Transcript Choosing a Course Choosing a University Using UCAS Apply

Higher Education
Evening
2015
Higher Education
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Choosing a Course
Choosing a University
How universities choose
What happens after the application
is sent in
How BHASVIC helps
Common mistakes
Recent changes
BHASVIC Students
Current Issues
• Although numbers dropped following the rise of
tuition fees, they are on the rise again. 35% of 18
year olds made a UCAS application last year.
• Big gender gap nationally – over 87 000 more
women than men applied (out of 580 000
applications). However, this wasn’t mirrored at
BHASVIC last year!
Current issues
• The abolition of the student cap– a changing
‘market’
• Unconditional offers and other offers with
strings attached
• The Russell Group effect
Choosing a course
Where do you get information from…
Lots of websites but some key ones are:
Complete University Guide (general information about
universities):
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/
Unistats (comparing Universities):
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/
UCAS (excellent information about the application process
itself):
www.ucas.com
Complete University guide
Course
• Interest and enjoyment
• Professional; academic
• Employment
• Single or joint
• Content
• Assessment
Entrance Requirements
• Required subjects
• Grades requirements
• Entrance test
• Non academic requirements, e.g.
work experience
“Acceptable” A Levels
• Generally speaking all A levels are acceptable for
University entry but it can depend on the course
or individual university.
• There is much talk of so-called ‘facilitating
subjects’ and it is true that some ‘high tariff’
universities prefer candidates to have at least
two of these.
“Acceptable” A Levels
• A ‘spread’ of courses is fine e.g. Biology, Maths,
Drama would be fine as 2 courses are regarded
as being strong academically.
• But Drama, Music and Dance would be excellent
for any performance related degree
• The key thing to ask is “do your A levels
demonstrate the skills you will need at degree
level in a subject?”
Points or Grades?
• Some universities ask for grades, e.g. Chemistry at
Oxford requires A*A*A
• Some ask for points, e.g. Chemistry at Nottingham Trent
requires 260 points
• Points are calculated using the UCAS Tariff
• The UCAS Tariff also gives details of the points allocated
to L3 BTEC qualifications.
Grade
A*
A
B
C
D
E
A2 (A
Level)
140
120
100
80
60
40
A/S
Level
60
50
40
30
20
BTEC Qualifications
• BTEC qualifications have their own UCAS points
attached to them.
• For example, the Sports Science course at
BHASVIC is a double course and so a double
Distinction would be 240 points (2 A equivalent),
a double Merit would be 160 points (2 C
equivalent).
Choosing a university
• The right course, quality of facilities,
provision
• Type and size, quality of accommodation
• Distance from home
• Reputation
league tables, employer
links, word of mouth
• Scholarships and bursaries
• Learning Support
• Student mix
state school/private/mature
students/ international
students/diversity
Studying abroad
• Some degrees at UK universities will offer a year
abroad, typically languages or American (or
other cultural) Studies
• A student could think about studying their entire
degree abroad and this now has greater
relevance given the recent rise in tuition fees
• This year BHASVIC students have applied to
study in the U.S and Netherlands
Using UCAS Apply
Once student has decided on potential courses and
universities, they apply to them using ucas.apply
UCAS: universities central admissions system, not a
decision making body.
Handles applications for all full time first degree higher
education courses.
After Application
• Sep – Dec 2015: nearly all applications will be in
(final deadline Jan 15th)
• Oct 2015 – March 31st 2016: Students get Offers
• February to May – students make their choice of
two offers to be their ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’
choice
• Results –August
• Clearing
How BHASVIC can help
January
Is HE For Me? (Students)
March
Information Evenings (Parents)
Thursday 30 April
Specialist Application Evening (Parents)
Monday 8 June
Progression Event (Students)
Writing Personal Statements
Finance
Using UCAS Apply
Choosing courses/institutions
• Students can apply for five courses (unless applying
for medicine/veterinary science)
• Applications begin in September
• Deadline for Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Science
and Dentistry - 15 OCTOBER
• Deadline for all other students - 15 JANUARY
• Internal deadlines are earlier
How do universities choose
1. A student will have to have the grades – GCSEs
are important, as are AS grades. These will be
what an Admissions officer will regard as an
accurate prediction of A level or BTEC
achievement.
2. The student’s personal statement
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Student’s enthusiasm and motivation for course. Why they want
to do it?
Student’s understanding of the course
What students have gained from their current courses (specific
interests, skills)?
Additional reading
Evidence of special commitment, work experience, attendance at
lectures, organising clubs
3. Reference – written in collaboration between
teachers and Tutor- includes predicted grades
4. Tests (BMAT, LNAT, HAT) where appropriate
5. Interview (where used)
6. Widening Participation
Common mistakes
• Lack of research - Applying for courses without the
right qualifications/subjects
• Applying only to courses whose entry requirements
are higher than AS grades
• Applying for extremely diverse courses
• Leaving writing a Personal Statement/applying until
the last minute
• Applying to universities or courses they do not want
to go to
Where do BHASVIC students
go?
• Top ten (2013):
University of Sussex
University of Brighton
University of Bristol
University of Southampton
University of Surrey
University of Portsmouth
University of Nottingham
University of Bath
University of Kent
Kingston University
University of Leeds
University of Manchester
What do they study?
• Top ten individual subjects studied by BHASVIC students (2013):
Psychology
Law
Mathematics
Politics
History
Humanities/Social Studies
Economics
English
Biology
Computer Science