WITH A level results due out next Thursday (August 18), teenagers with their sights set on Higher Education will be worrying about more than just their grades this year.
For the spiralling cost of a university education is leading many to think twice about moving away from home to further their studies. With annual tuition fees now costing £9,000 and high rents being charged on student accommodation, the average student will graduate with £44,000 worth of debt.
The advice from Buxton & Leek College this year is to shop around before making that important next step because there is more than one route to earning your degree. Thanks to the College’s status as part of the University of Derby, it is now able to offer degree-level qualifications that combine academic study with workplace learning. So students living in and around Buxton and Leek don’t need to travel outside of their home town to get their Higher Education.
Among popular options are Foundation Degrees which combine academic study with workplace learning and focus on a particular job or profession while both Higher National Certificates and Diplomas are widely recognised qualifications which equip employees with the knowledge and skills required for success. These qualifications can lead to full honours degrees, professional training or career development.
Courses on offer include Foundation Degrees in Public Safety & Disaster Management, Computing, Creative Art and Design and Children’s and Young People’s Services – a popular course for teaching assistants and early years practitioners. HNC level qualifications are available in Business and Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Students will also be able to enrol for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education for Post 14 Teaching – an ideal course for those wanting to teach in a Further Education College.
And it’s not just teenagers who can benefit from the University-level qualifications on offer at Buxton & Leek College. Adults wishing to re-train for a change of career or those who want to develop in their current role can study part-time for a variety of courses, to fit around their family life or personal circumstances. Learners can also access the Government funded Tuition Fee Loan, which means that no course fees have to be paid up front and doesn’t need to be re-paid until they are earning above £21,000.
Buxton & Leek College offers some of the lowest priced University Level courses in the region offering learners affordable education locally and learners can still apply to start in September 2016. Find out more by calling 0800 074 0099 or visit www.blc.ac.uk