University and higher education: your child's options :Cross Stitch – Parents
You may have some questions if your child is thinking of going into higher education – especially if you don’t have any experience of it yourself. There’s plenty of information available on courses, careers, costs and more.
Higher education is about your child taking their education to the next level and fulfilling their potential. As well as opening up new career options, higher education means opportunities to meet new people and take part in a wide range of social and sporting activities.
It can also help develop a sense of independence – without the immediate pressures of full-time work.
Higher education can help open up a range of exciting careers
More and more, employers are looking for skilled and educated workers. A higher education qualification can help your child get into an exciting range of careers.
And on average, graduates tend to earn substantially more than people with A levels who did not go to university. Projected over a working lifetime, the difference is something like £100,000 before tax at today’s valuation.
There are more ways to get into higher education than ever before
University or college is an option for everyone who has the ability to succeed in higher education.
Once university was seen as being only for those from better-off families, but this is no longer true. More people are going into higher education than ever before – including students from all backgrounds, and at different ages.
There are more ways to get in than ever before. NVQs, a BTEC or other work-related qualifications – and, in the future, the 14-19 Diploma – can be a route into higher education, as well as the traditional A levels.
So even if no-one else from your family has been to university, there’s no reason why your child shouldn’t.
How their child will pay for higher education is a concern for many parents, but there’s plenty of financial support available. Use the links below to find out what support there is available and what parents and partners have to do as part of a student finance application.
Not necessarily: many local colleges now offer higher education courses. 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 a sense of independence.
Gap years are increasingly popular, and taking some time away from study can help broaden your child’s experience.
If your child wants to take a gap year, encourage them to make plans so they get the most out of it. They should also check that the colleges and universities they’re applying to will accept an application for deferred entry.
‘Help your child into higher education’, the Aimhigher guide for parents, has more information on higher education – including what your child can get out of it, how they can get into university or college and what student life is like.
You can download a copy below, or order one by:
- tel: 0845 015 0010
- textphone: 0845 015 0030
Quote reference ‘URN 09/1159’. An audio version is also available (quote ‘URN 09/1336’).