Smart Advice

Whether you are working as an adviser in a UK school or college or in an international setting, you have a critically important role to perform – your advice can be a life changer for students.

As an adviser, there is an expectation from parents or carers, as well as students, that you are conversant with the wide range of subjects, courses and qualifications that can be used for progression routes to higher education and into employment.

But given the scale and range of UK higher education (the largest degree sector in Europe), this can undoubtedly appear a daunting task for the new or less experienced adviser.

Over two weeks, this free online course will help to bolster your confidence in answering students’ questions, by increasing your knowledge and awareness of UK higher education study opportunities. By the end, you will understand:

• the different progression pathways available to students;
• the subjects and courses available in UK higher education;
• and the benefits of using an online course and taking part in social learning.

The course has been developed by UCAS – the admissions service for all UK higher education institutions – and UCAS staff will act as tutors, to provide feedback and to answer as many questions as we can.

But you will also join a community of online learners, providing an opportunity for interactive learning with other advisers both in the UK and internationally.

This course complements Smart Choices: Broadening Your Horizons – another free online course developed by UCAS, which will be running from November 6th to 16th 2017. Designed for young people in school, it will help them discover more about their post-18 options and pathways, and explore the wide range of subjects and opportunities offered in higher education. Your students can register for this course from September 6th.