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Thursday 23 September 2004

Aimhigher logo DFES logo HEFCE logo LSC logo NUS logo

New information and guidance package launched to help students make the right decisions about higher education

Tomorrow's students now have access to a wealth of new information and guidance aimed at helping them to make more informed choices about what and where to study in higher education based on their own personal goals.

The new information is on the web portal www.aimhigher.ac.uk which closely links to a new booklet produced by the National Union of Students titled 'Thinking it Through'. The combined information package will take students and their advisers through the various steps they need to consider in making choices about higher education courses and institutions.

The new web-site and guidance have been developed through a partnership involving the HEFCE, DfES, NUS, HERO and the Learning and Skills Council. The joint initiative has resulted in a comprehensive information and advice package about higher education opportunities which relates to students' individual requirements. The web-site includes guidance on financial matters, and what student life will be like, as well as offering profiles of every UK university and college offering higher education courses. The accompanying NUS guide helps students weigh up the options linking to the web-site w here answers can be found and the further issues explored.

Speaking at the launch of the new guidance package, Dr Kim Howells MP, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, said:

"To enable students to choose the path best suited to their skills and needs we must ensure that they are fully aware of the range of choices available in higher education. The Aimhigher Portal and NUS Guide provide information in ways that are both easy to use and attractively presented."

John Rushforth, HEFCE's Director of Widening Participation, said:

"This new information and guidance will be of enormous benefit to students considering entering higher education, enabling them to think through all the issues before they apply. It is essential that high quality and reliable information is freely available to everyone so that all students are able to make the right choices and succeed regardless of whether their families have experience of higher education."

Hannah Essex, Vice-President, Education, NUS , said:

"NUS believes that 'Thinking it Through' will help guide students every step of the way when making important decisions about their future in higher education.

With students having to deal with increasing financial and welfare issues, it is ever more vital that they have access to information which will help them make the right choice about their education."

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For further information contact: Philip Walker, tel 0117 931 7363, e-mail: p.walker@hefce.ac.uk or Liz Hutchinson, tel 0207 561 6504, e-mail liz.hutchinson@nus.org.uk at the NUS.

Notes to editors

  1. The Aimhigher.ac.uk portal is part of the Aimhigher programme which is jointly funded by the DfES, HEFCE and the LSC. Aimhigher aims to widen participation by raising aspirations, motivation and attainment to enter HE among young people in schools, further education and workplace learning, who are from under-represented groups.
  2. The National Union of Students has taken the lead in producing the guide to higher education, which provides helpful and clear guidance in a friendly format. Copies will be distributed to schools and colleges. It is also available on the NUS Aimhigher web-site.
  3. The Aimhigher portal can be accessed at www.aimhigher.ac.uk.
  4. HEFCE is a non-departmental government body which distributes public money for teaching and research to universities and colleges in England. In doing so, it aims to promote high quality education and research, within a financially healthy sector. The Council also plays a key role in ensuring accountability and promoting good practice.
  5. HERO is supported by the UK higher education funding bodies and a number of higher education organisations. It provides comprehensive online information about higher education and research opportunities in the UK.