Parents guide

The process of selecting a university can be difficult for applicants and stressful for parents who are keen to ensure that their son or daughter makes well-informed decisions.

We hope you find the information provided on the following pages useful in guiding you as parents and guardians through supporting your son or daughter with researching higher education options, applying to university and making the process run as smoothly as possible.

FIVE GOOD REASONS FOR GOING TO UNIVERSITY

1. Improved Career Prospects

"A higher education qualification can lead to a wider range of opportunities and a more rewarding career. Many employers target graduates in their recruitment campaigns" DirectGov

"By 2017, 56% more jobs in the UK will require degree level skills and 12% fewer jobs will be available for those with no qualifications" CBI (Confederation of British Industries)

"60% of Plymouth graduates stated that their higher education qualification was either a formal requirement for their current job or helped them secure their current job." Plymouth University Careers and Employability Service

Degree courses can also be a stepping stone onto a postgraduate programme such as a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) or LPC (Legal Practice Course).

PARENTS GUIDE

Why choose Plymouth

The application process

2. Follow a profession

For some careers such as medicine, dentistry, chartered engineering and architecture, degrees are a necessity.

"A higher education course offers a great grounding for what are often thought of as traditional ‘professional’ careers - like science, medicine, law, business, finance, architecture, education or the public sector." DirectGov

"I felt that I could progress my career faster having obtained a degree, and earn more money. I also felt that it was something that I wanted to prove to myself that I could do." Stuart Bennett, BEng (Hons) Marine Technology, Plymouth University graduate

3. Earn more money

Most experts would agree that the financial gains usually outweigh any costs (for example tuition fee and student loans) that are incurred.

"Graduates tend to earn substantially more than people with A levels who did not go to university. Projected over a working lifetime, the difference is something like £100,000 before tax at today’s valuation." DirectGov

"Universities transform lives - the typical graduate earns £31,000 a year against £19,000 a year for a non-graduate" David Willetts (Universities Minister)

4. Develop transferable skills

Students develop transferable skills such as literacy, numeracy, research, communication, and computing skills which can give your son or daughter an edge in the fast-changing world of employment.

"Higher Education is all about self-discover, learning more about who you truly are and expanding your horizons!" Gr8choice.org

5. Build self-confidence, responsibility and independence

"Higher education is about taking your education to the next level: learning new things and getting to where you want to be...It could help you take charge of your future by building skills and confidence and opening up new opportunities - whatever stage of your life you're at." DirectGov

In a nutshell, university is about self-discovery, learning more and expanding horizons!

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OUR CREDENTIALS

Awarded the Queen's Anniversary prize for Higher & Further Education

A 'top 3 modern university', says the Sunday Times University Guide 2010

First class award in the People & Planet Green League 2011

"80% of research at international standard"

Winners of 'Continuous Improvement - Institutional Change'

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

video icon Open day - prospective students' experiences at the 2010 open day

video icon Tour the campus - using our interactive campus map

video icon Volunteering - an insight into Claire's student ambassador work

video icon UPSU - Lauren shows you around the Students' Union

video icon Marine Life - Jonathan shares his experiences working at Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium