School Leaders Scotland: Transitions Day From School to Tertiary Education Mhairi Moore 4 March 2015

School to Tertiary Education Applications and admissions to university UCAS Forms Significant Dates Interactive session Widening Participation Transition from college to university Bursaries and scholarships

APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS TO UNIVERSITY

Complexity of admissions Diverse HEI system No common criteria Universities and colleges vary one from another

Complexity of Admissions (2) Highers Advanced Highers Advanced Entry Elite courses Deferred entry UCAS Form Personal Statements References Contextual admissions Dates UCAS LNAT UKCAT Differences among HEIs

Highers as general entry  Some universities require breadth of study  Some universities state:  a minimum of 3 or 4 Highers per sitting  Highers to be sat in one year and in one sitting  ask for Highers by end of S5  Ask for Highers S4-S6  ‘Preferred Highers’ are required

Advanced Highers Varies from HEI to HEI and within HEIs Glasgow and Strathclyde have complex arrangements for AH. Refer to website. Some HEIs: double count AH and Highers of same subject prefer to see breadth of study

Advanced Entry Generally 3 Advanced Highers at A or B BUT Saves a year BUT social groupings already formed and retention may be harder No general rule – varies from HEI to HEI

Elite Courses Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Vet Medicine Require Advanced Highers Relevant work experience ( See ‘Selecting for Excellence’ - Medical Schools Council website for hints) Completion of extra qualifications e.g. UKCAT or LNAT

Deferred Entry Contact the HEI and do not assume that they will accept a ‘Deferred Entry’. Some HEIs accept deferred entry for all courses deferred entry for some faculties deferred entry for some courses within a faculty

Differences among HEIs Entry qualifications vary from HEI to HEI Attitude towards AH varies among and within HEIs LNAT – not all Law schools require this UKCAT –not used in the same way by HEIs Interviews Number of sittings for Highers varies

UCAS FORMS

UCAS Form: Personal Statement Courses applied for Personal Statements Academic interest Wider Achievement PLAGARISM

Personal Statement Punchy opening paragraph RELATE TO COURSES APPLIED FOR Be excited, authentic, focused and positive Give evidence to back up what is being said e.g. reading, lectures, work experience Mention skills e.g. leadership, communication

Reference Writing UCAS writes: As a referee, you’re aiming to give universities and colleges an informed and academic assessment of an applicant’s suitability for further study.

Reference Writing Decide who writes references Ensure proper support and advice in place Be aware of UCAS dates and deadlines Ensure referees have access to Personal Statement of pupil for whom reference is being written.

What to include in a Reference Include brief summary of contextual data Refer to: special circumstances, if appropriate skills and attributes of pupil suitability of pupil to course(s) relevant work experience pupil’s Personal Statement

Reference Writing (2) Detailed analysis of skills and attributes demonstrated in each subject studied Evidence of motivation Prediction of academic potential

CUKAS References Two referees are required Academic referee Practical referee

CUKAS References Performing, directing or compositional ability, experience and potential general ability in their main specialism (music, dance, drama, screen or production) practical skills and attitude to work reliability commitment to selected discipline

AFTER APPLICATION? Replies: Declined – Conditional – Unconditional If all 5 choices have been used and no offers have been made or accepted, pupils are eligible to apply for EXTRA February - July Apply for one course at a time ADJUSTMENT available if results are better that expected If still unplaced, CLEARI|NG in August is available.

SIGNIFICANT DATES

Significant Dates Early July - ‘Apply’ opens Mid September - applications can be sent 15 October - deadline for applications to Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Medicine, Vet Science 20 October OR 20 January -LNAT

Significant Dates (2) 15 January- deadline for all courses except for Oxbridge and those with 24 March deadline (Art and Design) 25 February - UCAS Extra opens 24 March - Deadline for Art and Design courses except those with 15 January deadline

Significant Dates (3) UKCAT - 1 May 2015 – 6 October June - Last day for applications. Early August - Clearing opens Early August - Adjustment 31 August - Conditions must be met by this date 21 September - Final deadline for application 30 September - Clearing vacancy search closes

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session Green = Yes Red = No Yellow = Don’t know

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 1.Is Clearing as it stands just now ‘fit for purpose’?

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 2.Have your pupils made good use of UCAS’ Adjustment Process?

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 3.Were your pupils affected by the Freezing of Track?

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 4.Are you aware of your pupils being faced with any accommodation issues?

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 5.Were pupils given sound advice during Clearing?

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 6.Did your pupils experience any delays in receiving AS12 letters?

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 7.Does your school make use of the Scottish Listings?

UCAS Procedures: Interactive session 8. Do you think pre-registration for UCAS events will help the planning of such events?

WIDENING PARTICIPATION

Widening Participation (WP) Aspire North S6 Residential course UCAS support & advice Lift Off Lift off to Success Lift Off Learning Skills LEAPS Pre Interview tips UCAS help Conference S6 Focus West Top Up Routes for All S5/S6

Widening Participation Schools should identify pupils from WP background Contextual information should be mentioned by referee Free school meals SQA performance in relation to national average SIMD 20/40

Widening Participation Universities have done much to widen access over the last decade Programmes have been developed for S1- S6: also for primary pupils: Caledonian Club Edinburgh University – special provision for Care Leavers Glasgow University – high target number for WP pupils

Widening Participation REACH – programmes designed for supporting applicants to medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law and engineering. Access to a career in teaching

TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO UNIVERSITY

Colleges and transition to university  More emphasis on skills and interview  Colleges are centres of excellence: Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence (BASE)  HNC/HND  Advantages  Exit points  Articulation with universities

College / university articulation Most colleges offer course articulation Some give ‘guaranteed’ progression Some say ‘may’ lead to advanced entry on university course Some have limited number of places for advanced entry therefore entry in competitive Most offer 2+2 but some1+3

College / university articulation Dundee and Angus College – support advisor for HN – Degree Transition. Working with Abertay and Robert Gordon’s Universities Edinburgh College links with Aberdeen, Edinburgh Napier, Heriot-Watt and Queen Margaret Universities Ayr College links with Strathclyde Engineering Academy as well as Open University

Degree Programmes in Colleges Some colleges deliver degree programmes themselves: Inverness College as part of the UHI (Accounting as well as Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) Fife College delivers degree programmes in Accounting and Finance and Applied Networking

BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS

Bursaries and Scholarships Lots of bursaries and scholarships available: Access Bursaries Lloyds Scholarships ICAS Foundation University scholarships Moffat Trust UNITE Accommodation and Access Bursaries

and so finally…… and so finally…… Always check on website or speak to someone from college or university Do not rely on what happened previously Make sure information is cascaded to relevant advisers Make sure deadlines are known by staff and pupils