Inset Training

Challenging, competitive and soon to be costly.

An overview of admissions to competitive universities Chris Fuller, Learn with US Coordinator and Lecturer

An overview of admissions to competitive universities • World class institutions

• The implications of budget cuts and what to advise • Subject choice (GCSEs and A-levels)

• What else can applicants do to stand out?

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The growth of Higher Education Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE) increased available undergraduate places by approximately 6,000 per year. % of eligible 18 – 30 year olds in HE

20?? target 2007 – 44%

50%

1980 – 20% Year Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

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The growth of Higher Education 2009 HEFCE capped places at 1,272,030 fulltime undergraduate places.* % of eligible 18 – 30 year olds in HE

* Additional 10,000 STEM places offered through bidding process.

20?? target 2007 – 44%

50%

1980 – 20% Year Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

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The globalization of Higher Education Sweden - 2 Ireland - 2

Canada - 4

Denmark - 2

UK - 18

China - 2

France - 2

Netherlands - 4 South Korea - 2 Switzerland - 4 Germany - 4 Japan - 6 Belgium - 1

USA - 32

Taiwan - 1

Hong Kong - 3 Singapore - 2

Australia - 8 New Zealand - 1

Source: QS World Rankings

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Global graduates Cambridge

Oxford

Nottingham

Southampton Edinburgh

UCL

St. Andrews Birmingham

Bristol

York

Manchester

Glasgow

UK universities in the World Top 100 Imperial

Leeds

QS World University Ranking 2009

LSE Kings

Warwick

Sheffield 6

Global graduates Cambridge

Oxford

Nottingham

Southampton Edinburgh

UCL

St. Andrews Birmingham

Bristol

York

Imperial

Leeds

Manchester

Glasgow

UK RGuniversities universitiesininthe World Top 100 World Top 100 QS World University Ranking 2009 - 10 QS World University Ranking 2009 - 10

LSE Kings

Warwick

Sheffield 7

•University of Birmingham

•London School of Economics (LSE)

•University of Bristol

•University of Manchester

•University of Cambridge

•Newcastle University

•Cardiff University

•University of Nottingham

•University of Edinburgh

•Queen’s University Belfast

•University of Glasgow

•University of Oxford

•Imperial College London

•University of Sheffield

•King’s College London

•University of Southampton

•University of Leeds

•University College London (UCL)

•University of Liverpool

•University of Warwick

www.russellgroup.ac.uk

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An increasingly divided sector

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Percentage of students in full time graduate employment within six months of leaving university.

Source: Sunday Times League Table,

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An overview of admissions to competitive universities • World class institutions

• The implications of budget cuts and what to advise

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The implications of budget cuts and what to advise

65 £7,000p.a. % - £34m

£

bn

%

95%

reduction in teaching budget

Source: Vice-Chancellor’s Open Address

100%

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The implications of budget cuts and what to advise

Research Fees 65% - £34m £7,000p.a.*

£

%

95%

reduction in teaching budget

£88m* Source: Vice-Chancellor’s Open Address

100%

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The implications of budget cuts and what to advise

Fees £7,000p.a.* •Consumer choice greater determinant of courses and teaching •Much greater emphasis on marketing •Students need to be more critical in researching choices *Minimum

Research £88m* •Priority to research-led courses •Institutions with comprehensive research strategies more secure •Include research income in HE research *2009 - 2010

Source: Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Wessex Scene Interview, November 2010

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The implications of budget cuts and what to advise

Research £88m*

Fees £7,000p.a.* •Consumer choice greater determinant of courses and teaching

•Priority to research-led courses

•Much greater emphasis on marketing

•Institutions with comprehensive research strategies more secure

•Students need to be more critical in researching choices

•Include research income in HE research

Source: Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Wessex Scene Interview

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Financial value of a degree (p.a.)

Age 21-22 23-24 25-26 27-28 29-30 31-32 32-33 All ages (21 -34)

Degree or equivalent £17,472 £20,696 £24,960 £28,912 £32,916 £34,632 £37,960 £28,860

Source: Prospects.ac.uk/Universities UK

A-level, GCE or equivalent £15,912 £18,200 £20,436 £22,256 £24,180 £24,336 £27,768 £21,268 16

Additional earnings by subject Subject studied Medicine Law Engineering Maths Physics Chemistry Business European languages Psychology Linguistics and English Humanities Arts Source: Universities UK/PricewaterhouseCoopers

Average extra earnings (compared to non-graduates) £340,000 £245,000 £245,000 £240,000 £190,000 £185,000 £185,000 £165,000 £100,000 £95,000 £50,000 £35,000

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Annual rate of return on each degree Subject Law Management Engineering Chemistry Physics European languages Medicine (excluding dentistry) Chemical sciences Psychology Linguistics and English History Source: Universities UK/PricewaterhouseCoopers

Rate of return 17.2% 16.9% 15.5% 15.0% 14.9% 14.0% 11.6% 10.2% 10.1% 9.7% 8.8% 18

The implications of budget cuts and what to advise

Fees

Research

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How to find out about research income • University websites • University press releases

