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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.

Further advice

Access to HE courses

Access to HE courses are specially designed for entry into higher education and provide the underpinning knowledge and skills needed to progress to a degree or diploma course at a university or college. More information and a course search for QAA-recognised Access courses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can be found on the Access to HE website.

Information about Access courses in Scotland is available on the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) 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.

Association of British Colleges (ABCC)

The only trade association in the UK dedicated to distance learning providers: www.homestudy.org.uk.

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.

Directgov

Directgov is the website of the UK Government providing information and online services. Options for older people looking to get into higher education, and ways to combine study with work and family life: www.direct.gov.uk/maturestudents.

Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)

Provides advice on funding available for post-16 education and training within the UK. Primarily concerned with helping disadvantaged students: www.family-action.org.uk.

Information, advice and guidance (IAG)

Local IAG services for adults are delivered by a variety of organisations, including Careers Scotland, educational institutions, and voluntary and community bodies. They offer free infomation and advice to individuals. Contact details for your nearest IAG service are available at your local library.

Learndirect

Guidance about training and employment opportunities. Working to rigorous standards monitored by the Department for Education: 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 Extension College

A not-for-profit organisation that has been providing distance learning courses for over 40 years: www.nec.ac.uk.

Next Step

Next Step provides information and advice to support adults in making appropriate decisions on a full range of learning and work opportunities. The service is impartial and free to all adults in England: www.nextstep.direct.gov.uk.

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)

NIACE is a non-governmental organisation which encourages more and different learners in England and Wales to engage in learning of all kinds: www.niace.org.uk.

Open College Networks (OCNs)

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

Open College of the Arts

Open College of the Arts offers courses in art history, creative writing, fine art, garden and interior design, music, photography, film & digital media: www.oca-uk.com.

The Open University (OU)

The OU is the UK's only university dedicated to distance learning: www.open.ac.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 impairment in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK: www.skill.org.uk.

University for Industry (Ufi)

Ufi offers higher education programmes through Learndirect: www.ufi.com.

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, Open days, 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.