If you need more information and advice...

Having looked through the information on our website, you may wish to find out more about specific matters related to higher education.

The list below provides links to some external sources of information and advice on Access courses, quality assurance, studying with disabilities, grants, employment opportunities and careers for graduates.

Sources of information and advice

Access to HE courses

Access to HE courses are specially designed for entry into higher education and provide the underpining knowledge and skills needed to progress to a degree or diploma course at a university or college. More information and an Access course search can be found on the Access to HE website.

Advice from further and adult education

If you are currently studying in further or adult education, it is worth approaching your tutor for help, as well as consulting your careers advisory service and careers library.

Advice from higher education

School and college liaison units within universities and higher education colleges will also help mature applicants. Some institutions have city centre advice shops.

Careers companies

Some local careers companies offer an all-age information and advisory service. This is sometimes free, but a modest charge may be made. Look in your local telephone directory under Careers Service.

C2 - The Graduate Careers Shop

Operated by the University of London Careers Service, but open to any graduates at any point in their careers, C2 offers impartial, independent advice on any matter related to jobs and careers. Several services are available, on a sliding scale of charges: www.c2careers.co.uk

Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)

Primarily concerned with helping disadvantaged students. Gives priority to lone parents, people with disabilities, asylum seekers and people from low-income backgrounds: www.egas-online.org

Higher Education & Research Opportunities (HERO)

HERO is the official gateway site to university institutions, colleges and research organisations in the UK: www.hero.ac.uk

Learndirect

Guidance about training and employment opportunities. Working to rigorous standards monitored by the Department for Education and Science: www.learndirect.co.uk

Learning and Skills Councils

Work in partnership with employers, trade unions, colleges and higher education institutions to identify local needs and to encourage greater participation of all age groups in training and education. Major interest in providing opportunities and advice for those returning to learning: www.lsc.gov.uk

Lifelong Learning Networks

Details about Lifelong Learning Networks (LLNs) - their main objective is to improve the coherence, clarity and certainty of progression opportunities for vocational learners into and through higher education: www.lifelonglearningnetworks.org.uk

Libraries

Your local reference library will contain many of the sources of information you require and may have specially trained staff who will be able to help you.

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)

NIACE is a non-governmental organisation working to advance the interests of adult learners and potential learners: www.niace.org.uk

Open College Networks (OCNs)

The National Open College Network (NOCN) is the leading credit-based awarding body in the UK, offering high quality, flexible, credit-based qualifications: www.nocn.org.uk

Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education

This agency monitors the academic standards of courses run by universities and colleges on behalf of the government: www.qaa.ac.uk

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities

Skill is a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK: www.skill.org.uk

Workers Educational Association (WEA)

The UK's largest voluntary provider of adult learning: www.wea.org.uk

Publications

Our online bookstore contains details of all our UCAS guides as well as books carefully selected from other publishers. It includes, for example, How to complete your UCAS application, The Guardian Good University Guide and The Times Good University Guide.

The publications listed at www.ucasbooks.com will help you prepare for all aspects of higher education and can be ordered online.