Before applying for a higher education course , there are a number of things you need to consider; we've put together a handy checklist to help you assess each institution you're interested so that you can compare it to others.

More and more people are choosing distance learning because of the flexibility and the vast range of quality courses and qualifications on offer. However, if you want to study this way, you will need to be self-motivated and self-disciplined - just because you'll be studying from home doesn't mean that the work will be easy.

If you have submitted your UCAS application form by the mid-January deadline, then you should expect to hear from all your chosen institutions by the end of March. You can track your offers through the UCAS web site, and you also have the option of receiving decisions through the post or by e-mail.

If you are applying for a part-time, flexible learning or postgraduate course, you will normally need to apply directly to the university or college running the course, rather than through UCAS.

Although the exact qualifications and grades required for different higher education courses vary widely, you can generally apply for a Bachelor's degree course with A levels, HNCs, HNDs, Vocational qualifications, Access Course qualifications, Foundation Course qualifications. Here comes with the details.

When you get a UCAS application form and begin to fill in it, first of all you should have a general knowledge of it. In this article, there are guidelines to help you get through the UCAS application form filling.

If you're applying for a full-time place through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and you don't get any offers from the universities or colleges on your list, or you turn down or cancel your choices, you may have a second chance to secure a place through UCAS Extra.

After the announcement of A-level results, UCAS runs a process called the Clearing Vacancy Information Service (simply known as 'Clearing') to match applicants without places with courses that still have places available.

Although you can register with UCAS in the summer before you plan to make your online application, the earliest you can submit your application is the September before you want to start your course. The majority of courses have an application deadline of mid-January. The following table lists all the major dates and deadline for the UCAS application process.

Most institutions hold Open Days so that prospective students and their families can tour the campus can explore the site, see the accommodation and check out the academic, sporting and social facilities. You'll also get a better idea of the travel time from home.