UCAS Presentation
11th June 2014
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
What has already happened?
In Year 11: • Morrisby tests • ‘Informed choices’
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Informed Choices // russellgroup.org
What has already happened? In the Lower Sixth: • Two sessions early in the Michaelmas Term • Lecture given by member of staff at Glasgow University • Opportunity to discuss application process with Upper Sixth • Lecture about opportunities to study abroad • Space on each student’s portal to jot down thoughts and relevant experience
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Supporting the UCAS process
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
UCAS – who we are and what we do ▪ ▪
Organisation responsible for processing and managing all applications to full-time higher education (HE) courses in the UK We operate on behalf of all full-time courses at universities and colleges
▪
Number of institutions
370
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Number of courses
37,000+
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Explore your options
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Why higher education? ▪ Increase potential earnings* ▪ Better career prospects
▪ Benefit the wider community ▪ Social and cultural reasons ▪ More independence, self-confidence and responsibility
▪ Personal challenge ▪ Broadens interests and knowledge ▪ Better health ▪ It can be immense fun!
*Source: Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, 2006, in Universities UK, Research Report, The Economic Benefits of a Degree
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The benefits of higher education
The applicant journey
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Why it is important to understand the journey ▪
Applying to UK HE can be a highly competitive process ▫ For applicants ▫ For universities and colleges
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Knowing how the UCAS process works will help you to: ▫ Support your son or daughter in a timely manner ▫ Better understand what happens, why, when and how ▫ Interpret applicant and university behaviour
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The competition for university places Applicants 677,373 3.6% ďƒ? Acceptances 78.0% 495,596 77.0% 6.6% ďƒ? 76.0%
800,000 700,000 600,000
75.0%
500,000
74.0%
400,000
73.0%
300,000
72.0%
71.0%
200,000
70.0%
100,000
69.0%
0
68.0% 2007
2008
2009
Acceptances
2010 Unplaced
2011
2012
Acceptance rate
2013
The new ucas.com
Choosing a university or college ▪
Universities and colleges are not all the same, nor is it easy to put them into simple categories
▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫
University v college Large v small Old v new Taught v research Selective v recruiting Campus v city v rural Near v far
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Researching a university or college ▪
There are different guides and league tables that can help, but check the criteria as the data may illustrate aggregate rather than specific details ▫ Some universities may post league tables on their websites which highlight their courses at number one ▫ Assess what are the most important criteria for you ▫ Compare aggregate v subject specific
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Exploring the subject options ▪
▪ ▪ ▪
Once an applicant knows roughly what they want to do and the type of study they’re looking for, they may still find lots of courses to choose from in the subject they want to study ▫ Is it a subject they’ll enjoy? ▫ Does it utilise and challenge their skills? ▫ Will it lead to a qualification that helps them move nearer to their chosen career Compare course providers and locations Compare course content Check the entry requirements for the courses being considered At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Choosing a course
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Key Information Sets // unistats.direct.gov.uk ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
National Student Survey Employment information Course accreditation Learning and teaching Course assessment Entry requirements Contextual data
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Key features of the application process ▪ ▪ ▪
▪ ▪ ▪
Applicants can only make 1 application per cycle Maximum of 5 choices ▫ Primarily realistic, but also aspirational and backup choices Some choice restrictions: ▫ Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 ▫ Oxford or Cambridge Simultaneous consideration ‘Invisibility’ ▫ A single personal statement DEADLINES
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The UCAS calendar – key application dates Mid-June
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Apply available for student registration
Mid-September
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First date for receipt of Apply applications
15 October
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Early ‘on-time’ deadline: ▫ Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry ▫ Oxford or Cambridge
15 January
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Deadline for all other ‘on-time’ applications
24 March
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Some Art and Design courses
Making a UCAS application Personal details Personal statement
Employment Education
Additional information
Student finance Choices
Referee responsible for final section:
▪ Reference UCAS Universities / colleges At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Finance â–Ş http://www.direct.gov.uk/student-finance â–Ş http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
From the admissions tutors... STRONG personal statements are ones that have been well-researched, carefully prepared and worked upon to eliminate errors and maximise effect.
They demonstrate reflective thinking, showing that the applicant has spent time working out what information is most relevant and important to include. They use concrete supporting evidence to demonstrate assertions rather than simply state or tell.
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Transparent selection process ▪
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Qualifications ▫ Past, present and future ▫ Predicted grades for ‘pending’ qualifications Personal statement Reference Interview Piece of written work Portfolio Audition Admissions tests
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Decision making by institutions ▪
Admissions tutors may initially make one of four decisions: ▫ Unconditional offer ▫ Conditional offer ▫ Invitation ▫ Rejection
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Or recommend: ▫ A place on an alternative course
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Decision making by institutions ▪ Conditional offers based on whole of 6th Form programme unless specifically excluded: GCE A level ▫ UCAS Tariff Grade Tariff Points e.g. 380 points or A* 140 ▫ Exam grades A 120 e.g. A*AA at A level B 100 or C 80 ▫ Combinations e.g. A*AA including D 60 grade A* in English E 40 At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Applicant replies to offers ▪
Once the final decision has been received, a maximum of two offers may be held
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Applicants have a choice of three reply options:
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Firm acceptance
▫
Insurance acceptance
▫
Decline the offer
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
What happens now? 11th – 27th June 12th June
Individual interviews with ER or CLS Talk by the Headmaster on personal statements. Students begin drafting statements 13th June Visit to University of Lancaster 18th June Morning at University of Liverpool 19th June Log on to UCAS and enter personal information. Complete first draft of statement and give to reference writer. 26th June Work on second draft of personal statement By 2nd July Subject and co-curricular references written by staff 2nd – 4th July Visit to Oxford and Cambridge University Open Days 14th August AS results day 14th – 29th August Student interviews and/or email correspondence with CLS
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
What happens now?
1st – 8th (or 29th*) Sept 1st (or 8th*) Sept 11th/12th Sept 19th Sept (or 17th Oct*) 3rd Oct (or 10th Nov*)
Individual interviews with reference writers Second typed draft of personal statement to be seen by referee Further work on statements and rest of application UCAS form completed by student References written and forms sent to UCAS
* For students with 15th Jan deadline
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Questions?
At the heart of connecting people to higher education