Transcript Welcome to the University of Plymouth

Returning to Study
Pippa Waller
Routes to Higher Education
[email protected]
www.plymouth.ac.uk/return
An Insight in to Higher
Education
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What can I study?
How do I choose?
What do I need?
What will it be like?
How will I fund it?
Will I….?
What sort of support is there?
What can I study?
Types of Qualifications
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Bachelors Degrees
Honours Degrees (BSc, BA …)
Foundation Degrees
Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education
Higher National Diplomas
What can I study?
Subject areas
Vocational/
Professional
Teaching,
Social Work, Health
Professions, Medicine
Law, Engineering,
Architecture…
Work-related
Psychology, Business
Studies, Natural and
Physical Sciences,
Computing…
Academic
History, English,
Politics, Modern
Languages,
Criminal Justice,
International
Relations…
How do I choose?
Career considerations
• Profession-specific qualifications
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Ensure job profile is right for you
Get work experience, speak to people in the field
Websites: Careers and professional bodies
What happens if you change your mind?
• Is there a job at the other end?
– Research: Labour market; graduate destinations
– Be proactive about improving employability
– Consider ‘sandwich’ courses
How do I choose?
Subject considerations
• Personal fulfillment/enjoyment
– What subjects interested you in the past?
– Hobbies? May be a connection!
• In need of ideas?
– Try UK Course Finder or other guidance
packages
• Ensure the course goals match yours
– look beyond the title and general perception
– look at subject combinations
www.life-pilot.co.uk
What do I need to get in?
Academic requirements
• General Admissions policy
• ‘Ability to study at a higher level’–
advanced level academic study
• ‘Recent’ academic study
• Specific subjects in some cases
What do I need to get in?
Possible qualification routes
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Access to Higher Education
‘Year zero’ courses
A and AS level
BTEC/Edexcel qualifications
Open University credits
Foundation degree pathways
Other qualifications/experience
What do I need to get in?
What Admissions Tutors look for
• Focus, enthusiasm and commitment to
choice of course
• Genuine interest and understanding
• Experience for professional qualifications
• Potential to benefit from the course and
from higher education generally
• Relevant skills and qualities to succeed
How do I apply?
• UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions
Service
– 15 October Medicine, Dentistry &
Veterinary Medicine, Oxbridge
– 15 January All other applications
• Advisory deadlines but strongly recommend
meeting them
– will guarantee your application is considered
What will it be like?
Common learning and teaching styles
• Face-to-face’ learning
• Lectures & tutorials
• Group work
• Presentations
• Lab work
• Placements
• Private study
• Research
• Directed
• Discussion
• Contact hours
• Operational
hours
Responsible for own learning
What will it be Like?
Assessment methods
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Examination
Coursework, reports & essays
Practical assessment
Problem-based learning
Seminar presentations
Group projects
How will it be funded?
Student Finance England
• Tuition fee loan
• Maintenance loan (upper age
limit)
University
• University Access to
Learning Fund
• Maintenance or Special
Support Grant
• Adult Dependant’s Grant
• Parents’ Learning Allowance
• Childcare grant
• Disabled Students’
Allowances
Other
• Social Work Bursary
Subject to meeting eligibility criteria and means-testing
How are health professions courses
funded? (2011)
Fees paid by DoH
Dip HE
Non means tested bursaries
BSc (Hons)
Means tested bursaries
Reduced rate student loan
University Access to Learning Fund
Subject to meeting eligibility criteria
Ah yes, loans….
• Not credit scored
• Low interest
• Charged from point of borrowing
• Repayments start April after graduation if earnings
> £21,000 pa
• Government writes off outstanding balance 30
years after this date or at the age of 65
Will I…..
fit in?
ever find my way
around!?
fit it all in?
be able to study
with dyslexia?
manage
financially?
be good
enough?
What we can do
• Academic support
– Tutor
– Learning Skills
– Disability ASSIST
– Careers
– Library
– Media workshops
– Computing
• Practical/personal
– Accommodation
– Freshlings Nursery
– Chaplaincy
– Health & Welfare
– Students Union
– Funding
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Transitions
What it’s all about
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Studying something you love
Personal accomplishment
Meeting new people
Improving your prospects
Improving self-confidence
Enjoying it!
Good luck and
thank you for
listening!
Pippa Waller
[email protected]
01752 587963