Fife College Degree Guide 2020/21 | Page 3

Contents 3 Top 7 Reasons for Choosing the College Route to a Degree 5 Ways to Study for a Degree on Your Doorstep 7 Your Degree Journey – The Choice is Yours! 10 Qualifications: The Stepping Stones to Your Degree 11 SCQF Qualifications Explained 12 Starting your Degree at School 14 Progressing from College to University 15 Partner Universities 16 Studying Your Full Degree at Fife College 21 Open University (OU) Degrees 23 Financing your Degree in England 24 Moving on to a Degree at University Built Environment Business and Accounting Care and Social Sciences Computing and Digital Technologies Creative Industries Engineering Technologies Legal and Police Studies Science Sport and Fitness Tourism, Events and Culinary Arts TOP7 Reasons to choose the college route to a degree 1 2 3 4 5 An HNC is the same level as the first year of a university degree, and an HND is the same level as the second year. This means that you could progress straight to second or third year at university when you’ve completed your college course, if there is an agreed route. (Find out more on page 24) Studying at college means you can get a recognised qualification after each year of study, with the option then to either keep studying and still get a degree in four years or move into employment and return to study at a later date with some qualifications already in the bag. You could be working towards advanced entry on to your chosen degree (subject to appropriate passes on your HN course, and any other units required). This means that there is no need to repeat a year or re-learn the same things. The smaller class sizes at college will allow you to develop your independent study and research skills in a supportive environment. Some courses also give you the opportunity to do a work placement as a part of the qualification, giving you real-life work experience while you study. Completing the first two years of your degree locally in Fife means that you can keep living, study, and travel costs to a minimum. 30 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 6 7 Studying near home helps you manage personal commitments while you study. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable bursary and, if not, you still have the option of taking out a student loan for financial support. You can find out more about funding your Higher Education study on the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website: saas.gov.uk Have a look at page 24 to find out more about what routes may be available to you depending on your chosen HNC or HND. Fife College Degree Guide 2021/22 | 3