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Higher Education Evening14 March 2017
Ecology with Wildlife Conservation
Commercial Songwriting
Fashion Media & Marketing
Biotechnology
Lighting Design
Geology with Planetary Science
Landscape Architecture
Immunology & Microbiology
Hotel Resort &Tourism Management
PodiatryStructural & Fire Safety Management
Urban Planning
Medical Microbiology
Silversmithing & Jewellery
Adventure Tourism Management
Marketing with Public Relations
Photojournalism
Sport Event Management
Policing & Intelligence Human
Resource Management
Dietetics & Nutrition
Costume & Performance Design
Golf Operations Management Youth &
Community Studies
Prosthetics & Orthotics
Motorsports Technology
Interior Architecture & Design
Paramedic Practice
Spatial Economics
Linguistics & Phonetics
Construction ProjectManagement
International Finance & Banking
Civil Engineering with Disaster Management
Healthcare (Management Policy & Research)
3D Digital Design & Animation
Physical Education & Youth Sport
Medieval History & Archaeology
Speech & Language Therapy Accountancy &
Legal Studies
Sustainable Tourism Management
Theology & Ethics in Society
Radiotherapy & Oncology
Mechanical & Marine Engineering
Psychology with Counselling
Robotics & Intelligent Systems Engineering
Oral Health Science
Neuroscience with Cognitive Science
Physics with NuclearAstrophysics
Oral Health Science
Geography with Urban & Regional Planning
Environmental Hazards & Disaster Management
English with Creative Writing
Forensic Science with Criminology Electrical
Engineering with Renewable Energy
Paramedic Practice
Ethical Hacking
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Media & Cultural Studies
Conservation with Forestry
Pharmacology & Physiology
Mathematical Computation
Music & Audio Technology
Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Molecular Cell BiologyTheatre
& Film
Network Security Management
Biochemistry & Genetics
Speech & Language Therapy
Broadcasting Journalism & Media Communications
Chemistry with Nanotechnology
Choices…..
Why University?
Career progressionEarning potentialLove of the subject
How to choose your course
What do you enjoy studying?
Career requirements
UCAS Tariff
How to choose your university
Location / Distance from home
Facilities / Social life
Campus or City?
Tuition fees
Teaching hours
Courses on offer
Choosing your university
You have 5 choices - 1 / 2 / 2
Look at minimum entry requirements. Be realistic!
GCE A Level Grade UCAS Tariff Points BTEC (QCF) Subsidiary
Diploma Grade
A* 56 Distinction*
A 48 Distinction
B 40
C 32 Merit
D 24
E 16 Pass
UCAS Overview
Online Application Form
Personal Statement
School Reference
Offers & Replying
UCAS Deadlines & Systems
Finance
Online Application
Personal Details
Below Honours Degree
Fee Code
Exam Results
● GCSEs
● A2s, BTECs, EPQ pending
Other Qualifications
Employment Details
Personal Statement - What is it?
A Personal Statement is an opportunity to ‘sell yourself’ in a well ordered way
47 lines 4000 characters
Opening paragraph - ‘The Hook’
Subject specific paragraphs
Work experience that relates to the course
Relevant in school activities
What should go in it?Your Personal Statement needs to include the following information:
Why you want to study the subject
What you have done so far (in terms of experiences and skills gained) and how this has led you to this choice.
What you hope the course will do for you
What you are like as a person – your likes, interests, hobbies, personal qualities, positions of responsibility held,
Personal Statement exampleThe written word has the power to reach beyond the boundaries of certainty, remove the reader from reality and provide an illusion which subjectively
manifests itself within the reader's own mind; that is all fiction is, an illusion. Submissive readers may be prepared to be taken in by such an illusion,
but it is the cryptic messages hidden behind the words which shape true understanding and evoke the ineffable excitement that provides literary
critics with the, almost electric, energy to put pen to paper and voice ideas before they slip away from the realm of memory. It is for this reason that I
love English Literature. My long term love for reading became a love for English after I read Orwell's '1984'; a novel filled with such eloquent
complexity that, on reading it, I knew there was something so much more than the fiction depicted. It changed the way I think about the world and
Literature; from that moment I knew English was the only subject I could ever be happy studying.
One of the key reasons I love studying English is gaining insight to the many ways texts can be interpreted, a factor which grew in prominence during
GCSE English. This, naturally, is an area of the subject that I have transferred into my A-Level studies through engaging with class discussion and
carrying out wider reading. The latter in particular has expanded my understanding of the different schools of criticism that can be applied to any text.
For example, to gain a greater understanding of feminist literary criticism I read Gilbert and Gubar's 'The Madwoman in the Attic', a text which
enabled me to comprehend, and apply, the true complexity of such a school of criticism to my own writing, a skill I hope to develop through further
study of this subject.
Over recent years I have relished the opportunity to further my understanding of English through other modes. For example, I have visited numerous
literary exhibitions including the British Library's 'Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination' and the more recent 'Shakespeare in Ten Acts'. The
latter I found of particular interest as studying Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' has been my favourite part of the A- Level course, the exhibition allowed
me to gain first hand insight into the origins of his plays and the different ways they have been interpreted over time, I then went on to further this
area of interest, visiting Stratford Upon Avon in an attempt to comprehend potential influences on his work. This trip rekindled my enthusiasm for his
work, giving me the chance to see the vast impact his writing has had worldwide. As well as this, I have had the opportunity to volunteer with literary
events. My involvement with the Roald Dahl Festival in Aylesbury enhanced my understanding of the importance of literature for young people as I
particularly enjoyed seeing the high esteem in which young people hold his stories.
Personal Statement example continued..In school I take part in schemes which allow me to develop the wider skills required for success in English. My position as
both a Year 7 mentor and a Lexia literacy leader has given me with the chance to aid lower ability students and adapt my
communication to suit those I am helping. These skills were then transferred into my work experience at a primary school
where I helped in English lessons; a very rewarding experience. My position as a PRS Youth Ambassador has allowed me
to develop my teamwork skills as, along with other students, we have worked to make Philosophy and Religious Studies
more recognised within school. Features of this role have included taking part in a debate in parliament and running a
debate club, allowing me to develop my rhetorical training through eloquently voiced arguments.
My future aspiration is to sublimate my passion for literature into becoming an English teacher, a role that will allow me to
continue utilising skills I hope to develop by completing an English degree, as well as giving me the opportunity to carry on
doing what I love as a career.
Sending Your Application
All red boxes ticked and declaration ticked
Pay fee
Press send (application comes to the school)
Amendments
3 weeks to finalise reference and for all checks to take place
School Reference
47 lines 4000 characters
Subject staff complete academic reference for each individual students (1 paragraph per subject)
Form tutor writes pastoral content
Form tutor checks reference
Checking and Sending of Reference
Reference read and amended
If appropriate additional content requested from teachers/Form Tutor
Final read and check of reference
Full application checked, returned if necessary
Reference attached and predicted grades entered, full application sent
Tracking Progress
The student can then track their progress on UCAS
Invitation requests via UCAS
Interview requests via UCAS & letter
Invitations & Interviews: September - March
Student will then receive conditional or unconditional offer from university
Replying to Offers
Firm offers
Insurance offers
Declining offers
Withdrawing
All offers made by 31 March
All replies to offers by deadline of 4 May
Deferred Entry
Applying this cycle for 2019 entry
Gap year?
Applying in Year 14 for 2019 entry
Extra Clearing & Adjustment
Extra opens end February to end of June
Available to all who have used 5 choices and not received or accepted an offer
Apply one course at a time
Decision within 21 days
Preferable to Clearing
Clearing opens results day
Adjustment opens on results day
TimelineMid Sept Applications open
24 Sept Oxbridge /early applicants
8 Oct Tring School second deadline
15 Oct Tring School third deadline
5 Nov Tring School final deadline
15 Jan UCAS final deadline
4 May Deadline: replying to offers
Late Feb UCAS Extra opens
Aug Results/Clearing/Adjustment opens
Additional SupportHigher Education Day - Thursday!
Extended Learning Day - 21 March
UCAS Launch to students - 25 April
Personal Statement workshop - 6 June + 6 COOL (end of Yr 12 start of Yr 13) + ELD Oct
Log on to UCAS to start application - 4 July + 6 COOL (end of Yr 12 start of Yr 13) + ELD Oct
Work Experience - wb 10 July
Personal Statement feedback sessions - July/August/September until 22 Sept
Mock interviews Sept – Oct
Additional Support Outside of SchoolCentigrade online
SACU -Spartan Test
Unifrog
Berkhamsted HE/Gap year fair - May
UCAS course search
UCAS Career Finder Tool
UCAS TV
UCAS parents guide
UCAS Little Guide
OPEN DAYS!
How much will University cost?
The main costs you will have are:
Tuition fees (amount charged each year for your course) – Tuition fee loan
Living costs (accommodation, food, bills and books) –Maintenance Loan
Costs will vary depending on where you study and live
Tuition Fees
Check your university website to find out exactly how much you will pay
The maximum a university may charge, currently, is £9250
If you take the tuition fee loan your fees are paid directly to your university
Maintenance Loan
The maximum Maintenance Loan available for students starting their course 2016/2017:
£6904 if you are living at home
£8200 if you are living away from home outside of London
£10702 if you are living away from home in London
£9391 if you spend a year of a UK course studying abroad
65% does not depend on household income 35% does
The Maintenance Grant has been abolished
Scholarships & Bursaries
Bursaries are available through universities to help with your tuition fees
Family income under £25k - Contact National Scholarships Programme
Many universities offer scholarships
thescholarshiphub.co.uk & scholarship-search.org.uk for grants and bursaries
Charities & Trusts - Millenium Education Foundation, Erasmus
You do not need to pay back a scholarship or bursary
Paying Back Your Loan
You pay your Tuition Fee Loan and/or Maintenance Loan back when you leave your course and earn over £21,000 a year.
You will pay 9% of all income ABOVE the threshold. (If your income is below £21,000 you do not pay anything)
The obligation to repay any student loan lies entirely with the student not the parents
Repaying Your Loan
If income drops at any time below £21000 repayments cease
After 30 years the debt is written off
Income Gross Pay
per month
Net Pay
per month
Monthly repayment
to SFE from Gross
£21000 £1750 £1447 £0
£30000 £2500 £1957 £67
£51000 £4167 £3039 £217
What you should be doing now!
Research, research, research!
UCAS course search
Unifrog
Portfolio / Personal Statement
Talking, talking, talking
Read emails!
Open days
Tips…ucas.com/parents-signup - Parent Newsletters and Parent Guides
Any Questions?
Useful websitesucas.com
unifrog.org
Unistats.direct.gov.uk - uses information on unis and courses from National Student Survey on student satisfaction
University.which.co.uk - Which? Site on unis and courses
thecomplete universityguide.co.uk - but beware league tables!
prospects.ac.uk - information on graduate employment
ratemyplacement.co.uk - feedback from students who have undertaken placement as part of their course
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 34
Early applicants
Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary, &
Dentistry
Why Oxbridge?
● Style of Learning
● Tutorials / Supervisions
● World class academics
● A normal Oxbridge student will have in the region of
10 hours of lectures and 1-3 hours of tutorials and
another further 27 hours of independent study per
week.
● The average student is completing 40 hours a week
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 35
Why?
● End of year exams
● Students live within their college and
tutorials/supervisions take place at their
college
● You can only apply to Oxford OR
Cambridge
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 36
Who?
● No specific GCSE requirements,
however, an average applicant normally
has 6.2 A*s
● An average successful application has a
UMS average of 94%
● Cambridge – A*AA- A*A*A
● Oxford – AAA-A*A*AOxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 37
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 38
3 or 4 A Levels / EPQ
● Arts – 3 subjects
● Science - generally prefer 4 especially if the
candidate is doing Maths & Further Maths
● EPQ – Really liked
● Extra Curricular
● Gap Years
● Individual choice
Process● Oxbridge want the most academically able
students
● UCAS application
● SAQ – Cambridge
● Admissions tests
● Pre interview tests – Nov
● At interview tests - Dec
● Written work / testsOxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 39
Process
● Interviews
● Oxford – Mid Dec
● Cambridge – First 3 weeks Dec
● All shortlisted students are ranked before interview
● Only a 20% change in ranking after interview
● Pooling
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 40
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 41
Admissions tests
● A timed unseen paper or online test
● Taken in the academic year before admission to an
HEI – November
● Vets/Meds/Dents as well as Oxbridge
● Most are often taken in a ‘high street’ test centre,
some in school – notify Mrs Randolph
What tests?● BMAT Biomedical Admissions Test
● ELAT English Literature Admissions Test
● HAT History Aptitude Test
● HPAT Health Professional Admissions Test
● LNAT The National Admissions Test for Law
● MAT Mathematics Aptitude Test
● MML Modern & Medieval Languages Test
● PAT Physics Aptitude test
● STEP Sixth Term Examination Papers
● TSA Thinking Skills Assessment
● UKAT UK Clinical Aptitude Test
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 42
Why are they used?
● Differentiate between the most able applicants gaining
high grades
● Managing application numbers for high demand
courses
● Allows focus on skills and aptitude not assessed
through academic attainment
● Promotes widening access in HE as they measure
academic potential without being influenced by
emotional backgroundOxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 43
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 44
Where to find information
● UCAS Apply
● UCAS website
● Oxford /Cambridge
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 45
SAQ
● The purpose of the SAQ is to ensure that Cambridge have complete and consistent information about all applicants. It also enables them to collect information that’s not part of the UCAS application but is helpful when assessing applications, such as the topics you’ve covered as part of your AS/A Level (or equivalent) courses (which helps interviewers decide which questions to ask).
● SAQ’s completed by 22 October
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 46
What does a SAQ look like?
The SAQ is divided into eight sections:
● Photograph
● Application Type
● Personal Details
● Course Details
● Education
● Qualifications
● Additional Information
● Submit
Interviews
● 2 or more lasting 20-30 minutes each
● Conducted by academics
● Discussion, intellectually based
● Academic work completed in last 2 years
● Subject related issues
● Reading beyond A Level requirements is the single
best thing that an applicant can do
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 47
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 48
Interviews
Subject: Biological Sciences – Oxford
Interviewer: Martin Speight, St Anne’s College
Question: Here’s a cactus. Tell me about it
We give the student a cactus in a pot and a close-up photo of the
cactus’s surface structure and ask them to describe the object in as
much detail as possible using the plant and the photo. We are
looking for observation, attention to detail, both at the large and
micro scale. We ask them to account for what they see – this means
they don’t have to use memory or knowledge about cacti (even if
they have it) but to deduce the uses and functions of the shapes,
sizes, structures that they have just described
Open Days
● Whole university
● Oxford 28 & 29 June
● Cambridge 6 & 7 July
● Bookings open April
● Colleges
● Consult website for individual college open days
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 49
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 50
Timeline
24 Sept Tring early applicant deadline
15 Oct UCAS early applicant deadline
Opportunities for support
● Sixth Form Team available for one to ones
● Mock interviews (PS ready for Sept)
● Reading Personal Statements
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 51
Floreat Programme - Oxford Uni
● Floreat is a year-long academic programme offered to Year 12 students from state schools
across two geographical regions – Hertfordshire and London. The programme offers the
opportunity to engage with Oxford-style teaching in the humanities, and is offered to students
free of charge.
● The bulk of the academic content is delivered through a series of academic seminars, led by
Oxford University representatives and hosted after school hours. The programme also
includes a residential summer school in Oxford.
● This opportunity suits bright students who are interested in studying a broad arts/humanities
programme at a top university (not necessarily Oxford); and who are keen to engage with
academic ideas material outside their school curriculum, ahead of applying to university the
following year.
● Applications opened 8 March 2017 and will close 5pm 26 March 2017
● https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissions/schools-and-outreach/floreat-access-programme
Oxbridge/Vets/Meds/Dents 2017 52
What you should be doing now!
● UCAS course search
● Unifrog
● Research
● Open days before September
● Personal Statement
● Oxbridge Convention
● Talking, talking, talking!
