1. Welcome David Seaton BA (Hons), MA, MCIPD, ACIM, DipIE, PhD

2. // Pursue your passion/vocation // Career choice, opportunities and flexibility // Earn more… by completing a HE course you’re likely to earn 47% more over your lifetime // Independent living, learning & life skills // Pursue your passion/vocation // Career choice, opportunities and flexibility // Earn more… by completing a HE course you’re likely to earn 47% more over your lifetime // Independent living, learning & life skills Why go to university…

3. Who goes to university? // No such thing as a ‘typical student’ // Over 2.5 million people in higher education (2010/11) // Extensive choice of subjects with a wide range of entry requirements // Wide variety of universities / colleges to suit different people // Financial support is available to many // No such thing as a ‘typical student’ // Over 2.5 million people in higher education (2010/11) // Extensive choice of subjects with a wide range of entry requirements // Wide variety of universities / colleges to suit different people // Financial support is available to many

4. Two years // Foundation Degrees (FdA/FdSc) // Higher National Diplomas (HND) Three years // Degree courses (BA/BSc) Four years // Scottish Degree courses // Sandwich Degrees (placement/year abroad) Five years + // Medicine, Veterinary, Architect etc Two years // Foundation Degrees (FdA/FdSc) // Higher National Diplomas (HND) Three years // Degree courses (BA/BSc) Four years // Scottish Degree courses // Sandwich Degrees (placement/year abroad) Five years + // Medicine, Veterinary, Architect etc Qualifications available

5. Choosing your course Professional FloristryWrittle College, Chelmsford Wine Studies University of Brighton Surf & Beach Management Swansea Institute of HE Farm Business Management University of Newcastle upon Tyne Football Studies Southampton Solent University Acupuncture University of East London Gambling StudiesUniversity of Salford Football StudiesUniversity of Bedfordshire

6. This might depend on where you choose to study, but usually you’ll have a few different options… // Halls of residence – usually on campus, all in one cost, living with other students… // Privately renting – a bit more independence, flexible location, choose who you live with… // For some… At home – there’s no place like home! // Costs will vary between all three and of course depending on where you choose to study This might depend on where you choose to study, but usually you’ll have a few different options… // Halls of residence – usually on campus, all in one cost, living with other students… // Privately renting – a bit more independence, flexible location, choose who you live with… // For some… At home – there’s no place like home! // Costs will vary between all three and of course depending on where you choose to study Where to live…

7. What Next? Find out as much information as possible before making any decisions Search the UCAS website for lists of courses www.ucas.com www.ucas.com Visit an HE convention Collect prospectuses Attend Open Days Research on the internet

8. Mid June Register with APPLY, start application Mid September First applications can be submitted Mid October Deadline for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science applications, and all applications to Oxford and Cambridge Mid January Standard UCAS deadline Mid MarchStart of UCAS Extra August Results Day & Clearing lists released Mid June Register with APPLY, start application Mid September First applications can be submitted Mid October Deadline for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science applications, and all applications to Oxford and Cambridge Mid January Standard UCAS deadline Mid MarchStart of UCAS Extra August Results Day & Clearing lists released Key dates

9. UCAS – University and Colleges Admissions Service // Applications for full-time courses will be done online through UCAS // www.ucas.com/apply // You register using a ‘buzzword’ from your school/college // You can apply up to five choices (four if applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary science) // It costs £12 to apply for one choice and £23 for up to five choices. UCAS – University and Colleges Admissions Service // Applications for full-time courses will be done online through UCAS // www.ucas.com/apply // You register using a ‘buzzword’ from your school/college // You can apply up to five choices (four if applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary science) // It costs £12 to apply for one choice and £23 for up to five choices. How to apply

10. //Be positive – make yourself stand out from other applicant //Be concise – do not repeat information which is elsewhere on the form //Spend time on getting it right! //Do not plagiarise //You can enter up to 4,000 characters (this includes spaces) or 47 lines of text (this includes blank lines), whichever comes //Look on UCAS website //Ask for help from your College careers team //Be positive – make yourself stand out from other applicant //Be concise – do not repeat information which is elsewhere on the form //Spend time on getting it right! //Do not plagiarise //You can enter up to 4,000 characters (this includes spaces) or 47 lines of text (this includes blank lines), whichever comes //Look on UCAS website //Ask for help from your College careers team Personal statement

11. What should you cover? Reasons for choosing the course Show why you would be suitable for the course – relevant research, skills and experience Capability for higher level study – independence, motivation, academic ability… Career aspirations, and why you would be suited to your chosen profession Other interests, abilities and achievements – show that you are a ‘well-rounded’ person

12. // Checked by Tutor // Wait for offer from all your choices before you can make your firm and insurance choice // Once you received all your offers you have to make a firm and Insurance choice through track // You will have to wait until results day to see if you have met the conditions of your choice // Checked by Tutor // Wait for offer from all your choices before you can make your firm and insurance choice // Once you received all your offers you have to make a firm and Insurance choice through track // You will have to wait until results day to see if you have met the conditions of your choice What happens next

13. // UCAS – all about applying: ucas.com // Student Finance England – all about the money, money, money: gov.uk/student-finance // Student room – independent advice: thestudentroom.co.uk // UNISTATS – compare courses: unistats.direct.gov.uk // University of Bedfordshire – your local, friendly university: beds.ac.uk // UCAS – all about applying: ucas.com // Student Finance England – all about the money, money, money: gov.uk/student-finance // Student room – independent advice: thestudentroom.co.uk // UNISTATS – compare courses: unistats.direct.gov.uk // University of Bedfordshire – your local, friendly university: beds.ac.uk Finding out more…

14. David Seaton Student Engagement & Recruitment david.seaton@beds.ac.uk Any questions? University of Bedfordshire open days: Bedford:, 16 August 2014, 18 October 2014, 15 November 2014 Luton: 16 August 2014, 25 October 2014, 22 November 2014 UCMK: 31 May 2014, 11 November 2014 Aylesbury: 31 May 2014, 11 November 2014 www.beds.ac.uk/opendays