There is a wide range of subjects, often with close links with to commerce and industry. The other higher education institutions specialise in particular areas such as health care, art and design, music and drama, textile technology and teacher training. In addition to Scottish Highers, institutions welcome applicants with vocational qualifications and with GCE A level passes or other qualifications from other parts of the United Kingdom - and applicants from abroad. A consultation exercise is going on to determine how higher education institutions will award points to the new National Qualifications. However, there are certain universities where Master is used for a first degree in arts subjects.
Potential students apply through a central clearing house.
The level of the contribution is means-tested. Those on lower family incomes get free tuition. The maximum contribution for those on higher incomes is currently 1,050. Parental income is not taken into account if the student is 25 or over or has been self-supporting for at least three years before the start of the course. The Northern Ireland Assembly approves scrapping up-front tuition fees, but says this measure would be too expensive to support and would contravene equality measures because offering free tuition to all would benefit the wealthy more than the disadvantaged.