1. Open Day Parents’ Presentation

2. What is Higher Education? The benefits of Higher Education How to advise your son or daughter Research! Applying to University Supporting your child through the process Support at Birmingham City University Why choose us? What I hope to cover …

3. What is Higher Education?  Higher Education (HE) qualifications Qualifications that are ‘higher’ than A Levels (or equivalent) Bachelor’s degree, either in arts (BA), sciences (BSc) or specialist (BMus for Music, BEng for Engineering, BEd for Education) Honours degree Joint Honours degree Major/minor degree Sandwich course Higher National Diplomas/Certificates (HND/C) and Diplomas of Higher Education (DipHE) Foundation degree (FdA/FdSc)  HE institutions Over 500 HE institutions Over 50,000 courses

4. The Benefits of Higher Education Investment for the future  Develop skills and knowledge Career paths in professional disciplines Employers look at your skills as well as qualifications Transferable skills  Enhancing career prospects Some roles require a degree-level qualification (eg medicine, law, teaching) People with degrees earn an average of £12,000 a year more than non-graduates: over a working life that could be over £500,000 more! (source: Office for National Statistics) More chance of promotion  Personal growth Independence Motivation Self-confidence

5. Advice to offer your child during the application process… How should a student choose the right course? What subjects do they enjoy? What skills do they have and what are they good at? What do they enjoy studying and why does it interest them? What career/job would they like to pursue? Have they considered courses they haven’t studied yet? How do they choose the right Institution? Academic ability required Size and location of the university Accommodation Facilities Support available If your son and daughter is torn between similar courses at different universities, they should take a look at the course modules and find out about the way the subject is taught.

6. Personal Research UCAS information and other reference material Advice and guidance services Prospectuses Open Days and visits Websites Decision to apply Student registers with UCAS and completes application Directories Colleagues/friends/ professionals HE conventions University and college literature Research!

7. Applying to University - the facts Fact: Each year UCAS handles over two million applications for places over 500 institutions UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service www.ucas.com ‘Apply’ is a secure, web-based online application system Flexibility, save as you go, up to date information, help available Maximum of five course choices (some exceptions) Only one personal statement £23 Registration Fee (two to five choices), £12 for single choice – Pay online Tracking service

8. Applying to University - the process Replies due back from applicants with decision about which offers are to be accepted, one firm and one insurance UCAS Extra (26 Feb – 6 July ) April Exams! May /June BTEC/AVCE results usually arrive in July. GCSEs A and AS level results – Clearing Mid August Opening date for UCAS applications / Finance loans through Student Finance England Mid September Main closing date for the receipt of UCAS applications. 15 Oct - Oxbridge Acknowledgement letter (AS2), Track Visit days and interviews 15 January Universities to respond to applicants by 31 March Replying to offers, (unconditional, conditional, reject) End of March

9. Supporting your child through the process We suggest students start their research process early They should consider different institutions and course structures They should familiarise themselves with the UCAS website (as you may wish to in order to assist them) They should attend UCAS Higher Education Conventions and visit university Open Days We suggest that students build on existing skills and experiences The personal statement is a highly important part of the UCAS application. Students should be encouraged to undertake extra-curricular activities (voluntary and part-time work, clubs, etc) to enhance the statement They should check and re-check their UCAS applications – the personal statement should be drafted and re-drafted before submission They should keep to the UCAS deadlines. Research allows an informed choice. A well informed choice can lead to a happy student. A happy student is successful!

10. Support at Birmingham City University Mentoring scheme (assigning your son or daughter to a second or third year student to help them settle into University life) All students are assigned a Personal Tutor Free study skills workshops Student Services team provides advice about money, part-time jobs, health, wellbeing and childcare support Careers Zone: gives access to qualified careers consultants (who can advise on CVs, interviews and self-employment) throughout our students’ studies and for up to five years after they graduate. They also promote work placement opportunities. OpportUNIty: student jobs on campus Disability advisers offer a wide range of support Multi-faith chaplaincy Student halls of residence: friendly and affordable, with 24 hour security

11. So what does Birmingham City University have to offer…? Acting and Theatre Architecture / Landscape Architecture Art Built Environment Business Computing and Technology Education and Teacher Training Engineering English Fashion / Textiles / Interior / Three – Dimensional Design Film / TV / Sound / Multimedia Technology Health and Social Care Jewellery / Silversmithing Law Media and Communication Music Nursing / Midwifery Social Sciences Visual Communication (Graphic Design, Illustration etc)

12. Why choose Birmingham City University? A top 30 university for placing students in graduate-level jobs Sunday Times University Guide 2013 £180 million investment programme - a top 10 university for facilities spend Complete University Guide 2013 90 per cent of students in work or further study within six months of graduating DLHE Survey 2012 Award-winning student support Winner – “Outstanding Support for Students” Times Higher Education Awards 2010

13. Our approach We focus on professional practice and employability Our staff have excellent links to and come from industry – working with the likes of Apple, Jaguar Land Rover, Cisco and Cartier Our courses are underpinned with practice-based learning and experience We ‘future proof’ our graduates by providing skills for real life We take pride in our friendly, inclusive attitude Recognised sector-leading partnerships between staff and students Outstanding student support Providing real-life experience We offer practical solutions for business through placements, graduate employment and knowledge transfer Gain work experience through OpportUNIty - Student Jobs on Campus

14. Find out more… www.facebook.com/birminghamcityuniversity www.twitter.com/MyBCU www.bcu.ac.ukwww.bcu.ac.uk or Course Enquiries Team 0121 355 5595