1. UCAS Presentation to IGC Cork Branch
September 2017

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Scotland
EU students currently make up a third of undergrad numbers in Scotland (Uni of Edinburgh – 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 – this will affect students starting in 2017
MMI interviews are now the standard practice for medical school entry – check out the GMC website
Panel interviews now only used by three or four providers
Knowledge of the NHS is expected – check out their Core Values
for further research
Medical Schools Council – A Journey into Medicine: UCAS Application

12. 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”

13. 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

14. 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

15. MOOC – Massive Open Online Course
Available through University websites and on
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
Other online resources available through college websites, for example

16. Excellent Personal Statements

17. 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

18. What students need to avoid:

19. 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

20. Questions?