Can You Name that University?
‘Housekeeping’
Fire exits Muster point Disability Access
Looking Ahead
To Higher Education
Purpose • To highlight the questions students need to be considering • To raise awareness of the HE sector and provide a basic background knowledge of issues that might affect research and choices
Higher Education Factors we ask students to consider • • • • • • • •
What is HE? Why study at this level? Types of study? Where to study? When to apply? What to study? How to find out more? How to apply?
HE Guidance
Mrs Mandley Head of Careers & Work Experience Co-ordinator
Mr Hunt Academic Tutor i/c Extra Exams: BMAT/UKCAT/ELAT/ HAT/PHAT etc etc
RMG Director of Higher Education [Mrs UCAS] i/c all things connected with Universities
Mr Wood GAP Year Co-ordinator
Mr Culver Asst. Director HE i/c Oxbridge & Extended Project
Ms Jordan [KJ] Dept Administrator i/c Open Day Bookings
The Jargon
The UCAS Process •
Indicator A2 grades in February
RAE
•
Discuss 4 or 5 choices with tutor
•
TQA
•
•
Completion Rates
Visit Universities [ NB: parents ARE very welcome]
•
AABb offers
•
AS levels
•
Cover ratios
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Post AS level decisions [UMS %]
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Tariff
•
•
Post AS, A level predictions [P2] EARLY in September [PQA implications]
A* [only at A2 level]
•
Apply from September 1st
•
Pred. grade review at half term only
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PQA
•
•
HE1 forms
What type of course? Approximately: 50,000 + courses to choose from! 424 HE Institutions to research/visit !! Basic Choices of type of course:Single honours? Joint honours? Combined or Modular? Sandwich course? Erasmus?
Types of Honours Degree Courses Most courses last 3 years NB:Medicine [5] ,Vet Sciences [6] , Architecture [7]
MSc/MEng courses usually 4 years BA language courses involve 3rd year abroad Sandwich courses can be ‘thick’ or ‘thin’!
What Type of University? •
Collegiate Universities
Oxbridge
•
Metropolitan/Redbrick Universities
Manchester, Bristol
•
Campus Universities
Warwick, Birmingham
•
Technological Universities
Imperial, Heriot-Watt
•
‘New’ Universities
Portsmouth, BUWE
•
Non-British Universities*
Antipodes, US, EU
•
Conservatoires
Royal College of Music
*Outside the UCAS system
What To Study? • Interests • Motivation for a course • Ability •
When to apply? • Pre A-level = [direct entry]
THIS September for next year
Stamford Test & other Psychometric testing???
Where to study? Always a vexed question – remember not all universities offer all subjects.
• Geographical Location • Campus vs City • University reputation
• Deferred Entry = THIS
September but for the year after next [Take a gap year because you can] • PQA = September AFTER A
levels are secured [Take a GAP year after reviewing the situation]
So, Why Bother?
£9,000 p.a. fees VS • Status of university • Employability of graduates • Average life time earnings
•
The Glass Ceiling
•
Higher unemployment amongst non-graduates
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Graduate employment still creditable : 91.1%
•
Youth unemployment: 20%
•
Graduates earn on average £12k a year more throughout their lives
•
Widen your horizons
•
……because it’s possible!
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 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. 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 •University of Birmingham
•London School of Economics (LSE)
•University of Bristol
•University of Manchester
•University of Cambridge
•Newcastle University
•Cardiff University •University of Edinburgh
•University of Nottingham •Queen’s University Belfast •University of Oxford
•University of Glasgow
•University of Sheffield
•Imperial College London
•University of Southampton
•King’s College London
•University College London (UCL)
•University of Leeds
•University of Warwick
•University of Liverpool
Useful information For students ▪
▪
www.unistats.com Search and compare different courses and universities [a word of warning re: thestudentroom….]
For Parents • www.ucas.com/parents Information for parents including a guide to the process •
www.yougofurther.co.uk UCAS’ student networking site [ again, some unverifiable information]
▪
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
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents Intended to give a broad view of options
• Please note that all this information can be accessed via our web site
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
What follows is a “potted version” of the information your son or daughter has received.
Research IT facilities
Other Sources
http://unistats.direct.gov .uk/
• • • • • •
School intranet – under Student Guidance www.universityadvice.co.uk www.universitycourse.co.uk
MOST IMPORTANTLY:• Your child’s TUTOR
www.UCAS.com
Prospectuses Hard /Electronic Heap The Times Online The Times Good University Guide The Guidance Centre The guidance booklet you’ve been given • Unistats and similar comparative sites
Resources There are MANY different methods of searching for University courses The UCAS entry profiles are the most useful guides to requirements
Useful Resources kept in the Guidance Centre
Students have been actively encouraged to take the INITIATIVE in researching data SUBJECT
INSTITUITION The School of Pharmacy
Grad Employment 100%
Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science
99.3
Royal College of Music
98.%
Education
95.2
The University of Surrey
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 The University of Oxford
92.7
% employment
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
The Liverpool Institute for Performing 81.4 Arts London Metropolitan University
74.5
London South Bank University
74.4
Source :HESA Computer Sciences
81.8
The Form •
Apply training in late June – Weds 20th
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Complete personal details
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Draft personal statement - to tutor in plenty of time
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Complete form either during Summer break or as soon as possible thereafter
• •
Pay UCAS online and ‘send’ to referee’ Allow at least a fortnight after sending
The Reference •
HE1s to subject teachers in July indicating likely choice of course
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Tutors compile draft reference once the application is marked as complete and sent to them
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All applications to RMG for approval
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HM ‘signs’ & sends
•
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’
Matching Ambition to Ability: be REALISTIC or be PQA
• • • • • •
Past results [GCSE profile] Predicted results UMS at AS level Examples of past offers in a particular subject UCAS ‘Entry Profiles’ Heap’s Degree Course Offers
Open Days • Students should discuss suitability with Tutor • BOOK place via kespay [ please ask students to let KJ know how many places required] • PLEASE use coaches not private transport wherever possible • Students MUST also book online with the University to ensure thay 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!!
Dates & details are available on the website
DEADLINES etc • 1st September
• Speech Day • Week before half term • At least 14 working days to process • System closes @ 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