1. Oakgrove Integrated College Oakgrove Integrated College
Year 12 Choices
Meeting for Students & Parents
27th March, 2017
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

2. Oakgrove Integrated College
Yr 12 Careers Programme
Labour Market Information (LMI)
STEM
What Employers Want
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Job Applications
Interview Skills
Post 16 Options
Personal Career Plan
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

3. Oakgrove Integrated College
Post 16 Options
Employment
Further training eg ‘Training For Success’
Apprenticeships
NWRC
Start a Business / Entrepreneurship
Oakgrove College
University
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

4. Oakgrove Integrated College
Vocational Options
Further training eg ‘Training For Success’, – various training organisations
Apprenticeships – NIE, ICE, BT etc.
NWRC –
Starting a Business / Entrepreneurship –
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

5. A-Levels and University
Statistics show that the more qualifications you have the better chance you have of being employed
The higher the qualification, the better your salary will be
Only choose A-Levels and University as an option if you are suited to it
University is expensive – Average Student Debt - £25000 N.Ireland, £20000 RoI & £ Engand, Scotland & Wales
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

6. Oakgrove Integrated College
How To Choose Subjects
Choose subjects because you:
are good at it, you like it or find it interesting
need it or it’s useful for your future career
think you will do well in it
and your teachers think it is a suitable choice for you
like the method of assessment and teaching
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

7. How Not To Choose Subjects
Don’t choose subjects because:
your friends are doing it
you think you should do it – even if you don’t want to (STEM)
you can’t think of anything else to choose
you think it will be easy but you haven’t found out about it
you really like the teacher who teaches it
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

8. University Information
Research university courses and subject/grades required
- Course Search
Universities will make offers to students using grades eg BBB or points 120pts (A*=56, A=48, B=40, C=32, D=24, E=16)
Most university courses require at least 3 A-Levels or equivalent qualifications
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

9. Oakgrove Integrated College
Useful Websites
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

10. Oakgrove Integrated College
Careers Service NI
Careers Advisors for Oakgrove
Kathryn McCallion
1st Floor, Richmond Chambers, The Diamond, BT48 6HN
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

11. Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

12. Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

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A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

14. Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

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A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

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A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

17. Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

18. Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

19. Advice to potential students
Strong need for employability skills such as: team working; good communication; people management; problem solving, critical/objective thinking, initiative, commercial acumen.
Young people should study in an area for which they have a passion. If oversupplied subject area then need to excel (e.g. in general a 2:2 in Engineering is likely to be more sought after than a 2:2 in Social Studies)
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

20. University Course Requirements
The following is a summary of the A-Level subjects that university courses generally require.
This is a brief summary only and we recommend that each pupil conducts their own research of university courses and the A-Level subjects they require.
Also, some courses require certain GCSE subjects and entrance requirements vary between universities so thorough research is required.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

21. University Course Requirements
This can be done by using the UCAS Search tool (
If you have a particular career in mind, make sure you know what subjects that course requires and that you will do well in these subjects.
If you are unlikely to do well in subjects that are required, then you may need to find an alternative route to that career or re-think the career you have chosen.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

22. University Course Requirements
Accountancy – Mathematics normal asked for.
Aeronautical Engineering – Mathematics and Physics are commonly asked for. Other subjects asked for may include Science, Computing and Technology
Agriculture – a scientific background is required. Usually Chemistry or Biology. Similar subjects are required for Botany, Horticulture, Ecology etc.
Anatomy / Physiology / Genetics – some require 3 science subjects while others require 2 science subjects and Mathematics
Archaeology – most courses don’t require any specific subjects but each university varies
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

23. University Course Requirements
Architecture – some courses specify Mathematics and/or Physics. Other useful subjects include Geography, Technology, Art and Computing
Biochemistry / Biotechnology – 3 Science subjects or 2 science subjects and Mathematics are often required. Chemistry is the preferred science.
Biology – Biology is required, often along with Chemistry. Some accept Physics and/or Mathematics with Biology.
Building / Construction – some courses ask for Mathematics and/or Physics although most don’t specify. Technology, Computing and Geography are also useful.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

24. University Course Requirements
Business and Management – these courses are often studied in combination with other subjects eg. Languages, Law, etc. which will determine the subjects required for the course.
Chemical Engineering – Mathematics and Chemistry are preferred, along with either Physics or Biology.
Cinema / Film – a few courses specify subjects but these vary. Useful subjects may include Art & Design, English Literature, Languages and Music along with evidence of creative, artistic and performing skills.
Civil Engineering – Mathematics is essential, often along with Physics. Technology & Design and Geography are sometimes useful.

