Routes into university and higher education
As well as traditional A levels, there are other qualifications that can get you into higher education. Universities and colleges may also take your work experience into account.
Part-time courses and Foundation degrees
For part-time courses, check the university or college prospectus - most are now available online. The UCAS website gives details of part-time and full-time Foundation degrees.
Learning for free
Many courses in literacy and numeracy are free, and you may not have to pay for tuition if you’re going for your first qualification equivalent to GCSEs or A levels. There’s a wider range of free courses available if you’re on income-related benefits, and there are opportunities for everyone to learn for free online.
Learning for free at work
Many employers are keen for their staff to develop new skills, and may offer free training relevant to your job - for example through an Apprenticeship, Training for Success scheme or Bridge to Employment. If you’re looking to get back into work, you may be able to take part in the Steps 2 Success or other programmes for unemployed people.
Adult learning - Find your dream career
Need career inspiration? Get free, impartial advice from the Careers Service
Need career inspiration?
Need career inspiration? Get free, impartial advice from the Careers Service
Pathways to Success
The strategy seeks to effectively join up actions being taken across the Executive to ensure that our young people’s needs are identified and matched with opportunities to meet those needs. It was developed to help those young people who face barriers to participation and introduces a number of new initiatives within the context of wider existing and developing programmes of intervention to tackle youth unemployment.
A NEET Advisory Group has been established to improve the co-ordination of activity across the stakeholders involved in implementing the ‘Pathways to Success’ Strategy.
Further information on the Strategy, the new initiatives and the NEET Advisory Group can be accessed using the links below:
Higher Education Quality Assurance
Higher Education Policy Branch has been working with our colleagues in England to agree on future developments with in the Higher Education quality assurance system.
Consultation on the future of the quality assurance method
A key part of this work involves the development of a new institutional audit method to apply from 2011-12. This is being taken forward by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL NI), Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE), Universities UK (UUK) and Guild HE, but the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), Association of Colleges and NUS are also closely involved. These organisations published a consultation on the future of the quality assurance method 
, which ran from December 2009 to March 2010.
briefing from HEFCE, DEL (NI), UUK and GuildHE. More...
Higher education research policy
The aim of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) is to develop and sustain a Higher Education research sector that holds a strong position within the UK and beyond and makes a major contribution to economic and social well-being.
Research funding
The Department provides research funding for the Northern Ireland universities through a range of mechanisms. The majority of year on year or recurrent research funding is distributed by reference to quality as assessed by performance in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). (New arrangements are currently being developed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), in partnership with the other UK Higher Education (HE) funding bodies, for the next assessment of research performance, the Research Excellence Framework (REF)). This is known as Quality-related Research (QR) funding and is used to cover the essential costs necessary to carry out research.
- recurrent research funding
- Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
- Research Excellence Framework (REF)
- Quality-related Research (QR)
The Department provides capital funding for research through the Higher Education Research Capital fund, previously known as the Research Capital investment Fund (RCIF)and prior to that the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF). It also operated the Support Programme for University Research (SPUR), an initiative unique to Northern Ireland which directed funding towards interdisciplinary research activity capable of competing at the highest international levels.
The universities also apply for funding to cover the direct costs of specific research projects from the Research Councils, along with other funders such as industry, charities, government departments and the European Union. More...
Quality Assurance and Teaching and Learning
Quality Assurance and Teaching and Learning are important strands of work in Higher Education Policy Branch (HEPB). The Department is committed to ensuring that all HE students benefit from a high quality learning experience fully meeting their needs and the needs of the economy and society.
In a competitive world, attracting and retaining the best students is vital. All higher education institutions need to strive for excellence in teaching to fulfill the expectations of their students and other stakeholders.
Quality and standards in Higher Education
The Department is responsible for ensuring that the quality and standard of higher education delivered in Northern Ireland meets agreed UK standards. To do this effectively the Department contracts the Quality Assurance Agency (www.qaa.ac.uk) to safeguard public confidence and to encourage continuous improvement in managing the quality of higher education. The QAA works with the HE sector including government bodies, HE sector representative bodies and higher education institutions to define academic standards and quality in accordance with the UK Quality Code. They carry out and publish reviews against these standards. More...
What is a Foundation degree?
A Foundation degree is an intermediate, work-related higher education qualification which combines academic and work-related learning. It is broadly equivalent to a HND/HNC qualification and can be studied in a wide range of subject areas. The Foundation degree focuses on employability. A person will learn the technical skills and academic knowledge which will transfer easily into the workplace. In Northern Ireland, Foundation degrees are developed and delivered in a partnership, involving one of the Northern Ireland universities or the Open University, a Further Education college and employers.
Higher education in further education
Northern Ireland’s Further Education Colleges have been delivering Higher Education (HE in FE) courses in Northern Ireland since the 1980s and the six Further Education Colleges now deliver the vast majority of intermediate level Higher Education provision.
HE in FE provision
The provision of HE in FE also plays a key role in supporting other Departmental strategies including ‘Graduating To Success’, ‘Success through Skills – Transforming Futures the Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland’ and ‘Further Education Means Business’.
HE in FE provision covers a wide range of subject areas and primarily takes the form of Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas and Higher National Certificates. More...
