1. A few things you may or may not know….

2. This is the ‘next level’ of education following qualifications like A Levels. A levels and equivalents are called ‘Further Education’. FE also includes the Art Diploma which many visual art students do before going on to their degree (the so-called ‘Art Foundation’) It covers University Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Higher Diplomas and so on.

3.  You can study Higher Education courses at Universities, Art Colleges, Agricultural Colleges and other institutions.  You could also study on an “earn and learn” basis by starting a degree with the Open University or other ‘distant learning’ options.

4. The majority of BHASVIC students will enter Higher Education in one form or another. Most will opt to apply for a University Degree but others will apply for Foundation Degrees, including Art Foundation. This year we processed 792 UCAS applications and 46 Art Foundation applications. A number of these were from ex-students.

5.  Universities and Colleges Admissions Service  http://www.ucas.ac.uk/ http://www.ucas.ac.uk/  Although it’s dressed up with a lot of information essentially UCAS is a cross between a postal service and a dating agency.

6.  These can be very useful but make sure not to miss too much College time!  Most Unis expect parents to be there and organise separate activities for them  Useful questions to ask (that students probably won’t!): ◦ Provision of welfare services/career advice/medical centres etc ◦ Contact time with Lecturers, weekly workload etc

7.  AS grades received in August 2014 MUST go on the UCAS form so they will have a big influence on what Universities a student should think about applying to.

8.  Deferred Entry ◦ Apply to Universities at the same time as everyone else (October/November 2014) for a course that starts in September 2016 ◦ Pros: Benefit of full support of Tutor, staff etc in completing UCAS application, know about Uni place – have a Gap Year in confidence! Won’t get sidetracked ◦ Cons: Feel current AS grades don’t match potential

9.  Delayed Entry ◦ Apply once you know final A level results (in October 2015) to start in 2016 ◦ Pros: accurately judge what Unis to apply for ◦ Cons: only limited support from BHASVIC, may ‘drift’, hard to go through application process when on a Thai beach