‘Housekeeping’
Fire exits Muster point Disability Access
Higher Education (University)
Hatch to Dispatch
Ms Greenwood Director of Higher Education RMG
University Guidance
Mr Culver Director VI Form NDC
Ms Jordan [KJ] Dept Administrator i/c Open Day Bookings KJ
Mrs Mandley Head of Careers & Work Experience Co-ordinator CJM
Mr Wood GAP Year Co-ordinator RJLW
Mr Hunt Academic Tutor i/c Extra Exams: BMAT/UKCAT/ELAT/ HAT/PHAT etc etc GSH
Independence?
Purpose
To raise awareness of the HE sector and provide a basic background knowledge of issues that might affect research and choices To highlight the questions students need to be considering
Communications The December Bulletin contained a direct link to the electronic “booklet� that was provided to students. A similar booklet for parents is also contained in this same bulletin Message from the Headmaster
Arrangements for late buses
Digital versions of both publications can also be accessed via the school’s University & Careers Website
Higher Education Factors we ask students to consider Why study at this level?
WHAT IS H.E?
What to study? Type of study?
Where to study?
Approximately 50,000 + courses to choose from! 424 HE Institutions to research/visit !!
How to apply?
When to apply?
How to find out more?
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PQA
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REF [research excellence framework]
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TQA
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AABb offers
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Tariff
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Completion Rates
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A* [only at A2 level] & UMS
Type of Study Basic Choices of type of course:Single honours? Joint honours? Combined or Modular? Sandwich course? Erasmus? BSc/ M Eng? 3yrs? 7yrs?
What To Study? • Interests • Motivation for a course • Ability •
Morrisby feedback or other Psychometric testing???
Where to study? Always a vexed question – remember not all universities offer all subjects.
• Geographical Location • Campus vs City • University reputation
What Type of University? Metropolitan/Redbrick Universities [Manchester, Bristol]
Non-British Universities* [Antipodes, US, EU]
Campus Universities: [Warwick, Birmingham]
Collegiate Universities [Oxbridge]
Conservatoires [Royal College of Music] *Outside the UCAS system
Technological Universities: [Imperial, Heriot-Watt]
Pre A-level [Direct] = this September for next year
Deferred Entry = this September but for the year after next
WHEN to apply?
PQA = September AFTER A levels are secured [Take a GAP year after reviewing the situation]
The implications of fees! Students need to ‘compare the market’
£9,000 p.a. fees VS
• Status of university • Employability of graduates • Average life time earnings
So, Why Bother? • The Glass Ceiling
• Higher unemployment amongst non-graduates • Graduate employment still a creditable : 91.1% • Youth unemployment: 17%
• Graduates earn on average £12.5k a year more throughout their lives • Widen horizons • ……because it’s possible!
Students have been actively encouraged to take the INITIATIVE in researching data These tables offer just a sample of the many statistics that are available – and they will all differ slightly INSTITUITION The School of Pharmacy
Grad Employment 100%
Royal College of Music The University of Surrey
Source: HESA
% employment
Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science
99.3
98.%
Education
95.2
96.9
Subjects allied to Medicine
95.0
Law
93.3
Biological Sciences
90.6
Languages
90.4
Combined Subjects
90.0
Social Studies
89.8
Agriculture and related subjects
89.3
Historical and Philosophical Studies
89.3
Royal Agricultural College
96.4
The University of Nottingham
93.2
The University of Lancaster
SUBJECT
92.7
Students use Unistats
The University of Oxford
92.6
Aston University
92.3
Mathematical Sciences
88.9
The University of Salford
85.2
Physical Sciences
88.8
Business and Administrative Studies
88.4
Creative Arts and Design
86.8
Architecture, Building, and Planning
86.3
Engineering and Technology
85.9
Mass Communications and Documentation
85.3
Computer Sciences
81.8
The Liverpool Institute for Performing 81.4 Arts London Metropolitan University
74.5
London South Bank University
74.4
Death By League Table
Our students are taught to use the information available to make sensible decisions E.G: Percentage of students in full time graduate employment within six months of leaving university Or Drop out Rates or Entry ‘points’ required – now using a different tarrif rating
However, there are often anomalies that need thinking through. For instance, Imperial has a higher graduate employment rate than Cambridge in this table. Imperial has specialised science courses. A significant % of Cambridge graduates go into research. You may need to probe to get the full picture. League tables need to be looked at in context! Source:GUG
