Birkenhead School Supporting the UCAS process
Matthew Welbourn Professional Development Executive At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Who we are and what we do ▪ UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time higher education courses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ▪ We operate on behalf of all full-time courses at member institutions ▫ Number of institutions 350
▫ Number of courses
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
35,000+
Explore your options
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The benefits of higher education
The benefits of higher education ▪ Many higher education courses offer a vocational programme that is directly related to particular work areas ▫ e.g. accountancy, sports science, teaching ▪ A higher education qualification is essential for some careers ▫ e.g. medicine, chartered engineering, architecture ▪ A degree or HND can improve your chances of securing a fulfilling job and your financial potential ▪ Higher education develops important transferable skills, such as numeracy, communication and information technology, giving you an edge in the fast-changing world of employment ▪ University life offers huge opportunities for broadening social, cultural and educational horizons
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The competition for university placesApplicants 653,637 6.9%ďƒž 80.0% Acceptances 464,910 78.0% 5.5%ďƒž 76.0%
800,000 700,000 600,000 500,000
74.0%
400,000 72.0%
300,000
70.0%
200,000 100,000
68.0%
0
66.0% 2006
2007
Accepted applicants
2008
2009
2010
Unplaced applicants
Source: UCAS End of Cycle report 2012 At the heart of connecting people to higher education
2011
2012
Acceptance rate
Student Number Controls ▪ Government (HEFCE) continues to change university number control arrangements ▪ Students with ABB+, at A level or equivalent, exempt from number controls ▫ Institutions can choose to recruit as many ABB+ students as they want – but still have to compete with each other
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
How will this affect students? ▪ More / earlier offers for ABB+ predicted applicants? ▫ ABB+ does not equal entitlement / guarantee a place ▪ More ‘quality’ places in Clearing? ▪ Issues around the ABB boundary ▫ Offer making ▫ Confirmation ▪ Requirement to understand the Adjustment process
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The competition for university places
2011
Applicants chasing places
2012
Places chasing applicants
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
2013
...
...the current cycle in context 56,753 2.0%
558,898 3.5%
613,512 2.7%
...no double-dip for applications and continuing improvements for disadvantaged groups. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are 80% more likely to apply than a decade ago. 2% rise in the number of 18 year old applicants...against a headwind of demographic change that has left the 18 year old group some 60,000 smaller than in 2009. Source: UCAS 2013 cycle applicant figures (Oct, Jan, May) At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The applicant journey
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
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
Choosing a university or college ▪ There are different guides and league tables that can help, but check the source as the data may be skewed ▫ Some universities post league tables on their websites which show their courses at number one ▫ Assess what is the most important data criteria for you
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
// www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
University league tables University profiles Student crime statistics Careers ▫ By subject ▫ By graduate v non-graduate salary ▪ Student finance and fees calculator
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Choosing a course
Choosing a course
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Choosing a course
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Key features of the application process ▪ You can only make 1 application per cycle ▪ Maximum of 5 choices ▫ ‘Aspirational’ but ultimately realistic ▪ Some choice restrictions: ▫ Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 ▫ Oxford or Cambridge ▪ Simultaneous consideration ▪ ‘Invisibility’ ▫ A single personal statement
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
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
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 wellresearched, 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
Decision making by institutions ▪ Admissions tutors may initially make one of six decisions: ▫ Unconditional offer ▫ Conditional offer ▫ Rejection ▫ Withdrawal ▫ Full ▫ Invitation ▪ 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. 320 points or A* 140 ▫ Exam grades A 120 e.g. ABB at A level B 100 or C 80 ▫ Combination of both e.g. 320 points 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 ▪ Applicants have a choice of three reply options: ▫ Firm acceptance
▫ Insurance acceptance ▫ Decline the offer At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Questions?
 0871 468 0 468
At the heart of connecting people to higher education