University
FAQs
We asked students at our events what they want to know about Higher Education, here is some of their questions:
There are many ways to make friends at university, at your accommodation, signing up to societies, sports teams, on your course and much more!
Watch the video linked below to hear about what students have to say about socialising at university.
Your college/sixth form careers advisor and your teachers will support you through the process of applying for university.
When you are in Year 12 during March – June you should start considering what you might like to study at uni. From July – Aug start drawing up a shortlist of universities and visit open days to help you choose your top choices.
When you are in Year 13 UCAS applications will open in September. Then from Oct – Nov you will need to submit your application, this will include your personal statement, interview process, and sometimes submitting a portfolio & auditions. In Jan UCAS applications close, and then as you go into spring you will start receiving conditional offers. From Feb -April you will need to decide your first, second & third choice. May is deadline for applying for student finance and then Aug is results day.
Click the link below to find information on applying late for university and clearing.
Your timetable at uni will look very different then what your current schedule for school or college/sixth form is. Usually you spend 10-15 hours at uni per week, this will include lectures, seminars or tutorials. However depending on what course you choose this can be more or less so worth checking the course information when researching.
You will also be expected to do around 30 -35 hours of independent study, this can include writing essays, project work, reading etc.
For many students the freedom of independence when you start university goes hand in hand with also managing your finances for the first time, and it can be a cause for worry for many. However you are not alone in this feeling as many students will find themselves in the same position, in particular with the rise of the cost of living it has become more prevalent to understand your finances.
With all of this said there is many ways to make your finances more manageable, either through budgeting or supplementing your income. This could be from a part time job, applying for bursaries, scholarships or grants. There is lots of support available to help you with your finances, linked below is some helpful resources.
You normally need to have at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 and at least a 5 in any specific subjects you would like to continue your studies in.
Different university courses will ask for different qualifications, so it is always a good idea to check on the institution’s website at the course requirements before you make your choice of where and what to study.
Your accommodation very much depends on what your about to financially afford.
Watch the YouTube video below to see a accommodation tour of University of Southampton. Most universities have accommodation tours on YouTube, so if you have a specific institution in mind try searching for it in YouTube.
Student Newsletter
Click on buttons below to read student newsletters.
University Open Days
Whether you know what course you want to do, know what university you want to attend, or even if you’re completely undecided, attending an Open Day is the perfect opportunity to have both your questions answered, which will help you to make a choice that is right for you.
You may find a certain course is taught differently at a certain university, you may discover that one university has different facilities to another, and attending an Open Day may swing it for you and firm up your decision to apply at all.
What to do on the day?
Create a checklist of what you need to do prior to attending:
It’s always a good idea to reflect after an Open Day. This will help you decide which university feels right, and having that conversation with a parent or friend should encourage you to think about where you would like to go. Check out our points for discussion below to help get you started!
Points for discussion
You can find out when college open days/events are happening by checking the specific college website, or use the platform below to find national events:
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The ‘From Our Experience’ Podcast
This podcast is all about celebrating the different experiences of individual students at university, particularly students who have experience of the care system or are estranged from their parents.
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