• Prospectus • League Tables

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League tables

Identifies very high research output and income

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How to find out about research income • University websites • University press releases

• Prospectus • League Tables • Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

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How to find out about research income Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

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An overview of admissions to competitive universities • World class institutions

• The implications of budget cuts and what to advise • Subject choice (GCSEs and A-levels)

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State and independent sectors

State Independent

82%

18% 26

State Independent

Intake 53%

62%

65%

65%

28%

27%

24%

79%

Manchester

30%

76%

Warwick

34%

73%

Leeds

31%

43%

72%

King’s College

35%

70%

Edinburgh

Imperial

35%

69%

Nottingham

UCL

38%

66%

LSE

Bristol

Cambridge

Oxford 47%

57%

21%

Source: HESA, Times University Ranking

27 *Russell Group Universities

The reason for the independent school bias 1) ‘Less[sic] state school students apply to Russell Group universities’ ‘Low aspirations, lack of guidance and, most important,[sic] under-achievement […] remain significant barriers.’

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, quoted in Rowenna Davis, ‘Working-class revolution not reaching ‘posh’ universities’, Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/sep/28/working-class-students-poshuniversities .

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The reason for the independent school bias 2) Subject choice at GCSE and sixth-form ‘Non-selective state school students are far more likely to take non-traditional A-levels […].

The fact that the Government claims there is no such thing as a ‘soft’ subject is immaterial if leading universities believe that certain subjects do not provide adequate preparation […] and prefer not to accept them.’

‘The hard truth about “soft” subjects’, Fazackerley and Chant, Policy Exchange

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Russell Group applications per places Applications

Places / Offers

Ratio

London School of Economics

19,672

1,416

13.9

University of Bristol

43,800

3,846

11.4

The University of Edinburgh

48,808

4,481

10.9

King's College London

32,584

3,281

9.9

The University of Warwick

33,756

3,717

9.1

University College London

31,338

3,569

8.8

The University of Manchester

64,291

8,501

7.6

The University of Liverpool

33,166

4,344

7.6

University of Leeds

54,052

7,056

7.7

The University of Birmingham

40,964

5,335

7.7

37,274

5,305

7.0

34,823

5,005

7.0

31,511

4,516

7.0

41,357

5,917

7.0

Newcastle University

27,834

4,370

6.4

Imperial College London

14,654

2,374

6.2

University of Glasgow

26,695

4,360

6.1

Queen's University Belfast

22,005

3,671

6.0

University of Oxford

14,333

3,259

4.4

University of Cambridge

14,300

3,381

4.2

AVERAGE

33,361

4,485

8.0

Cardiff University The University of Sheffield University of Southampton The University of Nottingham

15%

11%

08-09 09-10

Source: Dr Wendy Piatt, RG Director General, Mission Ambition Conference

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Competition for places

14 applicants per place 11 applicants per place 9 applicants per place

4 applicants per place 31

The Ten Most Popular Courses in the UK (by number applying) Subject

Applications

Acceptances

Ratio

Law

91,265

15,004

6.1 : 1

Psychology

81,264

13,128

6.2 : 1

Management

76,033

13,514

5.6 : 1

Pre-clinical medicine

74,732

8,011

9.3 : 1

Design Studies

67,165

15,832

4.2 : 1

Nursing

60,307

6,356

9.5 : 1

Business

60,034

11,573

5.2 : 1

English

55,629

8,862

6.3 : 1

Computer Science

55,032

11,787

4.7 : 1

Social Work

54,784

8,351

6.6 : 1 32

The Ten Most Competitive Courses in the UK (by acceptance rates) Subject

Applications to Acceptances

Dentistry

9.8 : 1

Nursing

9.5 : 1

Pre-clinical Medicine

9.3 : 1

Anatomy / Pathology

9.2 : 1

Oral Sciences

8.3 : 1

Ophthalmics

7.5 : 1

Drama

7.4 : 1

Dance

7.3 : 1

Economics

7.1 : 1

Pharmacology / Toxicology

7.1 : 1

Source: Dr Wendy Piatt, RG Director General, Mission Ambition Conference, May 2009 33

Ever decreasing clearance

10.2 2.5

%

%

of the University of Southampton’s 2006/07 intake came through clearing.

of the University’s recent intake came through clearing.

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When to start talking about university ‘There is clear evidence to suggest that pupils should be thinking about the implications of subject choices as early as 14.’

‘The hard truth about “soft” subjects’, Fazackerley and Chant, Policy Exchange

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GCSEs – Modern foreign languages Occasionally a University will require a GCSE in a modern foreign language for courses unrelated to languages. This is now common practice at UCL. While there is no real appetite for this policy in admissions as a whole, the subject is frequently discussed, reflecting the increasingly global perspective of the world ranked institutions. In short, modern languages are highly regarded.

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Use Entry Profiles

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‘Hard’ A-levels verses ‘soft’ A-levels

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‘Hard’ A-levels verses ‘soft’ A-levels There is much confusion on this issue.

