Navigating Higher Education: FAQs, Trends, and Considerations

1. Higher Education 2013 Sally Hayward Regional Director

2. Aim • To present an overview of the higher education scene • To look at how the higher education system works

3. FAQs • How many courses can I apply for? • Can I apply for more than one course at the same place? • If I apply to Oxford will Durham reject me? • Which is the best university? • Do I need work experience? • Will I get a grant? • Can I apply to university after I’ve left school? • What can I do with a history degree? • Will a degree guarantee me a good job? • How do I apply to university in Australia/US/Europe? • Do I have to go to university – what else could I do?

4. Topical issues • University experience • Availability of university places • Costs • Overseas study • Graduate employment • Alternatives to higher education

5. Current UCAS application situation • Applications for undergraduate courses increased by 2.8% up to 15 January 2013 deadline – encouraging but not yet back to pre tuition fee increase levels. Last year’s intake went down sharply and many places were left unfilled. Tuition fee max remains at £9,000 pa • 559,000 applications so far – up 19,000 on last year • Some universities have reported substantial increases eg Surrey with particularly high demand for chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, biosciences, business, economics, English, law and politics • Unlimited recruitment of students achieving ABB grades • Widening participation initiatives • Graduate vacancies expected to rise by 2.7% in 2013

6. Why higher education…… • Personal fulfilment – is university right for me? • Why go? Springboard to opportunities, independence, meeting new people, explore a subject, gain a qualification, transferable skills, wider job choice, higher potential earnings • Half graduate jobs do not specify degree subject • Why not? Cost, no guarantee of graduate job, entry grades, alternative choices

7. The university experience

8. Considering Higher Education? What do I need to do........ • Explore what is right for you • 2 stage process: • Research • Self presentation

9. Just tell me what & where! You have to do the research You will be studying your chosen course for 3 + years You will be living in the place you chose You will use this degree to find a job

10. Types of courses • Degree: BA. BSc. LLB. MEng. MMath. • Foundation Degree • Higher National Diploma / Certificate • Foundation courses • Talent based diplomas - audition • Part time / Distance learning

11. What to study? • No idea? Morrisby, www.ukcoursefinder.com • School subject – non vocational – generalist • Career related subject – generalist plus • Professional / vocational – specialist • New subject – Surf Science? American Studies? Forensic Computing? Disaster Management? Geology? Archaeology? Journalism? Food Science? Anthropology? Brewing? International Relations? • Spoilt for choice? 1100 subjects, 45,000 courses

12. UK Coursefinder

13. Diversity of Related Courses The University of Manchester

14. Choosing a course - content/structure • Similar sounding courses may differ, core, options, opportunities • Single, combined, multi-disciplinary, sandwich, work placements, innovative • Professional accreditation and eligibility • Study abroad

15. Choosing a course • Teaching methods, lectures, tutorials, seminars, staff ratios, assessment methods • Teaching quality/employment destinations/student satisfaction www.unistats.com http://www.bestcourse4me.com/ • Popular courses, competition, selectors, recruiters

16. Which university or college? • ‘Best’ university - reputation, league tables http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/ • Teaching quality/employment destinations/student satisfaction www.unistats.gov.uk • Scholarships and bursaries • Where – local, how far away, look at map • Getting there – transport, travel time and costs • Environment – urban, rural, split, campus, size

17. Which university or college? • Academic facilities • Leisure facilities – sport, drama, music • Accommodation – what’s available, cost, type, catering, safety • Cost of living • City attractions • Try to visit – www.opendays.com • 300+ institutions

20. Be realistic! UCAS Tariff A levels A*=140 A = 120 B = 100 C = 80 D=60 E =40 AS = half Music/drama grades 6,7,8 – 5 to 75 Check GCSE requirements Entry Qualifications

31. What will employers look for? • Some careers/employers require specific degrees but many do not - vocational versus subject degrees • 1st Class degree or 2:i plus…… • Transferable skills • Personal attributes • Work experience

32. Team Working Communication Skills Customer Focus Problem Solving Managing own learning Networking Commercial insight Planning & time management Leadership Cultural sensitivity IT competent Project management Entrepreneurial Second language? What skills?

