ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THEIR STUDIES
Whatever their next step , your child will need to demonstrate to universities , training providers or employers that they have a range of skills and qualities in addition to their academic achievements .
During the year , encourage them to continue broadening their experience , confidence and ‘ people skills ’ through things like :
• Volunteering , work experience or paid part-time work , either during term time or holidays .
• Activities outside school , such as sports or drama . See page 15 for more information and guidance on non-academic activities .
HIGHER EDUCATION DECISIONS
If your child decides they would like to go to university , during the summer they ’ ll need to decide on the courses and universities they want to apply for . The following quick guide to higher education explains the range of post-18 qualifications and some of the terminology you and your child might come across in your research .
WHAT IS HIGHER EDUCATION ?
Higher education refers to qualifications at Level 4 and above , such as Bachelors degrees , foundation degrees and Higher National Diplomas ( HNDs ).
WHAT ARE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ?
A higher education institution is an organisation that delivers these qualifications .
Most people associate higher education with universities , but higher education institutions can also be called colleges , academies , schools , conservatoires and institutes .
Some further education colleges also provide higher education qualifications .
SPECIALIST HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Some subjects may be taught at specialist higher education institutions such as :
• agricultural colleges
• teacher training colleges
• technology institutes
• business schools
• art schools ( for visual arts and crafts , such as painting , sculpture , textile design and graphic design )
• conservatoires ( for performance-based arts , such as music or drama )
QUALIFICATION TYPES
Undergraduate qualifications are the next academic step up from Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels . They are delivered at higher education institutions , such as universities . There are various different qualifications at different levels .
Higher National Certificate ( HNC ) and Higher National Diploma ( HND )
• Work-related courses provided by higher and further education institutions .
• An HNC takes one year to complete , and an HND takes two years .
• An HND is roughly equivalent to the first two years of a university degree and many students use it as a stepping stone to a full degree .
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