Back to school

Thinking about doing further studying or going on a training course? If you're unsure what's on offer and what you might gain from more qualifications, TheSite gives you the lowdown.

Why should I study?

There are many reasons for studying:

You're interested in the subject
You want to learn a practical skill
You need a qualification that's recognised in your profession
You want to find out if you're suited to a field of work

Can more qualifications help me get a job or develop my career?

Of course and here's why:

You can apply for jobs that request a particular qualification
Your CV will stand out amongst those that don't have the qualifications
You'll feel confident about being able to do a particular job
Employers pay more to graduates or those who are suitably qualified
You could get a more highly skilled, interesting or senior job
You'll show you're committed to working in a particular industry
You have a better chance of being promoted

What qualifications should I go for?

Find out which subjects are appropriate for the type of work you're seeking and what levels of qualification are required. Look at books relating to your industry and job adverts to see what's expected.

Further education

For those over 16 with GCSE/S-grades there are general academic courses or vocational ones. You can study a mixture of both, full or part-time at sixth form, sixth form college or a technical or FE college.

Mostly academic: GCSEs, AS and A-levels.
Vocational: GNVQs, NVQs, EDEXCEL/SQA, AQA courses and OCR diplomas, Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeship (in Wales: National Traineeship).

Higher education

These courses are for students aged over 18 (over 17 in Scotland) with 1 or 2 A-levels, Scottish Highers or equivalent GNVQs. You can study at college, university or institute of higher education:

Higher National Diploma (HND).
First degree, for example, BA, BSc or BEd.

After your degree

If you already have a degree and you meet the entry requirements you can think about:

A Masters degree or a Postgraduate certificate.
A course offered by a professional body or institute.

What will it cost me?

Staying on at school or college is free.
For higher education you may get help with tuition fees and loans for living expenses.
Your employer may sponsor you to do a training course, degree or professional qualification.
If you work you can pay for an evening or weekend course yourself.