People continue their education after high school in a variety of ways to gain knowledge and skills for particular professions. They can decide to pursue further education or higher education, or they can begin working right away with mentorship and research. As part of your further and higher education, you have access to all of these (fairly bizarre) options.
Choosing a course of study after turning 16 is known as further education (FE). It includes all credentials that are less than a degree. Everyone is required to complete their FE studies by the time they turn 18. What do these terms actually mean, and how do higher education and continuing education differ from one another?
This article defines further education, explains its advantages, and contrasts it with higher education.
What Is Further Education?
A type of post-secondary education known as further education (FE) is post-secondary learning that is not a component of higher education (HE), which includes undergraduate and graduate degrees. It includes formal education and frequently has a vocational foundation. Students receive FE from places like FE, specialist, and sixth-form colleges.
For both children and adults, these institutions provide technical, academic, and professional education and training. Although FE places a strong emphasis on assisting students in acquiring job skills, it also gives them the option to later pursue higher education opportunities.
Which Classes Are Available For Further Education?
There are a ton of further education (FE) courses that you can take in addition to A-levels or Scottish Highers. Technical colleges, Colleges of Further Education (CFE), and Adult and Community Colleges all offer FE courses.
You can take level 2 and 3 courses to specialize in a specific technical job. Many of the courses are either part-time or relatively brief.
The Benefits Of Further Education
Provides A Variety Of Choices
Numerous study options and certifications are available through FE colleges. The programs include taking a primary vocational course in a subject like plumbing or business and gaining work experience in the fields of study through tutoring, volunteering, and the development of employability skills.
If you didn’t receive a passing grade in math or English in secondary school, they might also include GCSE courses.
You have more career options with FE’s wide range of course offerings. For instance, colleges might offer classes in a range of subjects like animal science and management, agriculture, equine management, fish farming, and boat building. Even apprenticeship courses in nuclear science are offered by some colleges.
Offers A Starting Point For Individuals
People with few to no qualifications may enroll in FE courses. There are prerequisites for some courses, but many colleges offer entry-level study programs that don’t demand prior credentials. It can occasionally be just as important to be interested in a subject as it is to be qualified.
For instance, if you love to cook and eat, you might enroll in a basic catering course without any prior training.
Features Progression Through Different Qualifications
Through foundational or introductory courses, FE students advance to degrees and professional certifications. As they work towards higher qualifications, such as higher education levels, students advance from one level to the next in many subjects. If a student doesn’t already have a GCSE or an equivalent, they can continue to study English and math in full-time courses to earn credentials like functional skills or GCSEs.
Provides Practical Learning For Students
Students can learn in real-world settings at FE colleges to develop skills for the workforce. They also have exams and written assignments, but some courses also have practical assessments where instructors assess you in a real-world workplace.
Uniforms are required for some classes, and many colleges demand that students buy them before the semester even begins. Depending on the course you pursue, FE courses usually include:
- learning in a classroom
- undertaking some form of relevant work experience
- learning and training in realistic work environments such as restaurants, workshops, studios, salons, live performance venues, media suites, and fitness suites
- attending specialist skills or employer workshops
Improves Your Earning Potential
Your earning potential is directly influenced by your education, training, and experience. You may noticeably increase your earning potential by earning credentials from an FE college, in particular.
Offers A Flexible Schedule
Secondary schools have different schedules than FE colleges, which are institutions of adult education. Courses frequently have flexible schedules to fit your needs. Even if you are in the same class as someone else, your schedules might be very different. Some students prefer to study at night while diverting their attention during the day.
As an illustration, if you’re a student studying catering or hospitality, the college may ask you to assist with evening events while you’re learning and practicing.
What Is Higher Education?
Following secondary school, you can enroll in further education, just like higher education (HE). Conversely, Further Education doesn’t (typically) take place at a university, unlike HE. Instead, FE programs are delivered at colleges or through apprenticeship programs in the workplace.
Typically, FE courses instruct students in practical skills like catering, hairstyling, childcare, and bricklaying. A lot of diplomas, honors, and certificates are forms of FE, including an NVQ. These courses place a strong emphasis on workplace skills and prepare you to excel in a specific profession.
How Do Higher Education And Further Education Differ From One Another?
Here are some differences between further education and higher education to help you understand these concepts:
Definition
FE is the educational level that comes after secondary education but before higher education. Higher education is any undergraduate or graduate degree obtained from colleges and universities after completing secondary school and earning sufficient grades to enroll in higher education institutions. It is also available in specialized colleges that offer short-term certificate and diploma programs in vocational training.
Focus
FE primarily assists students in developing the skills they need to succeed in a field, so it has a strong focus on employment. Giving students more knowledge than secondary school education while providing them with less than higher education is its main goal. The emphasis in higher education is more on theory. Many HE students also receive professional training while they are in school, typically in the form of an internship or an industrial attachment.
Education Institutions
Colleges and universities frequently offer higher education. Colleges and other smaller organizations provide FE to students. Depending on the nation, these institutions may go by different names; some may be referred to as community colleges or technical schools.
Requirements
Your secondary education must be completed in order to enroll in an FE institute. While some courses accept students regardless of their educational background, most higher education institutions require students to complete additional qualifications before enrolling. Additionally, depending on the course and organization you enroll in, there may be grade requirements.
Duration Of Study
An FE course’s study period varies greatly. Some courses, like those in teaching, might only require a few months to complete, while others might take up to five. In higher education, a bachelor’s degree typically takes three years to complete. Depending on whether you’re studying full- or part-time, it typically takes two to four years to complete a graduate degree.
Opportunities
After finishing a course in FE, students frequently have no trouble getting a job. Compared to undergraduate and graduate students, their earning potential is typically lower. Additionally, FE offers programs that let students pursue higher education.
Graduates from higher education can also find employment fairly easily, and they can typically expect to earn more money. Those with graduate degrees typically make more money than those with undergraduate degrees.
Qualifications
Graduate and undergraduate degrees are offered in higher education. While undergraduate studies typically involve pursuing a bachelor’s degree, graduate degrees also include master’s and Ph.D. degrees. In areas like vocational education, practical training, T-Levels, apprenticeships, diplomas, and foundation degrees, additional education offers a variety of qualifications.
Why Is Further Education The Better Option?
Instead of enrolling in an expensive, no-guarantee university degree, there are numerous advantages to studying FE.
Here are just a few:
- They are so easy to find! To enroll in FE, you don’t have to be a math prodigy. This means that even if our GCSEs weren’t the best, those of us who weren’t born academics have the same opportunities to enter promising careers with respectable salaries.
- The cost of an entire NVQ – that’s right, the whole course – can be between £2-3k depending on the level of the qualification (1-8). Less than 10% of a university degree is that.
- Most NVQs only take 9 to 12 months to complete, so they take less time.
- They may lead directly to employment. Many apprenticeship programs can result in a job at the company where you received your training.
- You have the same chance of finding employment as a university graduate. In fact, some graduates use their degrees to make up for gaps in their professional skill sets. The job market needs FE students.
That it does, doesn’t it paint a pretty good picture? An affordable and accessible route into employment with even higher employment rates than graduates?
The reality is that there are too many HE graduates on the job market, leaving critical gaps in vocational skill requirements. But a much higher proportion of school dropouts have options thanks to FE, which comes with little to no debt and almost a guarantee of employment.
And, what’s more, a Level 6 NVQ is equivalent to a degree level of learning. Consequently, you have a great chance to be more skilled, employable, and well-educated than HE graduates.