Higher Education

Studying at university is a very popular option with young people, and a degree opens doors to a wide range of professional careers.  Rising costs of university education, the huge range of courses on offer, and fierce competition mean that time spent researching and comparing different options and preparing strong applications pays off in the end.

Researching and choosing a course/university

General information about the process of applying to university, and to search for degree and related courses, go to the main UCAS site.

What Uni?  is another site to help you search by subject, university, location and information on typical offers, a calendar of open days, tips on applications etc.

Help with choosing A levels if you have a particular degree subject in mind, or just to understand more about the different types of university, and for some tips and hints to help you with your research, go to the UniGuide.

Russell Group of universities, and Informed Choices website for ideas about degree courses related to your A level and BTEC subjects

Support and advice for students with disabilities and long term health conditions, applying to making the most of what university offers, and job search advice beyond your degree, here.

Individual university websites provide, for each degree course, detailed information about course content, core and optional modules, assessment, placements, career progression, and entry requirements, and contact details for admissions tutors for each course.

Studying abroad

You can study abroad in various formats.  Most UK universities offer the chance to study abroad for a semester or year at a partner university in another country.  Languages degrees have always required you  to do this, but now many degree programmes have this option.  Ask when you attend Open Days.

You can study your entire degree abroad.  You cannot use your Student Finance England maintenance  loan outside the UK, so you would have to find an alternative source of funding for living costs.

Now that the UK has left the EU, UK students who study in EU countries will be charged the same level of fees as students from countries outside the EU.  There are also complex visa requirements to be able to study in the EU.  To research degree courses, taught in English, at universities in the EU, use Study in Europe.  This site also lists courses taught in the home language.  The Eunicas site will also provide information on courses taught in English.

For information about studying in the USA, go to the Fulbright Commission.  For information about obtaining sports scholarships at US colleges, go to BRUSA or   Sporting Elite USA.

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Medicine in Europe – look at Medical Doorway

Studying Abroad fairs, events, and webinars take place periodically in the UK and are a good way for you to do some face to face research with representatives from universities in other countries.  Both A Star Future and The Student World organise these events, which may be virtual, and offer webinars.  Events on studying in Canada, and studying in the USA take place periodically.    Studylink gives information about universities in all areas of the world.

Universities in Holland offering degree courses taught in English can be found on studyinholland.

Information here about studying in Australia and New Zealand.

Information about studying in Canada here

Finance

Information about Student Finance go to Student Finance.

Some universities offer a Student Funding Calculator to help you work out how much you could receive through bursaries and loans.  See University of Sheffield’s calculator.

For general information about bursaries and scholarships, click here.

Information about Student Loans from Martin Lewis, MoneySavingExpert

Applying for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine

Advice and help for choosing and applying to study medicine, in the UK, from the Medical Schools Council

List of Medical Schools in the UK, for 2025 entry, from the Medical Schools Councilhttps://www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/medical-schools

Brighton and Sussex Medical School virtual work experience/preparation for applying  activity

Have a go at the NHS Values to see how you measure up to a career in the NHS

Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary science aptitude tests on UCAT

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Medicine in Europe – look at Medical Doorway

Advice on applying for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy in the UK

Veterinary Medicine, admissions guide from the Vet Schools Council

Vet Medicine, virtual work experience and exploring the veterinary profession MOOC (priced)

UK Dental Schools, including admission requirements, from the Dental Schools Council

Dental Live Virtual Work experience from Medic Mentors

Law aptitude test on LNAT.

Employment prospects

For more information about the employment prospects of graduates from a wide range of degree disciplines, see this link from Prospects

Advice, tips on applications and in-depth information on university study on Bright Knowledge.

UCAS Points

A levels

A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16, so AAA = 144, ABB = 128, BBB = 120, BBC = 112, BCC = 104

Level 3 extended diplomas (equivalent of 3 x A levels) DDD = 144, DDM = 128, DMM = 112, MMM = 96, MMP = 80

T levels – one grade awarded, from Distinction* (168 points), Distinction (144), Merit (120), Pass (96)

These are some Universities within one hour travel from Sheffield:-

These are some Universities between one and two hours travel from Sheffield