course requires any particular qualifications.

Find out more at Universities and Colleges Admission Service.  Here you will find detailed information on the courses available and the entry requirements.

All UK students are entitled to financial support from the government, in the form of loans and grants.  Loans are used to cover tuition fees and living costs.  The student will have to pay these back, but not until they have finished studying and are earning over £15,000 a year.  They may also qualify for financial help that they won’t have to pay back, in the form of grants and bursaries.

No one in the UK should be put off studying because of student debt.  Do it right and it shouldn’t be a problem.  Find out more at Student Finance England.

Not necessarily.  There’s a good choice of Higher Education courses in Norfolk, at both universities and colleges.  Plenty of people stay at home while they’re studying, and it can be convenient as well as cheaper.  On the other hand, moving away means a wider choice of courses and it can help develop independence.  Ultimately, it's down to your child, but you can help them by finding out as much information as you can about the various options.

Find out more in the online version of Higher Education in Norfolk magazine.  You can also pick up a copy at The Learning Shop in Norwich or at Learning for Everyone at Merchant’s Place in Cromer.

Aimhigher has a useful guide called Help Your Child Into Higher Education, which includes more detailed information about what your child can get out of Higher Education, how to get into university or college and what student life is like.

Advice is available from teachers, tutors, careers advisers and Connexions Personal Advisers at school or through their Aimhigher Officer.  They can also look online at Talk About You or call Connexions Direct on 08080 013219.

Encourage them to spend time looking into courses and where they might like to study.  Remind them to check if their school or college has activities to give them a taste of what Higher Education is like.  If you can, attend Higher Education open days with them to get a feel for the place and to meet staff.  Also, if they can’t do it already, now is a good time to encourage them to cook some basic meals and learn to use the washing machine!