Higher Education Evening 2015

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 Higher Education

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 more women than men applied (out of 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): UCAS (excellent information about the application process itself):

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 A2 (A Level) A/S Level A*140- A12060 B10050 C8040 D6030 E4020

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

Reputationleague tables, employer links, word of mouth Scholarships and bursaries Learning Support Student mixstate 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 15 th ) Oct 2015 – March 31 st 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 AprilSpecialist Application Evening (Parents) Monday 8 JuneProgression 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 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