Colleges are important providers of higher education courses, currently delivering some 10 per cent of higher education places nationally, usually to adult students studying part-time. And research released today by the Association of Colleges (AoC) indicates that college provides a more affordable route for degree qualifications.
The research into HE student debt found that college students who graduate from HE courses in the next few years are likely to have less than £6,000 debt – whereas students who began at university last year will owe more than £23,000 by the time they graduate.
Crucially, many FE college students on higher education courses are able to live locally, further reducing their living costs. The AoC research showed that almost 70 per cent of these students work full- or part-time while studying, earning on average £10,825 p.a..
Here are two City of Westminster College students who have found a new career direction while studying HE courses with us.
Howard Ellis, 45, combines study at City of Westminster College with a demanding job in the Cardiology department of Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford.
Howard had worked overseas in a variety of roles, including literacy teaching, and joined London Ambulance Service on his return to the UK. A back injury two years later meant he needed another career. He found a Student Cardiac Physiologist role at Royal Surrey and joined the College’s Clinical Physiology Foundation Degree in 2007, achieving a Distinction pass before moving on to his BSc.
Now in his final degree year, Howard has no doubt he made the right choice. “The College route meant I could study and hold down a job. I’ve had to put my head down and work at it, but I’m doing something I love – which is working with patients.”
Rupal Ali, 30, began a BSc in Clinical Physiology in 2002, while working as a cardiac physiology student at Northwick Park Hospital.
Rupal already had a degree in Herbal Medicine and originally took the clinical physiology role to increase her practitioner experience. She soon realised that this was a career path she wanted to pursue. Rupal graduated with a 2:1 in 2006 and continued working at Northwick Park Hospital, progressing to Senior Cardiac Physiologist within six months and Chief Cardiac Physiologist a year later.
Rupal says a vocational college-based degree is an excellent route for anyone who wants career results. “Knowing that what you are studying for is your career means you can see your end goal – and you know you have a job at the end of the course.”