Studying at a higher education college
Higher education (HE) courses don’t have to be studied at a university – there are more than 240 colleges in the UK that offer a range of higher education courses.
Information and advice pages
Studying at a higher education college
Higher education (HE) courses don’t have to be studied at a university – there are more than 240 colleges in the UK that offer a range of higher education courses.
Studying in Welsh
Studying higher education in Welsh can offer lots of career options – not just in Wales but further afield too. Find out more.
Studying outside of the UK
What's studying outside the UK like? What are your options? Find out all the information you need to help you decide if it's for you.
Studying outside of the UK: Consider your options
Studying in another country offers a different way of learning – giving you exciting new cultural experiences and opportunities to develop and grow. Is it right for you? Consider your options and find out.
Support for disabled people taking apprenticeships
Being disabled shouldn’t limit your job or study choice, and apprenticeships can be a great route for you to get into your chosen career.
Support for mature students
Make sure you're best prepared to start your studies by making the most of the support available to you.
Support for students who have been bereaved as a child
Many universities and colleges have initiatives or support programmes in place for students who have been bereaved as a child.
Supporting care experienced students
Students who have spent time in care are entitled to support with going to university. Here are some practical ways in which you can support care experienced students research their options and prepare for their next step, which we have developed with experts such as the Care Leavers' Covenant, Become, the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) and Who Cares? Scotland.
Supporting children from UK Armed Forces families (Service children)
If a student's parent(s) or carer(s) is serving as a Regular or Reservist in the UK Armed Forces, or has done so in the past, their experience of going to university may be different to their non-Service peers. We have worked with the Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance to explain how you can practically support Service children along their journey to higher education.
Supporting children with imprisoned parents
As there is no systematic way of identifying children of prisoners in the UK, it is likely that you may not know who is a child of a prisoner in your cohort of students.
Supporting disabled students
Students with physical or mental health conditions or learning differences will find a variety of support available in higher education. However, advance research and preparation can make all the difference – here, we outline some of the ways you can help your students make a successful transition to university.
Supporting international students
We support international counsellors, agents and advisers, as well as processing applications to hundreds of universities and colleges in the UK.
Supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain in the UK
It can be very difficult to understand how to support refugees, asylum seekers, and students with limited leave to remain in the UK, especially if their immigration status is insecure or due to change. We have worked with expert organisations, including STAR Network, Refugee Education UK and We Belong to help clarify what you can do to help and support young students' aspirations for higher education.
Supporting students experiencing estrangement from their parents
Young people who are considering higher education but do not have support from either of their parents due to a breakdown in their relationship (also known as being ‘estranged’) may encounter challenges in their journey. Here we outline the ways in which you can help students in at each stage and explain what support they may be able to access.
Supporting students with caring responsibilities
A carer is anyone who is responsible for providing unpaid care to a family member or friend who could not cope without their support.
Supporting students with mental health conditions
Students can access a variety of support to manage their mental health and wellbeing in higher education - ranging from help with a specific condition through to ways they can look after their general wellbeing. Some students may be hesitant to tell their university, so we've worked with experts (including Student Minds and the University Mental Health Advisers' Network (UMHAN)) to explain the process of declaration to your students, and offer practical ways to help them manage the transition to independence. It's good to remember that other personal circumstances can create additional challenges and stress, so making sure students have the right support for their needs will offer them the best start to university.
Supporting students with parenting responsibilities
Balancing studying with family life can present challenges, so student parents will find it useful to know what support they can access to manage their priorities. Here, we offer some practical tips to help them along their journey to higher education.
Supporting you through Confirmation and Clearing
Discover key dates, essentials and guidance for confirmation and clearing.