A Guide to University What Is University?
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A Guide to University www.exploreuni.co.uk What is university? University is a place where you something that is worth investing can study once you are 18 or time and money into. older, after you have completed University is very different to your GCSEs and your post-16 school and instead of having qualifications. You usually study lessons from 9 – 3 every day one (or maybe 2) subject(s) in you are likely to have things depth over 2 - 5 years and when called lectures and seminars, you have finished you will get a and depending on the subject degree. University is the next step you are studying you might only in your education after Sixth Form have 6 – 8 hours of teaching or College and will lead to you time a week. That doesn’t mean gaining a degree which can help the rest of your time is work free you to further your career in the as you will be expected to do a future. On average graduates can lot of independent study! The earn over £100,000 more over advantage of this is that you their lifetime than non-graduates can do it at any time of the so university can certainly be day that suits you. 2 Facts about university A university is a place where you can study when you are U U U U U U U U U U U There are U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U currently U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U18 U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U universities133 in the UK or older The oldest university student graduated at age 91. He is called Bertie Gladwin and he got a degree in military intelligence There are currently just over Business subjects are the most 2 million popular courses studentsstudying in all of the universities across the UK Students from across In 2015 86% of the world study at UK students said they universities. 20% of all were satisfied international students with their course come from China Most students apply to university through a system called UCAS You can study over University is often referred 50,000 to as Higher courses at university Education 3 Why go? There are lots of reasons why you might decide that you want to go to university: YOU are more likely to get a job University offers with better pay and promotion a way of making the transition prospects, for example between the cosy graduates can earn over world of home and the “Real World” easier. You’ll £100,000 be treated as an independent adult but there’ll be the support there if more over their lifetime you need it compared to non-graduates You will develop lots If you’ve always of key skills, such You wanted to follow as communication, will make a vocation, organisation, time a wide circle such as being a of friends, most management, likely from different team-work, leadership, areas of the country, presentation and and different backgrounds problem-solving and cultures DOCTOR There are different ways of studying and learning – choose your course carefully and do plenty of VET research on the course you are planning to study TEACHER or LAWYER you’ll need a degree and you’ll often find that these career paths are only open to graduates 4 Studying for a degree teaches you to be an independent thinker, improves your analysis skills, and challenges the way you think about many aspects of life Many industries have There is a much wider choice graduate schemes which of jobs and careers for people who allow you to progress in have studied to degree level your career faster than without a degree As well as training You will have your mind you’ll the opportunity to develop develop many new, new interests, highly transferable benefit from skills, including new experiences how to work in and try out new a team, how to hobbies and deliver an effective pastimes presentation, and how to communicate well with others You will have the opportunity to take part Only in broad range of social 15% activities and clubs Depending on the university you go to, you You don’t have to may get the opportunity pay for university to study at a university up front – you can of graduates in another country from the last get a student loan 6 years are You will learn more to help cover your unemployed about yourself and what tuition fees and (compared to you can achieve. Your your living costs 27% for non- confidence and self- graduates) awareness will increase 5 What to study? You may have an idea of what you then do some research as to what would like to study at university or degree subjects you might need you might not have a clue! Both are for this. If you don’t have a career in okay and you don’t need to decide mind yet then you might just want just yet what subject you would like to study something you enjoy in to do. It’s worth thinking about what more depth. subjects you enjoy doing at school, Remember there are over 50,000 what hobbies and interests you degree courses, with a much larger have outside of school and what range of subjects than you study you might want to do in your career in school, so you should be able when you are older. If there is a to find something you enjoy! specific career you are interested in 6 Course examples There are over 50,000 Media Circus and Physical courses on offer so you Computer Science Performance should be able to find …there are also a lot of Sports Coaching something you enjoy! subjects that you might Golf Management As well as some of the not have expected! Special Effects Make Up typical subjects you might for Film, TV and Theatre Fire and Rescue expect at university, like: Airline and Airport Armed Forces Management English Animal Behaviour and Baking Technology Maths Welfare Management Chemistry Dance Floral Design Biology Drama Theatre Practice and Physics Event and Festival Puppetry History Management Adventure Education Geography Computer Games Technology Languages To find the whole range Food Technology of courses available to Law Digital and Social Media study in the UK, visit Music http://search.ucas.com/ Robotics Psychology Viking Studies Business Studies Surf Science and Marketing Technology 7 University life University is about much more than just Each University’s Halls of Residence will achieving a degree, it is your opportunity look slightly different but generally you to become an independent adult and will have a room with a bed, desk, chair gain lots of extra-curricular skills and and wardrobe, with shared facilities like a experiences. kitchen and a bathroom (though you can choose to pay extra to have an en-suite Students union room to have your own bathroom). The Students Union supports and represents students, campaigning on Money their behalf on the issues that affect You might be worried about how you them the most. They are also very will be able to afford to go to university, social spaces, with bars, shops and but there is lots of financial support cafés, where they host lots of different available which can help you. events and clubs, providing lots of You can get student loans to cover opportunities to get involved with what the cost of your study (a tuition fees) is going on! and to help you with the cost of Sports teams and societies accommodation, books, transport, utility Universities have a huge range of sports bills and a social life. You only need to teams to join which are looked after by begin to repay these loans once you an Athletic Union. Students compete have graduated and are earning over against other universities and there £21,000*. Even then you only pay a is a wide variety of different sports, small percentage of your monthly wage. including Quidditch and Cheerleading! You may be eligible for other types of If sport isn’t your thing then you can financial support, including bursaries join a society. A bit like a club, people and scholarships (which you don’t have in societies come together to enjoy to repay). different hobbies or interests, from You can find a part time job to fit around dance, drama and music to Harry Potter your course to boost your income. and Lego. * These figures are accurate for 2016, Halls of Residence though may change by the time you These are shared blocks of go to university. accommodation which students can live in, usually in their first year. 8 9 Things to think about Once you have an idea of what subject consider other information about the you would like to study then it is worth university. You might want to think looking at whether this course requires about whether you would like to live at you to have certain GCSE or A-Level/ home or move away, you might want BTEC subjects in order to study it, as to be close to a city centre or you might this might help you when making your prefer to be out in the country! All of options choices.