HEADING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ANDREA BOURNE STUDENT RECRUITMENT

HEADING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ANDREA BOURNE, STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND ADMISSIONS

TONIGHT I’LL COVER… • • Choosing courses and universities Why go onto higher education The application process What happens next

QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE UCAS SYSTEM • • Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – central body for HE applications Apply online One application form on which you can apply for up to five courses UCAS Deadlines for “equal consideration” • 15 th October • Oxford and Cambridge • Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science • 15 th January BUT remember internal deadlines • Up to five offers – hold two • Firm – first choice • Insurance – second choice Application submitted through UCAS Application assessed by universities Decisions made Universities send decision to UCAS Applicant accepts (Firm or Insurance) or declines Applicant meets conditions Applicant is made unconditional progresses to enrolment

LOTS OF CHOICE • According to the UCAS website there are 395 providers of higher education courses • With over 50, 000 courses to choose from… • There’s a match for your academic interests at an institution you’ll feel happy to be at…somewhere!

POINTS TO CONSIDER • What are you looking for? • What do you want out of your higher education experience? • What interests you? • Do you require a particular degree subject for the career you have in mind? • What subjects are you currently studying? • Do you want to continue with one/two of them? • Choose something new? • Lots of choices to consider…carefully • Make effective choices and make the most of all the opportunities at university

BEFORE YOU APPLY Research, research! • Think about course and university preferences – fit with future career plans – subject choice – course availability – course content – entry requirements* – university and its location – your interests – talk to people (e. g current students) • Get work experience? – medicine, law, teaching, voluntary – do you want to have work placements during your degree? • Study in the UK or elsewhere? Part or all of your degree? * Admissions Tutors may be looking for a specific subject at a specific level (eg GCSE or equivalent) or at general academic ability. This will depend on the course.

RESEARCHING OPTIONS • • • Talk to guidance staff in school Have a look at www. UCAS. com – UCAS TV guides Use university prospectuses Visit university websites – View film clips on university websites or You. Tube Drop in to student chatrooms (Eg The Student Room) Go to Higher Education Fairs Visit university Open Days – Or take virtual tours – You can make independent visits too Plan ahead for your application – Think about relevant skills and interests you might like to develop Look at Unistats and other web-based guides…

RESEARCHING OPTIONS • • ucas. com unistats. co. uk thestudentroom. co. uk whatuni. com push. co. uk hotcourses. com notgoingtouni. co. uk • gov. uk/student-finance • moneysavingexpert. com/students

RUSSELL GROUP: IS IT WORTH IT? • Russell Group: 24 universities generally considered to be the UK leaders – strong for teaching and research (www. russellgroup. ac. uk) • Russell Group universities will generally be the most selective • There are good universities which are not in the Russell Group • Seven out of the top twenty in the Guardian’s 2020 university league table are not in the Russell Group • Centres of excellence in teaching and research across whole UK sector • Look at performance indicators by subject using subject tables and Unistats • Lots of helpful advice on the Russell Group and Advancing Access websites

FINANCES AND FEES: KEY FACTS • Universities can currently set home fees of up to £ 9250 • Government reviewing funding arrangements for student finance – Augar Review • No upfront tuition costs for students (or parents) • Fees are covered by non-means-tested loans • Check Repayable loans are available for both tuition fees and living costs • Interest accrues on loans from day one • Repayment of tuition fee and living cost loans are made once graduates are in work and earning above £ 2, 143 a month (equivalent to £ 25, 725 a year) • You pay at 9% of everything you earn above that • Earn less, and you don’t repay - loans not paid off after 30 years are cancelled • Universities offer extensive financial support packages so make sure you check out your eligibility • Use individual university and Money Saving Expert websites

EMPLOYABILITY • Employers value the skills a degree brings: • independent working/team working • analytical ability • the use of evidence to draw conclusions and make decisions • organisational ability • dealing creatively with challenges • and problems • articulacy and confidence • Graduates have a wider range of career choices • …and are likely to earn more • Estimates as reported by the BBC website suggest that “women can expect to earn about £ 250, 000 more if they have a degree and roughly £ 170, 000 for men” over the course of a lifetime. • You can look at details for career outcomes in your chosen field

LIFE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES ✔ University study is centred around not only developing your knowledge, but developing you as a person ✔ University presents an opportunity to develop independence in a managed setting ✔ Plenty to get involved in to make you a more wellrounded, confident person!

LAW £ 21, 135 PHILOSOPHY £ 23, 521 HISTORY £ 22, 404 CHEMISTRY £ 23, 427 HESA data 2016 -17, Average Graduate Salaries (published September 2018) https: //www. thecompleteuniversityguide. co. uk/careers/what-do-graduates-do-and-earn *professional employment - refers to a job or occupation which normally requires a degree

UCAS WEBSITE

UCAS APPLICATIONS “A total of 561, 420 people have applied to start a course in 2019, almost 2, 500 more than at the equivalent point last year, and the first increase in three years” UCAS website 7/2/19 • In 2018 there were 695, 565 UCAS applications and 533, 360 accepted applicants • Courses are more or less competitive • Some universities are more popular than others • No guarantees of a place • This research and careful thinking will show in the application and increase chances of getting the place you want

FILLING IN THE APPLICATION - APPLY • Register online and pick a password – Apply will generate you a username • Sections to complete in Apply 2020 – Personal details: contact, residential status, disability /special needs • Ensure you have a valid email address that you can check during the holidays • Professional email address! – – – Course choices: where and what courses (use ‘see list’) Education: all your previous places of study and your qualifications Employment: any and all part/full time work you have done Statement: why have you chosen this subject? Reference: written by one of the teachers • Save as you go along - means you can edit it until you’re happy to send • The applicant is able to give someone, usually a parent, guardian or adviser nominated access if they would like them to be able to speak on their behalf

What happens next? UCAS contacts you with offers via Track • Usually followed up with contact from the university making the offer Usually ‘conditional’ offers You should consider your offers in further detail • Invitation to attend a ‘postoffer visit day’ You choose your ‘Firm’ and ‘Insurance’ choices • By early May You then work hard to pass your exams etc Start planning your new life at university!

WHAT TO DO NEXT STUDENTS PARENTS/GUARDIANS • Start researching – it’s never too early • Encourage, warn and advise • Pay attention to yourself – what are you interested in? • • • Do the detour on travels round the country • • Listen to advice • Don’t leave it all until September • Support during bumpy patches Help with practicalities in the research phase and beyond Provide funding for visits and interviews Try not to take over!

GOOD LUCK WITH ALL YOUR APPLICATIONS! n Days Next Uo. Y Ope 28 and 30 June mber te 14 and 15 Sep 2019 nd join Book online a us! Thank you for listening Any questions?