Higher Education, or HE as it is referred to, is an advanced level of study. You can study HE at university, from home (through the Open University) and at some colleges.

Study, socialise, have fun - university is what you make of it. Primarily you are there to get a higher level qualification but there is plenty to do in your spare time... sports, clubs and lots of parties!!!

No. You have to be in education until you are 16 but after that it is up to you! People choose to go to university for lots of reasons... to learn, meet people, have fun, travel.

Yes. Most degrees are based on one subject but some combine two or allow you to choose options as you go along. If you want you can study additional skills such as a language.

No - if you study archaeology it doesn't mean you have to be Indiana Jones! For example, Sacha Baron Cohen (a.k.a. everyone's favourite Kazakhstan journalist Borat) studied History at university while Chris Martin of Coldplay studied Greek and Latin - neither of them need to use their subjects in their jobs.

Many jobs require a degree because it shows you have the ability and skills to succeed at a high level but most don't specify a particular subject, unless the job requires specific training such as a doctor, architect or teacher.

Yes. It is always worthwhile going to university whatever career you want, as it will enable you to enter at a higher level, have more responsibilities and get paid more. The armed forces will sometimes sponsor you through university, giving you money to help with your living expenses. For more info, check out:

RAF Sponsorship

Royal Navy Sponsorship

There are over 300 universities in the UK! Locally you have the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Winchester.

Courses range between 2 and 6 years depending on what you study. Most degrees are three years of study. If you want to be a doctor or an architect you have to study for six years and spend an additional year working before you qualify.

You will be given a timetable of all your lessons but the time you start and finish will vary each day.  You are treated as an adult, so it’s up to you to motivate yourself to go to your classes - it’s all about independent learning.  You are encouraged to do projects in your own time so there is more flexibility to manage your own time.

If you wish, you can miss the odd class or lecture, but beware! If you miss too many, questions will be asked - and in any case, it will damage your chances of passing your course.

When you are studying at university you are known as an undergraduate. Once you successfully pass your course you become a graduate. Graduation is the special ceremony that celebrates your achievement and you wear a black gown and square mortarboard hat.

Yes. There are two costs involved, tuition fees (the cost of teaching you) and living costs (accommodation, food, social costs etc.) All eligible full-time students that start university in September 2008 can get a Student Loan for Tuition Fees of up to £3,145 a year to meet their course costs. There’s lots of help available so that you can carry on doing what you love. Take a look at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance to see what you could claim. You can download a copy of A Guide to Financial Support for Higher Education Students from here. You could also chat to your Connexions advisor or local careers officer.

Many students successfully combine part-time and vacation work with their studies. Not only does this help with money, it also gives them valuable experience when applying for jobs after they’ve finished their course. The Directgov website provides information about this too.

Although there are costs involved in going to university, with a degree you are more likely to have a better paid and more interesting job - so it’s an investment in your future.

You can live in university owned accommodation called halls of residence, a student house, or private accommodation. Many students live in halls in the first year then move into a student house after that.

If you want you can live at home; this can be a cheaper option, and you can always choose to live with friends in a student house in your second or third year.

No. You can choose a course that is more practical and assessed by coursework or a mixture of coursework and exams. The university’s prospectus will tell you how a course is assessed. If the course you want to do does include exams, there is lots of help available with revision and exam techniques. If you have a learning disability, such as dyslexia, there is additional help and you can apply for additional time during the exam itself. Universities will do all that they can to help.

Yes. Universities welcome people from all cultures and religions and will have facilities such as prayer rooms that enable you to practice your religion.

University is very different to school. You are treated like an adult and the emphasis is on independent learning. There is a wide range of courses, including vocational ones – you don’t have to study the same subjects you did at school. Also, some courses require you to spend a year abroad or in industry as part of your studies!

As well as the academic side, there’s a huge variety of social and sporting opportunities at university, and the chance to do things you’ve never done before, like DJ for the uni radio station or get involved with the entertainments crew and organise social events on campus.

Yes, you can – you don’t have to go straight from school or college. You might want to consider taking a gap year to work or travel.

There are many mature students at university studying a variety of courses. However, be aware that combining work, a mortgage and family life can be difficult.

You can still study and earn money at the same time – many students have part-time jobs. Also, with further qualifications, you’ll be able to move higher up the career ladder, which means a higher salary. According to the DFES, graduates earn about 50% more than non-graduates, so having a degree or higher qualification will make a big difference to your earnings and career prospects over the course of your life.