‘Students’ Perceptions on the Transition from Further Education to Higher Education’

This article examines the perceptions of first year undergraduates concerning the transition from further to higher education study. The findings suggest that most students are anxious about independent learning when they embark on university study but that being taught in large lecture theatres does not cause concern. Furthermore, most students felt that the skills they had acquired in further education did equip them for this role at university. The article concludes by offering a number of recommendations as to how the transition from further to higher education can be eased. The importance of such findings and recommendations is relevant when evidence suggests that those who successfully complete higher education qualifications are “more likely to be in work and less likely to be unemployed than those qualified at lower levels” (Department for Business Innovation and Skills, 2009: 26).