Introduction to University
What is Higher Education (HE)? – 1000s of different courses available in the UK – 100s of different places to study
Why go to University? Independent Flexibility/ Study a subject study choice you enjoy Excellent resources/ Taught by facilities experts Transferable Personal skills challenge Unique Job opportunities opportunities Potential to Social life earn more Prepare for a New Freedom particular career friends
Name a University
Campus University – Leeds
City University – University College London
Collegiate University – Cambridge and Oxford
Choosing a course 1. The best way to get a good job is to get a good degree from a good university. 2. Students do well at university in subjects that genuinely interest them: they enjoy themselves, get good results, and tend not to drop out. 3. Apply to do a subject you will enjoy and do well in – remember a good degree gets you a good job!
Course choice and career prospects • Some careers require a specific degree, e.g. Architecture; Engineering; Medicine; Veterinary Medicine • Some jobs in the commercial or business world (~5% of the total) also require particular degree subjects: typically, Mathematics or Languages • The majority of top jobs don’ t specify a degree subject – they ask for a good degree (Class I or II.1) from a good university, in any subject (and if necessary professional training follows) Law Public administration Journalism and publishing Teaching IT Accountancy and finance Business
Banking & investment recruits
Legal training recruits
Russell Group Universities
Why choose a Russell Group University? • Challenging, stimulating courses • Top-rated education and teaching • Superb facilities and resources • Great social life • Supportive environment • Excellent career prospects
Job prospects Graduates from RI universities are more likely to get graduate level jobs Source: Graduate Employment and Earnings , 1994 Group (2008)
Earning potential Graduates from RI universities are likely to earn more Source: Graduate Employment and Earnings , 1994 Group (2008))
The University of Cambridge Robinson Darwin King’s Gonville and St. John’s Caius Newnham Churchill Christ’s Selwyn Downing Girton Trinity Pembroke Clare Homerton Sidney Sussex Murray Edwards Emmanuel Lucy Cavendish Trinity Hall Clare Hall Peterhouse Hughes Hall St. Catharine’s Fitzwilliam St. Edmund’s Magdalene Corpus Jesus Queens’ Wolfson Christi
Courses at Cambridge • • Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Political Sciences Engineering Celtic • • Land Economy Manufacturing • Architecture Engineering • Law • • Asian and Middle Mathematics • Linguistics Eastern Studies • Medicine • Management Studies • Classics • Natural Sciences • Modern and Medieval • Economics • Languages Psychological and • Education Behavioural Sciences • Music • • English Veterinary Medicine • Philosophy • Geography • Theology and Religious • History Studies • • History of Art Chemical Engineering • • Human, Social and Computer Science
Student life What is it like? All work and no play? PARTY PARTY PARTY!
Academic life • Small-group teaching – supervisions • Lectures, classes, seminars, practicals, field trips • Independent study • Assessment • Director of Studies – academic progress • Tutor – welfare
A Medic M T W T F S S 08:00 09:00 Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture 10:00 Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture 11:00 Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Q sheet Lecture 12:00 Lecture Q sheet Lecture 13:00 Lecture Lecture Q sheet 14:00 Practical Lecture Lecture Q sheet 15:00 Practical Class Practical . 16:00 Practical Practical Class Class 17:00 18:00 Q sheet Class 19:00 Q sheet Q sheet 20:00 Q sheet Q sheet 21:00
A Historian M T W T F S S 08:00 09:00 Lecture 10:00 Lecture 11:00 Class 12:00 Class 13:00 Lecture 14:00 15:00 Class 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00
However… M T W T F S S 08:00 Reading Class prep Essay 09:00 Reading Lecture Class prep Essay Class prep Reading 10:00 Reading Lecture Reading 11:00 Reading Class Class prep Reading Reading 12:00 Reading Reading Class Reading 13:00 Lecture Notes Reading 14:00 Reading Notes Reading 15:00 Essay Class 16:00 Reading Essay Essay Notes Reading 17:00 Reading Essay Essay Notes Reading Reading 18:00 19:00 Reading Essay Reading Reading 20:00 Reading Reading Essay Essay 21:00 Reading Essay
Social life Sport, music and drama at every level University and College clubs and societies
College life
College life Common facilities Differences include: include: • subjects offered • accommodation • size / number of students • JCR • location • library and computing • specific facilities facilities • appearance • dining hall and bar • sports facilities Where would you like to live?
The application process UCAS Complete Choose course Submit by application online SAQ and College 15 October (Cambridge Extenuating (Cambridge) Circumstances Form)) Written Result of Interview work / tests application Choose ‘firm’ Start Exam results/ and ‘insurance’ university confirmation choices
What information is used in selection? AS module scores Any available A2 (UMS marks) GCSE grades module scores Predicted grades The interview UCAS Personal CAMBRIDGE Statement Tests taken at or before interview School or college (if required) reference Extenuating Submitted written SAQ Circumstances work (if requested) Form (if submitted)
What are top Universities looking for? • Evidence of enthusiasm for and depth of interest in the course • Do you have the relevant knowledge, subject skills and qualities? • Are you well-informed and curious? • Have you read around the subject? • Are you logical, analytical, keen and quick to learn, determined, self-disciplined? • Organised, motivated, adaptable & flexible? • Well suited to the course and system • Fun to teach
What can you do now? Read around your subject (outside the A-Level syllabus) - Magazines - University websites - Journals - Local library - Broadsheet newspapers - BBC website - Radio 4 - Podcasts - Documentaries
Finding out more • Undergraduate prospectus • College prospectus • University/College websites • Open days • Outreach activities • Contact a department or a College admissions office
Useful links www.ucas.ac.uk www.russellgroup.ac.uk www.suttontrust.com www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/ www.becambridge.com
Recommend
More recommend
