BHASVIC HE & Progression Evening 2014

Higher Education & Progression Evening

• Choosing a Course• Choosing a University• How universities choose• What happens after the application

is sent in• How BHASVIC helps• Common mistakes• Recent changes• BHASVIC Students

Higher Education

Current Issues

• Although numbers have dropped in recent years (2012 being the biggest fall) they are on the rise again. 35% of 18 year olds make a UCAS application.

• The number of BHASVIC applications roughly mirrors this but we didn’t drop so far and have recovered more quickly.

• Big gender gap – over 87 000 more women than men have applied (out of 580 000 applications)

Current issues

• The abolition of the student cap v demographics – a changing ‘market’

• Unconditional offers – helpful or bribery?

• The Russell Group effect

Choosing a courseWhere do you get information from…

Lots of websites but some key ones are:

Complete University Guide (general information about universities):www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/

Unistats (comparing Universities):http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/

UCAS (excellent information about the application process itself):

www.ucas.com

Which? University http://university.which.co.uk/

Complete University guide

Which? University

Course

• Interest and enjoyment•Professional; academic•Employment•Single or joint•Content and Structure•Assessment

Entrance Requirements•Required subjects•Grades in specific subjects or overall points score

•Entrance test•Non academic requirements, e.g. work experience

“Acceptable” A Levels

• Generally speaking all A levels are acceptable for University entry but it can depend on the course or individual university.

• A ‘spread’ of courses is fine e.g. Biology, Maths, Drama would be fine as 2 courses are regarded as being strong academically.

• But Drama, Music and Film Studies would be excellent for any performance related degree

• Also a pass in Drama will be worth more than a fail in Maths!

“Acceptable” A Levels

• There is much talk of so-called ‘facilitating subjects’ and it is true that some, ‘high tariff’ universities prefer candidates to have at least two of these.

• The key thing to ask is “do your A levels demonstrate the skills you will need at degree level in a subject?”

Points or Grades?

• Some universities ask for grades, including ‘*’ e.g. Chemistry (as part of Natural Sciences) at Cambridge requires A*A*A

• Most do not ask for A* grades e.g. Brighton requires BBC• Some ask for points e.g. Chemistry at Nottingham Trent

requires 260 points• Points are calculated using the UCAS Tariff • The UCAS Tariff also gives details of the points allocated

to L3 BTEC qualifications.

Grade A2 (A Level)

A/S Level

A* 140 -A 120 60B 100 50C 80 40D 60 30E 40 20

BTEC Qualifications

• BTEC qualifications have their own UCAS points attached to them.

• For example, the Sports Science course at BHASVIC is a double course and so a double Distinction would be 240 points (2 A equivalent), a double Merit would be 160 points (2 C equivalent).

Choosing a university• The right course, quality of facilities,

provision

• Type and size, quality of accommodation

• Distance from home

• Reputation league tables, employer links, word of mouth

• Scholarships and bursaries

• Learning Support

• Student mix state school/private/mature students/ international students/diversity

Studying abroad

• Some degrees at UK universities will offer a year abroad, typically languages or American (or other cultural) Studies.

• A student could think about studying their entire degree abroad and this now has greater relevance given the recent rise in tuition fees.

• This year BHASVIC students have applied to U.S, Holland and Australia and we are building up a comprehensive guide for students thinking of this route, as well as offering direct support.

Using UCAS Apply

Once student has decided on potential courses and universities, they apply to them using ucas.apply

UCAS: universities central admissions system, not a decision making body.

Handles applications for all full time first degree higher education courses.

After Application

• Sep – Dec 2014: nearly all applications will be in (final deadline Jan 15th)

• Oct 2014 – March 31st 2015: Students get Offers• February to May – students make their choice of

two offers to be their ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ choice

• Results –August• Clearing

How BHASVIC can help

March Tutors begin discussing next year’s options with their Tutor Groups.

March 20th Parents Information Eveningand 25th

April 24th -25th UCAS Convention, Sussex

June 9th Progression EventWriting Personal StatementsPersonal FinanceUsing ucas apply

• June onwards: BHASVIC gives students support in using ucas apply and writing personal statements

• Students can apply for five courses (unless applying for medicine/veterinary science)

• Applications begin in September• Deadline for Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Science

and Dentistry - 15 OCTOBER• Students who have not made 5 choices can, if they

wish, add a further choice before the January 15th deadline.

• Deadline for all other students - 15 JANUARY• Internal deadlines are earlier

How do universities choose1. A student will have to have the grades – AS

Grades are crucial as these will be what an Admissions officer will regard as an accurate prediction of A level grades or BTEC levels of achievement.

2. The student’s personal statement

• Student’s enthusiasm and motivation for course. Why they want to do it?

• Student’s understanding of the course• What students have gained from their current courses (specific

interests, skills)?• Additional reading• Evidence of special commitment, work experience, attendance at

lectures, organising clubs

3. Reference – written in collaboration between all teachers and Tutor

4. Tests (BMAT, LNAT, HAT) where appropriate

5. Interview (where invited)

6. Widening Participation and the Office for Fair Access

Common mistakes• Lack of research - Applying for courses without the

right qualifications/subjects• Applying to courses whose entry requirements are

higher than AS grades• Applying for extremely diverse courses• Leaving writing a Personal Statement/applying until

the last minute• Applying to universities or courses they do not want

to go to• Not having a proper insurance offer

Where do BHASVIC students go?• Top ten universities BHASVIC students end up at (2013):

University of Sussex University of Brighton University of Bristol University of Southampton University of Surrey University of Portsmouth The University of Nottingham University of Bath The University of Kent Kingston University University of Leeds The University of Manchester

What do they study?• Top ten individual subjects studied by BHASVIC students (2013):

PsychologyLaw MathematicsPoliticsHistoryHumanities/Social StudiesEconomicsEnglish BiologyComputer Science

Why not follow us on twitter?• BHASVICHE@Ed.Higher is the HE Twitter Feed which gets up-

to-date information regarding:• University Open Days and other events• UCAS tips, advice and deadlines• BHASVIC support, internal deadlines and other information