Have you thought about what you want your future to look like? Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
Although it may seem like a long way off, it’s important to start thinking about the decisions you need to make now so that you can make your hopes and ambitions as real as possible. This guide will go through everything you need to know about higher education, student life and how university can help you to reach your goals.
Jump to section:
What is university and HE?Your journey from school to HE
What Should I Do After My GCSEs?
Student experience
Student support
Accommodation and commuting
Open days
Find your place at Edge Hill
What is University and Higher Education?
Higher education, or HE, is the period of study that you can choose to go into after you have finished studying in school and sixth form/college.
If you choose to go into higher education, you will be studying for a degree qualification and you will be known as a graduate after you have finished your course.
Universities are the institutions which provide higher education (although you can study HE in some colleges as well).
Most people only study one subject at university, although you can study two or even three if you want to. The majority of degree courses are three years long, but some courses can be shorter or longer.
Why go to university?
There are plenty of reasons to go to university, as it opens up so many opportunities for you to grow and develop both as a professional and as a person. Here’s just a few of the reasons our students choose university study at Edge Hill.
Student Story
“I decided to go to university because gaining a degree will provide me with lots of career opportunities after I graduate. University is also a great way to make new friends, and a chance for me to start living independently.”
Jessica, BA (Hons) Dance and Drama at Edge Hill University
From starting independent learning through to choosing your options, here’s what we recommend you thinking about at each stage and guidance on choosing your options post-GCSE.
Year 7 – Starting Independent Learning
Identifying: What are your favourite subjects? What aspects do you enjoy the most?
Exploring: Have you joined any clubs or activities in or out of school which reflect your interests?
Years 8 and 9 – Choosing Your GCSE Options
Identifying: What skills do you enjoy using? What subjects do you use them in?
Exploring: Where could your GCSE options take you? Research some future career possibilities.
Year 10 – GCSE Study
Identifying: How can you support your GCSE studies? Have you considered making a study timetable?
Exploring: Try work experience or volunteering in an area that interests you. Speak to your careers advisor or teachers for guidance.
Year 11 – GCSE Study and Choosing Post-16 Options
Identifying: What do you want to do next year after you finish school? A Levels, BTECs, T Levels or Apprenticeships?
Exploring: Have you visited a university yet? Explore how your sixth form/college choices will affect your future. You may also want to look at what university access programmes are available to you once you start sixth form, to help you with your university research’
What Should I Do After My GCSEs?
It’s important to make the right choices, as they will determine not just what you can do in the future but what you can study at university.
Options after GCSE
There are a number of routes you can take after GCSE, and it’s worth thinking carefully about your options and which will suit you. Your teacher or careers adviser will be able to chat with you on the benefits of each route too.
Things to consider when choosing your next steps
- What subjects have you enjoyed studying in the past?
- What subjects have you achieved well in?
- Do you have a career plan in mind? Does it require specific subject knowledge?
- What are your strongest skills (e.g., communication, leadership) and which subjects link to them?
While searching for universities, you might see the words “student life” and “student experience”, but what does it mean? University is about more than studying – it’s an opportunity to meet new people, try new things, and build independence. Universities will often hold events and have support to help you settle in and make friends and have plenty of clubs and societies for you to meet like-minded people.
Student experience at Edge Hill
Discover the vibrant student life at Edge Hill, where you’ll create lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. There are countless ways for you to shape your own student experience when studying with us, allowing you to discover new passions, meet likeminded people and build your university experiences.
We’re proud of our welcoming and nurturing community and we’re pleased that there are activities taking place across our campus and in the local area suitable for all personalities.
Want to get an idea of what you can get up to whilst you’re here? We’ve put together some examples to get you started.
Students’ Union
Once you join a university, you’re automatically enrolled in a Students’ Union. The Students’ Union (or SU) supports students with problems, organises activities, hosts events and makes sure student voices are heard. Each university has a wide range of clubs and societies too – from sports teams to unusual hobbies – that are run through the Students’ Union, so there’s always plenty to get involved in.
Most universities offer a range of support to all their students to use if they need it. Support at Edge Hill starts even before you join us too, with a range of pre-arrival sessions to support your transition through the Thrive programme (ehu.ac.uk/thrive).
Heading to university is an exciting time, but some people might like more help to settle in and make the most of university life. Universities offer bespoke support in areas such as:
Although all students can access support, students with lived experience of disabilities or learning needs, students with experience of care or familial estrangement, students with caring responsibilities’ can access additional specific support options.
Finance and budgeting
For some, this is the first time you’ll have managed your own money or had to budget for yourself. This is an important part of student experience and universities usually have teams to support you with creating a budget or accessing any funding you might be entitled to.
Student Finance
Most students will apply for Student Finance. This is a loan given by the Government, to pay for your tuition fees and to help towards living expenses while you’re at university.
Here’s some key facts about Student Finance you should know:
- Tuition fees are usually covered by a Tuition Fee Loan (this is paid direct to your university)
- Living costs can be covered by a Student Maintenance Loan (the amount you get depends on your household income)
- You only start paying loans back once you’re earning above a set threshold
- Religious faith may mean taking out a student loan and paying the required inflation-based interest could be prohibited for religious reasons for some students. You may find it useful to contact your local faith leader to discuss your options if you are unsure.
Another thing to consider when looking at universities is whether you want to live in student accommodation or off-campus. There’s benefits to each, and you should think carefully about which option is best for you.
Living in accommodation
Many students choose to move out of home when they start studying in higher education; whether they live close to university or have come from further away.
Living in university accommodation (or halls) is a great opportunity to meet and make new friends, as well as experience a new lifestyle, while still having support on-hand from your university.
Watch as Edge Hill students Cameron and Ezeikhal share their stories about what life is like living in halls on Edge Hill’s award-winning campus or click below to see some of our halls.
Living off-campus
Living off-campus or commuting doesn’t mean you miss out. At Edge Hill commuting students can still enjoy all the benefits of campus life. A commuting student can be someone living at home with family or in accommodation outside of the university campus.
Commuting students can use the Student Life Portal at Edge Hill to keep up with all the events and activities on campus, can benefit from free breakfasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, use of our commuter hub, free parking permit* and more.
If you’re interested in studying at a university, there’s no better way to learn more about what it’s like to study and live there than by going along to an open day. Open days are a really important part of the decision making process, and we encourage you to attend the events of any universities you’re interested in.
What happens at open days?
If you’ve not been before, it might be helpful to watch this video so you know what to expect at an Edge Hill open day. All universities run open days differently, but at each open day you’ll be able to ask questions and find out more about your chosen course and university life.
Making the most of your day
Choosing a university is a big decision, so make sure you’re prepared to get the most out of your Open Days with Rachel’s top five tips.
Find your place at Edge Hill
We hope this guide has been helpful. To see the range of courses we offer or find out more about studying at Edge Hill, explore the links below!
September 15, 2025
