You can continue to study after leaving school or college through going on to higher education. Higher Education covers those types of education above A-level and its equivalents. Provided in universities, colleges of higher education and some colleges of further education, higher education includes:

First degrees - Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) and Bachelor of Education (BEd); these courses are mainly full time and usually last three years although some courses last four years and medical and veterinary courses normally last five years.
Diploma of Higher Education (Dip.HE), a two year diploma usually serving as a stepping stone to a degree course or other study.
BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND), awarded after two years' full time study or three years' sandwich course or part-time study.

HE is not necessarily the best option for everyone, you have the option to seek employment or delay applying for a year or two or longer, but if you are sure that HE is for you then you need to research your options in that respect. You face the difficult decision of what area to study and what qualification to go for. Try answering the Connexions CXLW Top Ten Questions to focus your thoughts. Going to university, if that's what you choose to do, involves a great deal of change. The amount of information you sometimes need to help make your decision can often be overwhelming, so let your Connexions Personal Adviser help you do some of the work. Also putting together an information file may help you to finalise decisions.

Here are some good reasons for undertaking and completing a course of study within Higher Education :
• On average, graduates earn around 64% more than non-graduates and during their lifetime earn around £400,000 more than the national average.
• Graduates are more likely to be employed than non-graduates.
• Whatever you do in life, your career opportunities will be improved if you have a degree or diploma from a university or college.
• If you want to work in some professions (such as law or medicine) you will have to have a relevant degree.
• For those already in work a higher level course can increase their employment prospects.
• Universities and higher education colleges are thriving social and cultural centres with much to offer students of any age, nationality or social background.
• Higher education develops important transferable skills.
• Experience of HE gives young people increased maturity.
• University provides you with opportunities to develop new interests.