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 . 28
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. 34
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. 41
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?
48
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