Arun didn’t enjoy school and left ten years ago with only a handful of GCSEs. He is exceptionally good at IT and developed a bit of a reputation at work for being able to solve IT related problems. He doesn’t have any formal qualifications though – he simply learned on the job. He worked in the data processing department of the County Council.

Most weekends were devoted to weekend gigs playing lead guitar with a popular local band. As a result of a conversation in the pub after a gig, Arun was encouraged to think about making a complete career change that would reflect his interest in music and his knowledge of technology. He did a BTEC National Award in Music and then got a place on a Foundation Degree in Music Production.

Although it’s been a bit of a financial sacrifice to give up his day job, Arun is now looking forward to a more satisfying career.

Before Arun started studying, he wanted to look at information on:

1. Career matters
2. Foundation degrees
3. Study choices-chooing a course, college or university
4. Financial help for studying
5. Finding time for study
6. Develop your writing skills for higher education
7. Applying for higher education

He had a number of concerns:

• How could he find out what’s available?
• How should he apply for a place?

Arun was pleased to know that his lack of formal qualifications wouldn’t be a barrier to study. He hadn’t realised that people of all ages study foundation degrees and that many, like him, are seeking to make a career change. He was really pleased to find that foundation degrees are built around the needs of industry and that about 75% of students are over 21 when they start.

Arun might have also considered

• What will the Foundation degee cost? Could he justify the invesment?
• Whether he had the time to spend studying for this degree?
• Whether he was capable of studying at Foundation Degree level?
• How useful this degree would be for his career?
• What the difference is between a Foundation degree and an Honours degree?

What could you do?

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