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Leagues Within Leagues Russell Group 1994 Group Oxbridge Tompkins Table [Cambridge] Norrington Table [Oxford]
The Russell Group •Birmingham
•LSE
•Bristol
•Manchester
•Cambridge
•Newcastle
•Cardiff
•Nottingham
•Durham
•Oxford
•Edinburgh
•Queen Mary
•Exeter
•Queen’s Belfast
•Glasgow
•Sheffield
•Imperial
•Southampton
•KCL
•UCL
•Leeds
•Warwick
•Liverpool
•York
The UCAS Process •
Indicator A2 grades in February
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Discuss 4 or 5 choices with tutor
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Visit Universities
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AS levels
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Post AS level decisions [PEC]
Putting Ideas Into Actions
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Post AS, A level predictions EARLY in September [PQA implications]
Around 98% of our students achieve CF or CI
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Apply from September 1st
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Pred. grade review after half term only
Useful information For students ▪
▪
www.unistats.com Search and compare different courses and universities [a word of warning re: unverified /subjective ‘information’] www.yougofurther.co.uk UCAS’ student networking site [ again, some unverifiable information in the student room]
▪
www.ucas.tv Informative video guides for applicants including ‘how to guides’, case studies and tutorials
▪
www.ucas.com/events For information on higher education conventions, subject-specific conferences and other events
For Parents • www.ucas.com/parents Information for parents including a guide to the process •
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents Intended to give a broad view of options
• Please note that information can be accessed via our web site and via the ‘booklet’ you were sent via our Bulletin – please log-in using Parent Portal
The Higher Education Programme Throughout the VI Form students– and parents – are guided through the HE system, from how to research courses to how to fill in the actual application form. Please refer to the HE guides that are distributed at the appropriate times.
The school website provides you with a complete guide to the Higher Education preparation process as well as useful links and presentations
Resources There are MANY different methods of searching for University courses
The UCAS COURSE SEARCH is the most useful place to start
The Form •
Apply training in late June
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Complete personal details
•
•
• •
The Reference •
Subject teachers complete ISAMS reference in July to be amended as necessary
Draft personal statement - to tutor in plenty of time
•
Complete form either during Summer break or as soon as possible thereafter
Tutors compile a draft reference once the application is marked as complete and sent to them
•
All applications to RMG for approval and submission to UCAS
•
N.B: DEADLINES. Students sometimes forget that they’re only half way through the process at the point that they press ‘send’. They may need a little ‘chivvying’
Pay UCAS online and ‘send’ to referee Allow at least a fortnight after sending
Matching Ambition to Ability: be REALISTIC or be PQA
• Past results [GCSE profile & for another year - AS profile] • Predicted grades [Not until September] • Performance at AS level BUT no longer carried forward • Examples of past offers in a particular subject • UCAS ‘Entry Requirements’ – must match entry criteria • Heap’s Degree Course Offers
Open Days • Students should discuss suitability with Tutor • PLEASE use coach not private transport for BATH on 16 June • BOOK place via kespay [ please ask students to let KJ know how many places required] • Students MUST also book online with the University to ensure they have a place in specific talks/lectures [ see websites] • Cost varies according to coach hire • London: Departmental = [Student travel] but we do NOT encourage students to drive themselves!! • Cambridge: Consult Academic HoDs • Oxford – 30 June[Endeavour] Dates & details are available on each university’s website: www.any.ac.uk Cardiff = Easter Holidays this year
DEADLINES etc • 1st September • Speech Day • Week before half term
• At least 14 working days to process • System closes week before Christmas
Communication The VI Form Tutor is incredibly important to the UCAS process and central to advice and guidance at this stage
He or she will be facilitating the UCAS application & working alongside your son/daughter PLEASE keep your son/ daughter’s tutor informed and contact him/her if you have any questions or concerns during the remaining 4 terms of KES Basically, we all want the same…… Happy, fulfilled young men and women