The resources we've provided will give you information, ideas and, hopefully, inspiration about further study and career development.  To organise your ideas we've produced some planning resources that are automatically included in your Personal Planning Pack.   Here's an overview of what's provided - your responses to these questions will help you make a decision.  You can always contact the individual institutions if you need more information.  (Tip! Assemble a few details about yourself and the questions you want to ask before you phone, and bear in mind that the person you talk to may not be familiar with all aspects of every course offered.  Be persistent and email us if you get stuck!)

Where are you now?

• Do you want to change career, or develop your existing  career?
• What qualifications and relevant experience do you have already?
• Have you involved your employer or supervisor (perhaps during an annual appraisal) in identifying suitable progression?
• What are you good at?  What are you interested in?
• In five years' time, what would you like to be doing?
• What higher education level qualifications are you aiming for?

What do you need to know about the course and university?

• What geographical area can you consider?
• Which institutions offer the course you want?
• Have you read the course descriptions carefully (either online or in the prospectus) to check that the modules are relevant to your areas of interest?
• Do you have the qualifications, skills orexperience to apply?  
• When is it taught?    How often will you need to attend college?
• Is it distance learning or face-to-face, or perhaps a combination of both with some elements of on-line learning?
• Where is is taught?  How easy will it be for you to get there?  (Check the campus bearing in mind that some courses are delivered in further education colleges so you might be able to study nearer to home or work than you think.)

What practical arrangements do you need to take account of?

• Will the course affect childcare or jobshare arrangements?
• Is there an opportunity to do work based learning (for example, by using elements of your job for a project)?
• How will you manage your time, especially if you need to do some study at home?
• How much will the course cost and is financial help available?
• Are there any other issues to ask the institution about?  For example, study skills support, IT facilities, parking costs.  

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