Typically subjects considered as ‘hard’ or ‘preferred’ are those more traditional, theoretical subjects.

‘Soft’ or ‘non-preferred’ subjects are usually regarded as those with a more vocational bias (e.g. Media Studies, Sports Studies, Photography) 39

‘Hard’ A-levels verses ‘soft’ A-levels ‘Facilitating’ Subjects •Biology •Chemistry •English

A-level subjects that give you the widest range of options at university.

•Geography •History •Languages (Classical and Modern) •Maths (+ Further Maths) •Physics 40

‘Hard’ A-levels verses ‘soft’ A-levels ‘Facilitating’ Subjects •Biology •Chemistry •English

•Geography •History

Other subjects such as: Theology Economics Politics Sociology are also considered useful.

•Languages (Classical and Modern) •Maths (+ Further Maths) •Physics

The general rule is 2/1.

If in doubt, email the university.

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Why subject choice matters More students were accepted into Oxford with Further Maths than with all the subjects below combined.

711 students

494 students Media Studies Travel & Tourism Sociology Accounting Design & Tech Sports Studies Home Economics Art & Design Business Studies Theatre Studies Psychology ICT Film Studies Music Tech Law Communication Studies

Further Mathematics

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Accepted A-levels Bristol Cardiff Sheffield UCL

Chemistry

History

Law

Media/Film

1,304

674

62

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11.5%

5.9%

0.5%

0.4%

6,984

5,208

1,226

1,313

8.9%

6.7%

1.6%

1.7%

1,035

1,035

217

159

7.3%

7.3%

1.5%

1.1%

868

497

23

33

12%

6.9%

0.3%

0.5%

Source: ‘The hard truth about ‘soft’ subjects, Fazackerley and Chant, Policy Exchange.

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Match the facilitating subjects to the degree Business/Management

Choose courses like:

A-level Mathematics A-level Economics

Instead of courses like: A-level/BTEC Business Studies

A-level Accounting

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Match the facilitating subjects to the degree Journalism

It is much more important to know how to research and write well, so choose essay based courses like Alevel English Literature, History and Politics instead of Media, Film, Law, or Communication Studies.

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www.ucas.ac.uk

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An overview of admissions to competitive universities • World class institutions

• The implications of budget cuts and what to advise • Subject choice (GCSEs and A-levels)

• What else can applicants do to stand out?

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Broad skills and independence are preferred

Strong academic subjects matter, but must be complimented.

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Exam performance A/A* ratio

35.3%

Independent sector Source: UCAS results summary

27.5%

State sector 50

Degree performance 1 / 2:1 ratio

64%

Independent sector

68%

State sector

51 Source: London School of Economics’ Centre for Economic Performance, 2010

Degree performance 1 / 2:1 ratio ‘In the state sector there's more independent learning.

Students are more used to working things out on their own rather than having a teacher giving them individual attention. When they get to university, where the classes are much larger than at school, they're better equipped to cope than those from private schools.’

Richard Murphy, Research Economist, LSE <http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jul/23/state-school-pupils-better-university>

Admissions are conducted in a “needs blind” manner, meaning they are not judged on educational background. However, evidence of independent work, 52 thought and motivation is always welcome.

Personal statements must be personal â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Reading a very good personal statement doesn't tell you anything about the student because you cannot be sure that it's the work of the person concerned.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions, Cambridge Guardian Online

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Early applications verses good applications Get them to start early, but ensure they do not rush. It is more important that they apply from a position of strength rather than end up on the top of an imaginary pile.

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The rolling cycle A P P L I C A T I O N S

Strong

10% above or below HEFCE limit

P L A C E S

Weak September

January 55

Widening Participation Programmes Access to Southampton (A2S) This offers 19 degree programmes (including Chemistry, English, History, Nursing, Politics, Psychology and Sociology) and 12 Foundation Years (including Aeronautics and Astronautics, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Physics) Pathways to Law BM6 Medicine degree 56

•Be in receipt of an Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £20 or £30 a week •Be in the first generation of immediate family to apply to Higher Education •Have attended a secondary school which achieved less than 48% 5 A to C passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE •Only option is to attend a local University

•Studies disrupted by circumstances in their personal, social or domestic life •Living or grew up in public care

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Conclusion With over 50,000 degrees, and more than 120 HE providers, it can seem very daunting working out what is the best course. Just try to remember two key things: 1) Not all universities are the same, and not all degrees guarantee graduate work. The facilities the institution provides, and its subsequent reputation, counts.

2) Not all subjects are valued equally by competitive universities. Think about the core skills a subject or career requires, and try to pick suitable subjects. If in doubt, consult the UCAS site and/or email the 58 university.

Links for further research • UCAS: http://www.ucas.ac.uk/ • Access to Southampton (A2S): http://www.southampton.ac.uk/schoolsandcolleges/post16 /a2s.html • Pathways to Law: http://www.soton.ac.uk/law/ugopportunities/pathways.ht ml • BM6 Medicine Foundation: http://www.som.soton.ac.uk/undergrad/course/bm6/ 59