Life beyond Ousedale Higher Education Evening 12 th January 2017
THE JOURNEY Phase 1/Level 2 – Compulsory school age Education Phase 2/Level 3 – Further Education - Employment with education/training Phase 3/Level 4 – Higher Education - Career Phase 4 – Career
Why go to University? • Education transforms lives! • Deeper Learning • Opportunity • Experience • Career • Money • Still deciding on ‘path’ • Lack of alternatives
Which University? 380 Higher Education providers (180 universities) • Size • City/Campus • Distance • Course • ‘Feel’ • Cost • Reputation
Which course? Range of Courses – 35,000+ Anthropology Neuroscience Brewing and Distilling Occitan Chinese Palaentology Dietetics Quantum Mechanics Equine Studies Robotics Forensic Science Speech Pathology Geology Toxicology Humanities Urban Studies International Relations Vision Sciences/Optometry Journalism/Media Studies War Sciences (& Peace Studies) Korean Studies X-Ray Techniques Logistics Yacht Design Multimedia Technology Zoology
Making choices • A maximum of 5 choices is available • Tip : making the right choices matters - students should only apply to places they want to go to. If they have not used all their choices, they may be able to add another later, as long as they have not accepted an offer elsewhere.
Types of course available • Foundation degrees – Art & Design: diagnostic allowing students to see where strengths lie – Extra year/ Year 0: students without correct entry requirements – Work- related: part study/ part work to meet skills requirements (two year full-time)
Types of course available • Diploma • Most common Higher National Diploma (HND) • 2 year courses with vocational base • Can be converted into degree • e.g. Business, Computing
Degrees • Type – Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Bachelor of Arts (BA) • Length – Usually 3 years – Four years if year abroad or work placement – Thick and thin sandwiches
Approaches to course choice • Familiarity – Studied at A-level, continuation of interest • New subjects – Informed by A-level choices • Vocational degrees – Job at the end e.g. Medicine, Teaching • Joint degrees – When deciding between two subjects is tough! – Subjects equal weighting- 20% more work! • Combined degrees – Three or more subjects not necessarily of same weight – Some employers may want more specialised degree
New subjects informed by A Levels Interested in Biology – Biomedical Sciences, Human Biology, Genetics, Optometry, Zoology Geography – Business, Environmental Sciences, European Studies, Logistics, Surveying, Town Planning Maths – Accountancy, Computer Science, Engineering, Internet Gambling Studies
Choosing the ‘Best’ • Best for whom? Course (Not just 1 st year options!) • – Structure – Content – Assessment – Breadth – Specialisation – Flexibility
Choosing the Best • Unistats (Teaching Quality, National Student Survey)/Unifrog • Contact time/value for money • Professional accreditation (e.g. IMechE, BPS) • Offer Levels, entry requirements, specific subjects • Applicants per place/competition • League Tables – useful but treat with caution… • “Reputation” with Parents/Teachers • Employability
Russell Group • Birmingham • Newcastle • Bristol • Nottingham • Cambridge • Oxford • Cardiff • Queen Mary London • Durham • Queen’s Belfast • Edinburgh • Sheffield • Exeter • Southampton • Glasgow • University College London • Imperial College London • Warwick • Kings College London • York • Leeds • Liverpool • LSE • Manchester
UCAS Points System A levels – New in 2017!! GRADE A Level AS A* 56 - A 48 20 B 40 16 C 32 12 D 24 10 E 16 6
Which are the hardest courses to get into? • Medicine, Dentistry etc AAA+ • Midwifery Competition for places • Law • Vet Science • English • Media • Psychology • Depends on where, depends on style…..
Admissions tests • Some universities and colleges require you to pass an admissions test as well • Oxford, Cambridge, Law, Medicine • Check website http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/beforeyoua pply/admissions/
Institution Choice • Location – Campus, City/Town, City and Campus • Age/style/academic structure • Size of University – 3,000 – 35,000 Students • Distance from home • Accommodation – Guarantees, Availability, on-campus support – Cost, location, catered v self catering, standard • Facilities – Teaching, Student support, disability issues – Social, sports, welfare • Finances/cultural/family issues
Course choices and predicted grades • Important to choose courses based on predicted grades. • Be realistic- aim high for 1 or 2 selections, most around predicted grades and 1 safeguard.
Which are the hardest universities to get into? • Oxford and Cambridge • Durham • Nottingham • Warwick • Bristol • LSE, Imperial, King’s College • Other members of the Russell group
Strategy may be subject dependent • Selective – Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Pharmacy, Vet Sci, Physio, English, Psychology, some Business, History, Sports courses – high competition, higher grades, varies between Universities
What are my chances of getting into university? • Competition is very tough at the top end • Range of courses to suit all interests • University is essentially an academic approach to study • Demand has exceeded supply but this seems to have reversed this year • Universities divide into recruiters and selectors • A new feature – the ‘unconditional offer’!!
What do Admissions Tutors look for? • Academic Potential (Predicted Grades) • Academic Record (GCSE, AS) • Relevant, well written Personal Statement • Reference from School/College….. Evidence of: • Volunteer work • Motivation and Commitment • Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, etc • Evidence of research into subject • IT/Business/Key Skills (if relevant)
TOP TIPS • Choose a sensible email address for the UCAS form. • Universities don't see where else a student is applying and students only write one personal statement for all 5 choices, so ensure it is relevant for all of the courses they are applying to.
Funding • £9000+ per year tuition fees • Living costs • Accommodation • Student Loans • Maintenance grant (Loan) • Bursaries/scholarships • Student Finance England
Gap Year? • Provides an opportunity to do something different before continuing education journey • An opportunity to do something worthwhile and of personal value • An opportunity to travel, broaden horizons and experience
Studying Abroad • Increasing numbers of courses offered in European Universities, in English • American Universities seen as potential destination for some students • Application process dependent upon country and, sometimes, institution • Any student wishing to explore this further should seek advice from Mr Whiting/Ms Moulds
Research • Attend open days www.opendays.com • UCAS website • University prospectuses • Times/Independent Guides • Eva Griffin – Careers Advisor • Advisors- Form Tutors, Subject Teachers • Parents • Work experience • Summer schools/ conferences • www.unistats.com – teaching quality information: National Student Survey, info on employability, entry grades, drop- out rates, Firsts and Upper seconds • www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk – rankings and lots of other useful information
Dates for your diary: • March/April Course and institution research • April/May Register for UCAS card online www.ucas.com/ucascard • June/July Write personal statement • End of summer term Personal Statements to Learning mentors for checking • August Receive AS results (Modular courses)
ADMISSIONS SCHEDULE 2016 • 12 th January 2017 Higher Education Evening • May/June AS/End of Y12 Examinations • 6 th June + UCAS Launch University visit • 17 th August AS Results • 8 th Sept Year 13 begins
• Sept 1st Applications accepted by UCAS. • Sept 7th onwards Tutors to check final drafts of personal statements, then enter online. • October 14th Deadline for applications to Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry. • Early October Recommended internal deadline for completion of form, send to referee for reference to be added. • Nov. onwards Interviews, offers and rejections. • End of Christmas term Deadline for applications to ensure UCAS receive it on time.
January 14 th 2018 • Final deadline for applications • March onwards UCAS Extra applications for those without offers. • April 27th All final decisions by institutions if your application was received by UCAS by January 14th. Choose CF and CI place • August RESULTS! • Aug/Sept Clearing & Adjustment • October 2018 Courses begin
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