The choice between college or university simply depends on the course you want to study and the level you want to study it at. For example, if you want to be a hairdresser, a chief or a bricklayer then you will have to study at college. If you want to study engineering, law or medicine then you will have to go to university. There will be some courses offered at both college and university but the level and qualification offered will be totally different. Colleges will tend to offer the courses at NC, HNC, HND level, where as a university will offer it at Degree Level.

College qualifications can also be used to gain access to university and depending on the qualification gained in the subject, you might be able to enter in second year university. For example, a HNC in computing or HND in accounting.

Colleges offer a wide range of qualifications including: NQ - national qualifications, HNC - higher national certificate, HND - higher national diplomas, City and guilds, Access course, Modules. At college you can chose to study full time, part time, evenings, flexibly learning or even long distance learning.

When choosing a college course there is a lot to think about first, like

       · Do you have a course in mind you want to take? 
       · Do you really know what the course involves;
       · Have you looked into it properly?

Once you have chosen the course you will need to find out which colleges offer your course and then choose which one you want to go to. This may mean moving away from home. Do you even want to move away from home and if so can you afford it? These are all questions you have to think about very carefully before committing to a college course.

Entry requirements vary widely between courses so you must contact the college to find out what they want. Often you don’t need any qualifications other than an interest in the subject, colleges will also take into consideration any work experience you have and may not be as concerned with exam results like universities are.

So you want to go to university. There is a lot to think about first, like do you have a course in mind you want to study. Do you really know what the course involves; have you looked into researching it. This is very important as you must choose a degree course you really want to study as you will be spending the next 3 or possibly 4 years completing it. Also is your degree vocational or general and do you have a career in mind after you have completed it?

Which universities offer your degree course and which one do you want to go to? This is a very important decision and must not be rushed. Do you have to move away to study or do you want to move away to study? If you do then can you afford to move out of home? Will you need to increase your student loans to allow this, and if so, are you happy to leave with a higher amount of student debt?

Entry requirements
The entry requirements are the exam qualification they want and they will differ on what course you want to do. For example, to be a Vet they will want you to get at least three A’s and two B’s, including A’s in certain subjects like chemistry or math in one sitting. You can do this by either checking in the universities prospectus or phoning them and asking. If you are still at school then you will probably have to wait until your exam results come through before you will know for sure if you will make the course. This can be a very stressful time!

You can apply for a degree through UCAS and can apply for a student loans/bursaries from SAAS.

This video shows how to apply to University through UCAS