If you have (or will have by end of S5/6) the minimum entry requirements for a degree course, you may wish to consider applying to University. Going to university opens up a whole world of new challenges and experiences. Choosing a university is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It is worth taking time to make sure you make the right choice. Many students drop out every year from university courses as a result of choosing the wrong course or the wrong university. Don't make that mistake! The key to choosing the right course and the right location for you is thorough research.
You should have a 'plan B' ready in case you apply for university and don't get in.
Why go to university
Financial and Careers Benefits
Graduates generally have more career options
New graduate earnings vary depending on where you work and in what industry. In most cases a graduate will earn a higher annual salary than a school leaver. This will add up to a considerable difference over a lifetime of work.
Graduates generally enjoy accelerated promotion prospects.
Graduates generally have the competitive edge in the job market-they are well equipped for jobs requiring knowledge and analytical skills.
Personal Benefits
Expand your knowledge of subjects which interest you.
Make new friends.
Live independently.
Develop intellectual and practical talents and skills which employers value, e.g. reasoning, communication, team work, problem solving and presentation.
Things to consider
What Type of Course?
Subject based or vocational? i.e. leading directly to a profession or further professional training e.g. engineering, nursing, architecture, medicine.
A subject you enjoyed and were good at at school or a totally new subject?
Single or joint subject degree combination?
Integrated work experience/sandwich courses?
Which University?
Campus or city centre?
Large or small? Many larger universities are now multi campus and offer a similar experience to smaller ones.
Home or away? Scotland, elsewhere in the U.K or abroad?
Accommodation-type, cost and availability? Are you guaranteed accommodation in your first year?
Leisure, sport and social facilities? Have they got what you are looking for?
Academic year structure (semesters or trimesters)?
Assessment systems - balance of continuous assessment/end of course exams + finals system? Spread over two years or dependent on exams taken at the end of the year?
Academic reputation and graduate employment record?
Scholarships/ sponsorship? Some universities offer bursaries to students who meet certain criteria.
Opportunities for part-time work to earn money?
Top universities for getting a job
Which Course?
Look at the university prospectuses and other information in the careers zone in the library or on line university websites. You can find links to the websites of the universities in Scotland and the rest of the UK in the University Links section of this site.
Look at the How to choose between similar courses and universities section on the UCAS website which will give you some ideas on how to research the right course and right university.
Look at https://www.push.co.uk/ which gives a humorous but honest guide to all UK universities.
Look at the https://discoveruni.gov.uk/ website to help you make an informed choice when deciding which UK university or college to apply to.
Look at https://www.whatuni.com/ which not only gives information on courses but also gives students reviews of universities ranging from facilities through accommodation to nightlife.
Look at https://universitycompare.com/ which aggregates all the necessary data and information (for example fee cost, cost of living, open days, employment rates etc.) for all degree options - which helps students to make easy, direct and effective comparisons between different courses and universities.
Look at https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/ which lists everything you need to know about choosing UK universities and courses, the top universities in the country by subject, finance and much more.
It is possible to apply for university and defer entry until the following academic year. You might want to consider this if you are planning to take a gap year or are working to earn money to help fund your time at university. You can indicate this on your UCAS application form. Before choosing to do so, it is important to contact the university and check whether they are willing to offer you a deferred place.
Entry Qualifications
University prospectuses will detail the minimum entry qualifications for each course, preferably at one sitting. Most Scottish universities will ask for passes at Higher level, unless you are applying for the most competitive courses like medicine. English universities will ask for Advanced Higher passes.
A course requiring four Highers at ABBB does not mean ABBC, AACC, AABC or AAAC and there is no flexibility on this.
The entry requirements are the minimum of what is required. That means that just because you have those qualifications, does not mean you are guaranteed an offer of a place on that course.
Admissions tutors welcome Advanced Highers as a good preparation for university, but in most cases, will not count the same subject twice. If, for example, an applicant passes Higher History and Advanced Higher History, this will only count as one qualification. Universities will accept the best result between the two levels so a good performance at Advanced Higher level can upgrade a Higher B to an A. If four Highers are the entry requirements for a course, this means four Highers and not three Highers plus an Advanced Higher.
Please click the relevant buttons that link to sections designed to help you through the process.
As part of your UCAS application, the school supplies an academic reference. This gives the universities and colleges more of an impression of who you are and what kind of student you are.
