Information

Advice

Decision



Mature Students

Studying Part-time 

Help Choosing a Course
Once you've decided that Higher Education (HE) is something you wish to pursue, you need to start thinking about the type of course you would like to study. Amongst other things you will need to consider:

• Where to study
  
  
• What subject to study
  
  
• Whether to study an academic or a vocational course
  
  
• Whether to study full time or part time

1. Gather as much information as possible about different HE courses.
   
   
2. Speak to professionals trained in offering advice and guidance about HE choices.
   
   
3. Make your decision.
   
   

'Is Higher Education for me?' course
This course is aimed at anyone thinking about studying a degree programme and will provide you with all the relevant information you need to make an informed decision about HE. It will also teach you the study skills (i.e. essay writing, using a library) you will need to successfully study a degree. Click here for more information about the course.

HE Drop-in sessions
The Higher York Information Officer holds drop-in sessions for anyone interested in finding out about any aspect of Higher Education.  Sessions are held in the shop at  Future Prospects from 1pm - 4pm every Thursday and 4pm - 7pm every first and third Tuesday of the month.  Appointments are not necessary - just turn up.

UCAS Help
Once you have made your decision you will need to apply for your chosen course. If you decide to apply for a full time undergraduate course you need to apply via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).  If you would like help with any aspect of your online UCAS application form, contact the Higher York Information Officer to arrange an appointment.

Mature Students
If you are thinking of returning to education, want to further your career, or simply learn more about an area you are interested in, Higher Education could be the right choice for you.

Colleges and universities in York welcome people of all ages to Higher Education programmes and are commited to offering opportunities for adults returning to study. The wide range of vocational and academic courses offered in York provide plenty of opportunities for you to study without needing to leave the city.

Contact Higher York on 01904 876350 or c.thomas@yorksj.ac.uk to receive a copy of the Mature Students' Guide to Studying in York. 

Studying Part-time
Studying part-time can offer numerous benefits and provides those who may not be able to study full-time with the opportunity to study further. Whether you have children or need to continue working whilst you study, there is likely to be a part-time course to meet your needs. It is worth remembering that studying a course part-time does take longer than studying a course full-time. In most cases the time for completing a part-time course is double the time taken to complete the same course on a full-time basis. It is possible to switch between full and part-time study throughout your course.

Combining work and study
The periods of attendance required varies between part-time courses, but the majority are flexible and can still afford you plenty of time to continue in employment. Check the details of the courses you are interested in to see how often you would need to attend college or university and how much personal study time you would need to complete in addition.

If you are employed it is worth checking if your employer offers any form of support for courses which develop your skills base or improve your qualifications.

Combining study with family life
Studying part-time allows you to sacrifice less of your time which could be spent caring for your family or meeting other commitments. Some part-time courses are also flexible in allowing you to choose when you study giving parents the opportunity to study whilst their children are at school.

All of the HE institutions in York have nursery facilities on or very near campus, the majority of which offer reduced rates for students. See the contacts below for further details.

Askham Bryan College
Childcare Centre (01904) 709062.

York College
Nursery on campus (01904) 770344

The University of York  
Campus Nursery (01904) 433737

York St John University 
Kaleidoscope (01904) 654792

Childcare Link
Click here

Part-time courses
There are four types of part-time courses to choose from depending on which best fits your needs.

Undergraduate HE courses include honours degrees, foundation degrees, HNCs (Higher National Certificates), HNDs (Higher National Diplomas) and extended degree. Honours degrees have minimum entry requirements of at least five GCSE's (including Maths and English) at grade C or above. The majority of institutions also require you to achieve a number of points gained from a mixture of qualifications including A Levels and Advanced GNVQ's. Foundation degrees are delivered in partnership with employers and equip you with the skills needed for employment. These degrees are equal to the first two years of an honours degree. There are no set entry requirements for foundation degrees and the institutions decide if you will be accepted. HNCs and HNDs are vocational (work-based learning) qualifications. The majority of HNDs require at least three GCSE's at grade C or above, along with a mixture of additional qualifications including A-levels. Extended degrees apply to people who do not have the qualifications for an honours degree. The first year of these courses is spent at a college or similar institution studying key skills such as IT and communication. After this initial year you then move on to study a degree of your choice. There is usually no formal entry requirments for an extended degree, however you must demonstrate the commitment and motivation to study at degree level. 

The second group of part-time courses available are single degree modules. These modules can be either accredited or non-accredited, with the accredited modules being worth either ten or twenty credits. A total of sixty credits leads to the award of a Certificate in Lifelong Learning. This certificate can then be developed into a Certificate of Higher Education through achieving a further sixty credits, totaling one-hundred and twenty credits. These higher education certificates carry the same workload and standard as the first full year of an undergraduate degree programme. There is a maximum time period of five years allocated to completing a Certificate. Again the only entry requirement for these modules is a motivation to study.

Post-graduate courses are another part-time study option. The types of Post-graduate courses generally offered by the HE institutions in York include; Masters degrees, PhD’s, MPhil’s, Post-graduate certificates and Graduate Diplomas.

Post-graduate Certificates allow students to upgrade their knowledge in a certain area, expend their studies in to an alternative area or prepare for a Graduate Diploma. These certificates normally take around twelve months to complete, the only entry requirement being that you are a graduate. Graduate Diplomas require a first or 2:1 at honours degree level and provide the option to move on to a Masters degree upon completion. Graduate Diplomas take from two to five years to complete depending on the course you choose.To study a Masters degree the majority of institutions require a 2:1 or first class honours degree. For mature students or applicants without the relevant level of qualifications some institutions will take work experience or equivalent qualifications in to account. These courses normally take two to five years to complete. 

The same entry requirements apply to PhDs with the addition of an obtained or expected Masters Degree. A PhD takes around six years to complete.

Alternatively, with the same entry qualifications you can study an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) which is a research degree lasting four years. 

The final type of part-time courses available are Professional Qualifications. These are work based qualifications such as NVQs or certificates offered by institutions such as the City and Guilds or Chartered Institute of Marketing. The lenth of study and entry requirements varies between qualifications and attandance is usually flexible. 

For more information about studying part-time contact Higher York on 01904 876350 or c.thomas@yorksj.ac.uk .