Further education is for students over 16 taking courses at various levels up to the standard required for entry to higher education. Courses are available at further education and sixth form colleges and range from lower-level technical and commercial courses to more advanced courses for those aiming at higher level jobs in business, administration and the professions. Non-vocational courses are also offered including GCSE’s and “A” levels. In addition to fulltime courses, many further education students attend college part-time, whether by day or block release from employment or in the evening. FE colleges have strong ties with commerce and industry, with much of the sector being devoted to work-related studies. However colleges also have strong links with higher education institutions enabling students to progress to an advanced stage of a degree course at university.