25. University Course Requirements
Computing – ICT often required. Courses linked to engineering often specify Mathematics and/or Physics.
Dentistry – Chemistry is essential along with 2 other science subjects or 1 science plus Mathematics. Entry requirements are high for these courses.
Economics – Mathematics and Business Studies are useful but not essential.
Education – GCSE English Language and Mathematics are essential. Teacher training courses are available in most subject areas. Most Scottish universities require GCSE English Language, English Literature and Mathematics.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

26. University Course Requirements
Electrical Engineering – Mathematics and Physics often required. Some accept Mathematics and 1 science. Technology & Design is also useful.
Environmental Studies – sometimes 2 science subjects are required with Biology and Chemistry most commonly asked for. Geography is also useful as a supporting subject.
Financial Management - no subjects are essential but Mathematics is useful along with Business Studies. Courses are often studied in combination with Languages, Marketing or Law.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

27. University Course Requirements
Food Science / Nutrition – 1 science required, Chemistry preferred. Some Nutrition courses specify Biology and Chemistry. Home Economics also useful.
Health Care / Radiography / Biomedical Science – scientific background is required with 2 science subjects asked for.
Law – no subjects are specified unless Law is studied with another subject. Law courses require considerable reading and analysis of text, summarising, report writing, discussion etc. Subjects such as English, History, Languages and RE may provide a suitable background.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

28. University Course Requirements
Leisure and Sports Studies – 1 science is normally required, preferably Biology or PE. Management courses often require Mathematics.
Mechanical Engineering – Mathematics and Physics are commonly asked for. Other subjects in Science, Technology & Design or ICT would also be useful.
Medicine – most require 3 sciences at A-Level and use GCSE grades as selection criteria. Chemistry is essential, usually with Biology plus either Physics or Mathematics. Entry requirements are high.
Microbiology – Chemistry and 1 other science (Usually Biology) are often required.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

29. University Course Requirements
Nursing – usually Biology and/or Chemistry required.
Pharmacy / Pharmacology – Chemistry most commonly asked for along with Mathematics and/or another science.
Physics – Physics and Mathematics.
Physiotherapy – 1 science (usually Biology) is essential but 2/3 sciences preferred.
Planning – no subjects specified although Geography is useful.
Politics – no subjects specified although History, English Literature or Geography may be useful.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

30. University Course Requirements
Psychology – for scientific or investigative psychology, Biology and Chemistry is preferred. For more general psychology courses, no subjects are specified although a mixture of science and arts subjects would be useful.
Sociology / Anthropology – no subjects specified although English, History, Geography, Languages and RE may be useful.
Social Work – no subjects specified although English, History, Geography, Languages and RE may be useful.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

31. University Course Requirements
Theology / Religious Studies – RE sometimes asked for. English, History, Geography or Languages may also be useful.
Tourism – Travel & Tourism is not essential but very useful. Business Studies is also useful along with English, Languages and Geography.
Veterinary Science – most require 3 sciences at A-Level and use GCSE grades as selection criteria. Chemistry and Biology are essential, along with either Physics or Mathematics. Entry requirements are high.
Zoology – strong scientific background is required, with Biology and Chemistry preferred.
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School

32. University Course Research
Universities set their own criteria and vary widely therefore research is essential to find the most up to date information.
Courses may be found with minimal requirements although it is important to check the quality of these courses.
It is your responsibility to check the requirements for each course so that you choose A-Level subjects that will allow you to access your chosen career, but also allow flexibility if career plans change.

33. Oakgrove Integrated College
UCAS Course Search
Undergraduate Degree
Type in course
Entry requirements – GCSE, A-Level & BTEC
Grades or UCAS Tariff
Unistats link
Oakgrove Integrated College
A Specialist UNICEF Rights Respecting School