1. Welcome to The Kings of Wessex Academy Higher Education Information Evening 2019

2. Introductions Claire White, Bath University – Student Finance
Rachel Hopwood, Head of Sixth Form
– UCAS, the application process and what we do in school to support students
Rachael Wright, Senior Sixth Form Tutor LH

3. HE in the news……………… LH

4. Why choose Higher Education?
Improved employment (Graduate employment is 3.1% higher than non graduates for year olds )
Employers recruit graduates to ‘add value’
Estimate 50% vacancies ( ) require graduates
Improves career prospects/satisfaction
Financial reward – graduates earn more (average 27% more every year over working lifetime)
Develops transferable skills for work – new base level (previously A level)
Deeper academic knowledge of subject
Experience of different perspectives
Chance to develop and mature
Learn essential life skills
Networking

5. Higher Education options?
Education post-18
-1960 – 5% – 30% now – 40%
80% successful applicants from KOW to HE
Qualifications
Institution
Qualifications include foundation degrees, first degrees, HND, Diplomas, BTEC, sandwich degrees 2-4yrs/more
At universities, colleges, specialist institutions such as Art/Music/Drama college/work based learning
Academic and vocational courses
Large majority of courses applied for through UCAS –
Not only option – e-learning/distance learning/ apprenticeships, trainee schemes
Admissions - UCAS
Academic or Vocational
Distance learning, apprenticeship or trainee scheme

6. What employers want….
"A degree alone is not a passport into a graduate job and it isn't right for everyone....
.... the job prospects of graduates - and especially those who take advantage of some of the many opportunities both within and outside the curriculum to gain experience and learn relevant skills - are much rosier than those of 16 and 18 year old job seekers, and look certain to remain so”.
AGCAS President, Anne-Marie Martin
Source: CBI Report (2014) – Responses from 291 employers, employing 1.4million in total

7. First degree choice (BA, BSc, LLB etc)
Spectrum of subjects
Academic
Semi-vocational
Vocational
Old - e.g. English
e.g. Business Studies
e.g. Medicine
New - e.g. Archaeology
e.g. Psychology
e.g. Architecture
Most don’t use their degree...
Most do use
their degree... LH
Vocational specialist”
e.g. Health, engineering, technology, technical services
Reputation with employers > important than uni
BEWARE pseudo-/semi-vocational courses
E.g. Music Production, Media Studies – check course employability before you apply if you want a job in the sector
Can be hard to research the possibilities
Large range of opportunities for graduates
“Easiest” route to employment?
2. The “Good all-rounder”
First or 2i from a top university (i.e. best uni, best degree)
Employer will accept “any degree subject”
Lots of work experience
Plenty of extra-curricular activities
Strong commercial and personal skills
Demonstrate interest in chosen job/sector
Best choice if you are “not sure”?
“Vocational
specialist”
“Good all-
rounder”
1,800 degree subjects
>35,000 degree courses
380 HE institutions

8. Which is the most competitive?
What?
Where?
Physiotherapy
UWE
Law
Exeter
History
Cambridge
Midwifery
Liverpool John Moores
Sociology
Bath University
Medicine
Queen’s University, Belfast
Apprenticeship
Marks & Spencer

9. It’s a numbers game…..so do your research
What?
Where?
Number of applicants receiving offers
Physiotherapy
UWE
23%
Law
Exeter
93%
History
Cambridge
32%
Midwifery
Liverpool John Moores 2%
Sociology
Bath University
85%
Medicine
Queen’s University, Belfast
37%
Higher Apprenticeship
Marks & Spencer 1%
Source: Which? University, 2018
Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine
Law, most healthcare courses…and others
Can be due to university reputation (e.g Russell Group), subject popularity, number of places, employability etc.
It’s a numbers game…..so do your research
Do you meet (and exceed) the entry requirements?
How can you improve your chance of success?
How can you stand out from the crowd?
Have a back-up plan if you don’t succeed
Do your research before you apply
What are the entry requirements? (Do you meet and exceed?)
How competitive is the course?
How can you improve your chance of success?
What is your back-up plan?

