1. Applying to universities 2. Alternatives to universities

1. 1. Applying to universities2. Alternatives to universities

2. Applying to universities

5. What types of course exist? • