Life beyond OusedaleHigher Education Evening

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

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

Which University?

• 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

Russell Group

• Birmingham

• Bristol

• Cambridge

• Cardiff

• Durham

• Edinburgh

• Exeter

• Glasgow

• Imperial College London

• Kings College London

• Leeds

• Liverpool

• LSE

• Manchester

• Newcastle

• Nottingham

• Oxford

• Queen Mary London

• Queen’s Belfast

• Sheffield

• Southampton

• University College London

• Warwick

• York

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

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

Which course?

Choosing a course

• 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

Choosing a course

Interested in Biology– Biomedical Sciences, Human Biology, Genetics,

Optometry, ZoologyGeography– Business, Environmental Sciences, European

Studies, Logistics, Surveying, Town PlanningMaths– Accountancy, Computer Science, Engineering,

Internet Gambling Studies

Choosing the ‘Best’

• Best for whom?

• Course (Not just 1st 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

UCAS Points System A levels

GRADE A Level

A* 56

A 48

B 40

C 32

D 24

E 16

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/beforeyouapply/admissions/

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.

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)

• 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

• £9250 (capped) per year tuition fees (Subject to Government Review)

• Living costs

• Accommodation

• Student Loans

• Maintenance grant (Loan)

• Bursaries/scholarships

• ‘Sweeteners’

Student Finance England for funding info

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 Ms Moulds

Research

• Attend open days www.opendays.com• UCAS website• Unifrog• University prospectuses• Times/Independent Guides• Careers Advisor• 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

ADMISSIONS SCHEDULE 2020

• February UniFrog introduction

• June End of Y12 Examinations

• June/July University visit

• Sept 1st Applications accepted by UCAS.

• Sept Tutors to check final drafts of personal statements, then enter online.

• October 15th Deadline for applications toOxbridge, 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 autumn term Deadline for applications to ensure UCAS receive it on time.

• January 15th 2020 Final deadline for applications

• March onwards UCAS Extra applications for those without offers.

• Early May All final decisions by institutions if your application was received by UCAS by January 15th.Choose CF and CI place

• August RESULTS!• Aug/Sept Clearing & Adjustment

• October 2020 Courses begin!