33. Graduate salaries • 2012 starting salaries - median £29,000 • Most generous salaries: • Investment Banks £40,000 • Law firms £38,400 • Consulting firms £35,000 • Universities most often targeted by top graduate employers: • London (Imperial, UCL, LSE) • Manchester • Nottingham • Oxford and Cambridge • Warwick

34. Top tips to be a top graduate • Choose your course and university carefully • Don’t delay thinking about what you will do when you graduate • Make early use of university careers service • Seek support, learn how to market yourself • Learn how to manage your time, budget and learning • Deepen work experience/volunteering • Network and Reflect/ Awareness

35. ‘A degree is no longer a meal ticket to your future but merely a licence to hunt’ Linsey Perry, Head of Graduate Recruitment, Network Rail

36. Questions to ask at Open Days • Specific features of course • Tutorials / seminars / lectures / laboratory work • Assessments - projects / exams / practicals • Student/lecturer ratios; support available • Teaching by academic staff versus post graduate students • Student achievements/career destinations • Facilities • Are entry requirements as advertised – any changes pending?

37. Choices • Look widely before deciding • Short list > 5 choices • Choose courses with a similar theme – be consistent • Apply for a range in terms of grades, for popular courses include cautious choices • No order of preference

38. How to Apply • www.ucas.com/apply • 5 choices listed alphabetically • Restrictions – 4 medicine/dentistry/vet + 1 from other subject • Oxford/Cambridge – apply for one course at either Oxford or Cambridge (new this year) • Separate system for music - conservatoires http://www.cukas.ac.uk/ • Direct application -some dance/drama, part time/distance courses/overseas universities

39. The Application Process • UCAS Apply - register – password, user name and user ID • online application form – personal details, education, qualifications, choices, employment • Personal statement – clear, correct, enthusiastic, informed, persuasive, your own work • Reference – predictions, comments, support • Fee £23/£12 • Universities cannot see other choices • Track - Interviews/open days/ offers/ decisions/ reply/ hold 2 places - firm + insurance • Extra, Confirmation, Clearing, Adjustment

40. Time Scale and Deadlines • UCAS Applications – registration opens late June - can apply from 1 September • October 15 – Oxford, Cambridge and all medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses • January 15 – all UCAS courses except some art courses (24 March) • CUKAS(1 October) • Popular courses fill quickly > School Policy > internal deadline • Late applications • Offers normally through by March/April

41. Post application • When applicants have received decisions from ALL of their choices, if they have offers they will be asked to make replies (and given a date to reply by on Track) • If an applicant does not receive any offers they can make an additional choice through the Extra scheme • UCAS will send reminders – but if applicants fail to reply to offers by the date, offers will be automatically declined! • Applicants can now hold a maximum of2offers (others declined) • Firm(if you meet the conditions you will be placed) • Insurance(only comes into play if you are not placed with your Firm choice

42. Additional Entry Tests • UKCAT – medicine/dentistry - register online by 20 September, sat by 4 October – www.ukcat.ac.uk • BMAT – medicine/vet – register at school before 1 October – exam in school on 7 November – http://www.bmat.org.uk/ • LNAT – law at 8 universities including Durham – register online and sit before university closing dates www.lnat.ac.uk • Oxford and Cambridge - 20 subjects at Cambridge and 39 at Oxford require additional entry tests. See university websites for information

43. More admissions requirements for some subjects/universities • Interviews – individual and group • Audition – music and performing arts • Portfolio – art and design, architecture • Submission of written work

44. How Year 12 can help you get into university • Research • Extra reading and practice tests • Broaden your outlook • Get involved • Open Days / Convention • Taster courses – ISCO, Workshop, London, Headstart • Relevant work experience • Draft personal statement

45. What and Where? • Choose a course you will enjoy • In a place where you will be happy • You’ll be there for 3 years ( at least ) (hopefully) • Make the most of it …

46. What will it cost in 2013? • Tuition fees up to £9000pa – varies between universities and even courses – check direct and online • Student loans for fees and maintenance • Student maintenance grant • https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

48. Fee Loan • Loan for AMOUNT of fees charged • Paid by Student Loan Company DIRECT to university • Repayment via tax system from April AFTER graduation • 9% above salary of £21,000pa – what you earn not what you owe • Interest Tapered RPI + up to 3% £21K/£41K • Written off after 30 years (excluding arrears)

50. Maintenance loan • Paid to you – in instalments • Access to 65% of amount – remainder means tested • Living at home £4375 • Living away (not London) £5500 • Away in London approx £7675 • Repayments same as fee loan