"The advice and guidance at the college has been really effective, and some of the facilities are truly exceptional."Gill Barnes, PGCE, Cornwall College
"Studying locally meant I was able to save money and still study at a top university college - without incurring the sort of debt many students are burdened with."Kayleigh Houghton, University College Falmouth
"Being green and kind to the environment has always interested me. This course is brilliant and as a mature student they couldn't have helped me more."Dave Franks, Duchy College Rosewarne, Cornwall College
"I was seeking to increase my business skills to help me run my web design business more efficiently. I signed up with Truro College and the course has helped me a lot."Emily Tarrant, Truro & Penwith College
"Three years at university provided sanctuary for my creative ideas - a chance to let my future grow."Martin Holland, University College Falmouth and Heart of Borneo
A university level qualification can greatly improve your earning prospects and offer you a much wider choice of careers. You can now get a world-class education in a wide variety of subjects at locations across Cornwall. The quality of the courses, the wide choice of subjects, the exceptional facilities and the unique lifestyle draw in students from across the globe, as well as giving local people the chance to build their futures without leaving the place they love.
Quality and choice – study in Cornwall!
There are more than 8,000 students on close to 300 university-level courses, delivered at more than a dozen campus sites right across Cornwall.
The Combined Universities in Cornwall is a partnership of universities and colleges delivering university level education that includes:
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry www.pcmd.ac.uk
From Animal Behaviour to Digital Animation, English to Engineering, Medicine to Mining and Politics to Performance – you should find your chosen subject available somewhere in the county. You have a wide choice not just of what to study, but how to study it, with part-time, distance learning and blended learning options all available as well as traditional full-time degree courses.
Whatever you choose, studying at university level will give you the opportunity to really delve deep into your areas of interest and work with like-minded individuals on subjects that inspire you. It will also help you develop a wide range of transferable skills that will make all the difference when you do come to decide what you would like to do for a living.
For a full list of all the university level courses on offer in Cornwall please visit our course page.
To find more about the individual universities or colleges or to find out how to apply for a place, please use the links above to visit their own websites.
Fees – don't let the new system restrict your ambition!
There has been a great deal of media coverage around the increase in Higher Education tuition fees from 2012, which has led to lots of confusion and worry for potential students and their families. Do make sure you understand the facts about the changes to fees and funding before you let them influence your decision on whether to study at university level.
From 2012, most universities and colleges will be charging an annual tuition fee of between £6,000 and £9,000. This is to cover the cost of teaching your course. However, anyone starting a degree for the first time (the vast majority of students) will not have to pay any tuition fee costs upfront. You do not have to have the money in advance to go to university. Instead, you will receive a tuition fee loan that you do not have to pay back until you can afford to do so. If you are entering Higher Education (university level education) in 2012, this will not be until you have graduated and are earning at least £21,000. Your repayments will be 9% of everything you earn above £21,000 and are taken out of your payroll earnings in a similar way to tax. Monthly payments will start from around £30 per month and rise as your earnings increase as below.
The repayments you will have to make each month depending on your annual salary after you graduate will be:
Whether your fees are £6,000, or £9,000 per year, your monthly repayments will be the same. If your fees are at the higher end, you will make repayments for longer. Most people will find they are making repayments for most of their working life, much along the lines of a bit of extra income tax.
If you never earn more than £21,000, you will never pay back your loan in full. Any outstanding debt is written off after 30 years.
Another important change is that part-time students will also be able to get loans for their tuition fees, operating in the same way as above.
On top of tuition fees, you will also have to consider your living costs – rent, food, transport etc. Student maintenance loans are still available to help cover these costs and you may find you are also eligible for maintenance grants, bursaries and other financial assistance. Students from Cornwall may of course also find that they can make considerable savings on travel and living costs by staying at home. Universities and colleges will also be offering scholarships that reduce tuition fees to students from low income households and some other groups. Contact the financial advisor at your chosen college or university directly to find out more about the specific support available.
For more practical information on student finance – do watch the "The Money Saving Expert".
Martin has been asked to head up the tuition fees task force and also has lots of straightforward information on his Student Finance Website
Careers - Invest in your future
A university level qualification can greatly improve your earning prospects and offer you a much wider choice of careers.
The average man who studies at Higher Education level earns 28% more than if he had left education after A levels. The average woman earns 48% more (source: Dr Arnaud Chevalier, Department of Economics, Royal Holloway, University of London at Westminster Education Forum 2011).
The average graduate starting salary in Cornwall is £19,000 (source: Unlocking Cornish Potential ), in London this extends to £28,500.
Whether you plan to stay in Cornwall after graduation, or move further afield, your qualification should mean that you find a much greater choice of jobs available to you. Some of the options available to graduates in Cornwall and their average starting salaries include: Junior Doctor £33k, Environmental Engineer £24k, Trainee Journalist £18k, Graphic Designer £16k, Marine Biologist £20k (source: Direct.gov.uk ).
And those are just the starting salaries – average salaries from some other careers on offer in the county include: Coastal Scientist £35k, Multimedia Programmer £35k, Web Developer £27k, Design Engineer £40k, Catering Buyer £25k (source: Invest in Cornwall )
Of course, like many graduates in Cornwall, you also have the option of setting up your own business, in which case the world is your oyster (....or your mackerel!).
All in all, we'll think you'll find that although there is no getting away from the fact that university level education is expensive, the repayments should always be manageable, and you'll find that the choices and career prospects it opens up for you will mean it is well worth the investment.
