Higher Education Explained | New City College

What is Higher Education?

Higher Education is a term for academic courses which are between Level 4 and Level 8. Qualifications such as a Bachelor’s degree (either Bachelor of Arts BA or Bachelor of Science BSc), Foundation degree, Master’s degree, a Higher National Certificate HNC, Higher National Diploma HND and Higher Apprenticeships are all achieved in Higher Education. In England, Higher Education is the third level of education once you leave school and includes undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Level 4 is the first year of degree study and will give you an insight into the knowledge that you will apply in your course.

Level 5 is the second year of degree study which builds on the skills you have learnt and broadens your theoretical and/or practical expertise.

Level 6 is the full degree and incorporates the knowledge you have gained from Levels 4 and 5 with a new focus on analysis and evaluation.

Level 7 is a Master’s Degree

Level 8 is a Doctorate

Higher Education courses at New City College

Did you know that you do not have to go to university to study at a higher education level? New City College is one of 240 further education colleges that offers HE courses for students aged 19+. These courses are in the following categories:

Why enrol on an HE course at New City College instead of going to university?

Achieving your higher education qualification at New City College is a really convenient alternative to university. Our qualifications are designed to give you the skills that put your knowledge to practical use and are highly valued by employers both in the UK and overseas.

There are fantastic learning facilities on campus, along with small class sizes which means you get one-to-one support and guidance when you need it. The teachers are professionals and are experts in their field, with a passion for their subject. They motivate students to be the best they can be.

All New City College campuses are easily accessible by car and public transport meaning you can stay local, rather than paying out for accommodation at a university far away.

Why choose Higher Education?

A Higher Education course will give you the opportunity to gain a more in-depth knowledge and skills in a particular subject, very different to studying lots of different subjects at school.

You’ll be able to select just one or two subjects that you want to focus on and research fully.

HE qualifications may open more doors for you in terms of employment as some careers require applicants to hold a higher education qualification, such as a career as a doctor, police officer or a teacher.

On average, those who successfully complete a higher education qualification earn more than those who don’t over their lifetime.

What are the Entry Requirements?

To study a Higher Education course, you will need to have achieved either a Level 3 qualification such as A Levels or a BTEC or you can take an Access to Higher Education Diploma which will give you the qualification to start a degree in specified subject areas.

What is a Russell Group university?

The Russell Group is the term for 24 prestigious universities all over the UK. These universities are recognised as world-class, research-intensive universities. They are unique institutions, each with their own history and ethos, but they share some distinguishing characteristics. The list of Russell Group universities is:

University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
Cardiff University
Durham University
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
Imperial College London
King’s College London
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
London School of Economics & Political Science
University of Manchester
Newcastle University
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen’s University Belfast
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University College London
University of Warwick
University of York

How can I apply for an HE course?

Applications for Higher Education courses in the UK must all be made through UCAS, the University and Colleges Admissions Service which was formed in 1993. UCAS provides a central service between applicants and universities.