How can I get into Higher Education?
For many vocational HE qualifications there are no set entry requirements. The university or college offering the course will decide whether a student is eligible. Qualifications will be relevant but appropriate work and life experience may also be taken into consideration.
Having said this, it is very important that you are clear what the entry requirements are for your chosen HE course.
Some courses will require you to have a specific level 3 qualification and have achieved a certain grade. The course might also require you to have done certain GCSEs like Maths, Science or English. Don’t wait until it is too late to find out that you don’t have the right qualifications or experience!
Speak to the admissions department at your chosen university or college to find out exactly what you will need to get in.
Visit the Contact details section of our website or visit www.hero.ac.uk under ‘Uni Finder’.
Below are some of the common ways that you can get into higher education.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
As a general rule, if you are applying for a full-time higher education course you will need to apply through UCAS online at www.ucas.com/apply. You fill out a form online which UCAS then sends to the colleges and universities that you have chosen. Universities and colleges mainly make their decision based on the UCAS Tariff and Personal Statement.
UCAS Tariff
The UCAS Tariff is a points system that translates your previous qualifications and achievements into a score. Different HE courses require different point scores for entry.
Vocational level 3 qualifications like BTEC Nationals, Applied A levels and OCR Nationals all command points on the UCAS Tariff as do other qualifications like Key Skills. To see the UCAS Tariff and for more information visit www.ucas.com/candq/tariff
UCAS Personal Statement
The UCAS Personal Statement gives you the chance to tell the university or college why you should be accepted onto your chosen course. Your Personal Statement should say why you want to do the course, your career plans, your previous relevant experience and why the university or college should accept you. It is a very important part of the UCAS application process so to find out more about it and for tips on writing a good Personal Statement visit www.ucas.ac.uk/apply08/personalstatement
Applying directly to the institution
If you are applying for a part-time course or your previous qualifications aren’t covered by the UCAS Tariff, then you will apply for a course directly through the university or college.
You need to contact the admissions department and they will send you a part-time student application form. Visit the Contact details section of our website for universities and colleges offering higher education or visit www.hero.ac.uk under ‘Uni Finder’.
APEL
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is a process that enables you to receive formal recognition for skills and knowledge that you already have. Your past learning and experience can be taken into account to gain entry into a higher education course. If you think you could benefit from APEL, you should start by talking to the university or college that you are interested in. You might find it useful to prepare
some information about yourself and your background (for example, a current CV) before you speak to someone.
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