General information about higher education
Routes into higher education
Once young people enter secondary school, they are on a pathway that can lead to higher education.
The first target is to achieve at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C (or the equivalent in other qualifications) at the end of Key Stage 4. They can then progress onto Level 3 courses, at college, in the sixth form, or in work based learning.
During their Level 3 courses they can apply for higher education courses at up to six higher education institutions (HEIs). The admissions staff at the HEIs will consider their applications, and may make them a conditional offer of a place. This will specify the grades they will be expected to achieve in their Level 3 qualifications.
If they achieve those grades, they will have secured their place; if they don't do well enough, the HEI can decide whether to take them or not. If they don't get a place, they can apply for any remaining places once the HEIs have finished accepting students who did achieve the conditions.
They can also apply in later years, when they already have the results of their Level 3 programmes, and can match their qualifications to the HEIs requirements. This means the HEIs can make firm offers of a place, rather than conditional ones.