10. UCAS University and Colleges Admissions System
Course search
Represents 370 universities and colleges in UK
>37,000 courses
677,375 applicants in 2013 (6.6% up c.f. 2012), with 495,596 students accepted on to FT undergraduate courses (highest acceptance year ever)
Provides useful information for parents, students & teachers about all aspects of HE

11. Grades or Points. Some universities make offers based on grades (e. g
Grades or Points? Some universities make offers based on grades (e.g. ABB), others based on points (tariff), or both!
Points offers vary depending on course/institution, and may specify grades for subject(s) as well
Points can be awarded for other recognised exams at equivalent level e.g. Level 3 BTEC Performing Arts, Music/Speech/Dance/Drama grade 6+, BHS, Sport Leaders
The Extended Project Qualification is equivalent to an half an A level (A*-E); an AS is now worth 40% of the equivalent grade at full A level. LH

12. Tariff (from 2017 entry) Previous Tariff New Tariff
A level grade A*
A level grade A
A level grade B
A level grade C
A level grade D
A level grade E
The AS has been repositioned as 40% of an A level
EPQ still 50% of a full A level

13. Some typical offers 2019
Medicine, University of Manchester AAA (UKCAT & interview)
Dentistry, Cardiff University AAA (UKCAT & interview)
Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh AAA (interview)
Mathematics, University of Oxford A*A*A (MAT & interview)
Natural Sciences, Cambridge University A*A*A (NSAA & interview)
Chemistry A*A*A- 96 points or CCC
Engineering A*A*A- 64 points or CC
Psychology A*A*A-72 points or BC
French AAA-96 points or CCC
Nursing AAA-CC
English A*AA-DD
For most subjects there are a range of options available

14. A typical gap year – important to include all three:
Gap (or R&D) years
Universities (and employers) like
students to take gap years!
Enhances commitment, independence and maturity
But check before deferring for maths, physics, or engineering
A typical gap year – important to include all three:
Earn money to fund the experience
Independent travel (with or without friends)
Community or self-development project with a recognised Gap organisation e.g. teach English in South America
Defer in UCAS application, OR call your university choices during Year 13 – or even on Results Day – most will agree

15. The application process - UCAS
September 2019 – Application process begins
15 October – Closing date for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science
15 January – Closing date for all other courses
Students start to accept places – firm and insurance
End of February – ‘Extra’ choices made for students with no offers
31 March – All universities to have offered places (except to ‘Extra’ students)
1 May – Choices confirmed – firm and insurance
August – Results, ‘Clearing’ and ‘Adjustment’ (ABB) – students find places on courses with vacancies

16. The application process - Kings
Decide on courses (multiple hours) NOW
Course searches, open days, conferences
Draft personal statement characters including spaces (3 hours)
Register on UCAS site – login & password (10 min) JUNE
Complete personal details and education (2 hours) JUNE
Enter choices (1 hour) SEPTEMBER
Finalise personal statement (2 hours)
Check (2 hours)
Pay and send (2 min) OCTOBER
October half term deadline
Subject references (teaching staff), personal reference (tutor), qualifications check (office), final check (HoS)
Mock interviews

17. Be aware
Clinical Aptitude Tests (UKCAT) for some universities, for entry to Medicine or Dentistry
BMAT tests (Biomedical Admissions Test)
LNAT tests for entrance to Law
Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) for Maths
Oxbridge – specify a college or make an open application
Oxbridge – admissions tests for most subjects
Cambridge – questionnaire detailing modules and additional information(SAQ)
Specialist colleges such as music colleges may operate own admissions, not through UCAS
Offers may be grade specific, UCAS points, or both
Some courses require relevant work experience
Remember to check COMPETITION and have a back-up
Typical grades – competition can be fierce
Vet Med at Glasgow – 20 applications per place
Medicine at Bristol – 14 applications per place
Psychology (29 Oxford Brookes, 9 Birmingham)
Chemistry (Bristol 5, Nottingham 4, Leeds 3)
AS grades are important for interview selection
Personal statement can be key to selection for an interview or offer
Your selection of courses should allow:
Firm acceptance
Insurance acceptance

18. On Firefly

19. Useful website addresses
UCAS –
The Guardian guide to universities and rankings
Higher Education statistics and information –
UKCAT tests for Medicine /Dentistry –
BMAT
LNAT

20. Websites – What to study
Centigrade online £15
Comparing courses
KIS data
Where to go

21. Gap Year
Gap year information –
Year in Industry (YINI)
Study Abroad EU US
Global

22. Graduate opportunities
Finance
direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
Student life
Graduate opportunities
What do graduates do?

23. The application process - Kings
Decide on courses (multiple hours) NOW
Course searches, open days, conferences
Draft personal statement characters including spaces (3 hours)
Register on UCAS site – login & password (10 min) JUNE
Complete personal details and education (2 hours) JUNE
Enter choices (1 hour) SEPTEMBER
Finalise personal statement (2 hours)
Check (2 hours)
Pay and send (2 min) OCTOBER
October half term deadline
Subject references (teaching staff), personal reference (tutor), qualifications check (office), final check (HoS)
Mock interviews