University
University provides academic courses in many different areas of interest which should lead to employment in that area or enable you to seek employment in other related areas. On completion of your course you will be awarded a degree. Some young people take up a course at University straight from school. Others have a gap year. However, you can apply at any time in your life and enter university as a mature student.
University applications are made online via UCAS and your Connexions (or school/college careers) advisor can provide more information for you. You will also need to research courses, for example comparing your predicted grades to course entry requirements. These can vary widely between different universities and courses. You will also need to consider other factors such as:
- the level of study support available
- whether you want to live at home or elsewhere
- if there is a skills or entry test for the course
You can get information from the individual universities websites or UCAS website.
Disabled student's allowance (DSA) - help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability Gov.uk website
If you are hoping to gain a place at university as a mature student it is possible to gain qualifications through an 'access course'.
The Open University is a way that you can study for a degree at home using on-line resources, some tutor input and summer schools. Those who follow this kind of study can take as many or few modules as they believe they can manage at a time.