UCAS Presentation to IGC Cork Branch September 2017

Presentation Topics from Conference Admissions Tests Apply for Advisors Bioengineering Employability Getting into Business Getting into Engineering How to apply for a Visa Oxbridge Applications for Experienced Advisors Medical school sector Tools for preparing for HE UCAS Application Cycle Understanding Fee Status Work experience for prospective medical students Writing references that stand out

Topics for today: Brexit Current trends in higher education in the UK Medical school sector and work experience/interviews for medical school applicants Tools for preparing for higher education Excellent personal statements

BREXIT MAIN ISSUES: Fees for EU students Student mobility and UK based qualifications Scotland Other Concerns

Fees for EU Students: Will students be charged more if they are from the EU? Yes, BUT:  Uni’s can set their own cap on fees They have flexibility to offer scholarships to entice certain groups of students Students already ineligible for loans won’t be too adversely affected as they are already paying for college through private finance Fee status more complex (as if it wasn’t already)

Student Mobility EU Mobility secure until 2019 (+ approx. 10 years to get Brexit in place) Erasmus in question after 2019 Advisers – homework needed re UK immigration laws! Questions regarding mobility of qualification – will EU continue to recognise UK degrees? Overseas options within degrees in jeopardy

Scotland EU students currently make up a third of undergrad numbers in Scotland (Uni of Edinburgh – 12000 EU applicants – 2000 EU undergrads) It is likely that EU students will be paying fees from 2019 onwards A hard Brexit could initiate a referendum in Scotland in 2019/2020 All universities are lobbying against the changing fee structure for Scottish applications

Other Concerns Option of post study Visa has been removed by current government Students have been included in the migrant cap EU students may not have leave to remain after degree has ended Brexit also impacts EU staff in Universities – will they be forced to leave? TNE (Trans National Education) will be affected House of Commons Education Committee Publication - Exiting the EU: challenges and opportunities for higher education (google)

Current Trends in UK Higher Education Gradual decline in UK undergraduates for next few years – greater emphasis on recruiting from overseas Fewer Irish students: 2016 – 1960 / 2006 – 2600 31,000 EU applicants last year Uni’s are using Clearing to place students (incl high tarrif institutes) Decline in sterling should continue to encourage overseas applications More scholarships and bursaries being offered to entice students

Medical School Sector: 35 medical courses in the UK – all GMC approved How do you make the best 4 choices in UCAS? Different teaching and learning styles Patient contact time Placement location / transport links Electives / electives in different countries Fee structure (can change from year to year) Cost of living Admissions tests Virtual learning environments Intercalation opportunities

Points to note when applying for medical courses: Students may choose to restrict choice to either UKCAT or BMAT entry courses. Buckingham and Central Lanc don’t require any test Check to see if the university requires additional information sent as part of the application GMC are proposing to bring in a MLA medical licensing assessment by 2022 – this will affect students starting in 2017 MMI interviews are now the standard practice for medical school entry – check out the GMC website www.gmc-uk.org Panel interviews now only used by three or four providers Knowledge of the NHS is expected – check out their Core Values www.themedicalportal.com for further research Medical Schools Council – A Journey into Medicine: UCAS Application

Work Experience for Prospective Medical Students Quality over quantity with thoughtful reflection What have they learned over what they have done Placement does not have to be in medical environments BUT Students will still need to demonstrate knowledge of different working environments – what do they need to learn from medical professionals to fill the gaps in their knowledge? Peer support groups/Meitheal/tutoring younger students Work experience where they have to get used to talking to people they don’t know Gaisce or schools clubs “Medics Club”

Preparing for Interview Remember that MMI interviewers don’t see the application or personal statement Be prepared to talk about what they have learned from their work experience – incl what they have learned about themselves Applicants shouldn’t be too adamant about the type of medicine they want to get in to – be open to learning Be able to talk about the negative and challenging aspects of the profession – how would they manage these? Research the NHS – no cap on EU students for medicine but numbers are low and this is often attributed to deficits in knowledge of the NHS

Tools for Preparing for Higher Education Students are encouraged to use MOOCs as part of the application process Sign up for pre-university skills programmes Materials available for GC to deliver programmes in school from several university websites Training available for GC – but it’s in the UK  Advisors in place for new students to help them select modules, etc Overseas students generally have additional assistance from advisors to help with moving to UK

MOOC – Massive Open Online Course Available through University websites and on www.futurelearn.com Some are free but may ask for payment to receive certification Wide variety of topics available Topics usually available for specific time frame and require booking https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/openonlinelearning/courses Other online resources available through college websites, for example http://unibox.uea.ac.uk/resources

Excellent Personal Statements

What students need to do: Two questions the admissions officers need to see argued persuasively 1. Why do you want to do the course? 2. What makes you right for it? Think of the statement as an electronic interview USP – What makes them stand out from the rest of the applicants? First paragraph – why do you want to do this course? Show evidence of wider reading and additional learning Reflect thoughtfully on work experience

What students need to avoid:

Personal Statement Summary UCAS Conference presentation on Personal Statements from the Uni of Southampton can be shown directly to students Encourage students to look online at examples of personal statements but remind them about plagiarism consequences Breakdown of content will vary depending on courses/uni’s applied for but all info should refer back to central argument Remind them to consider layout – paragraphs are important within 47 lines/4000 characters/approx. 600 words Interviews will be based around the content of the statement so students should be honest and ready to discuss if called

Questions?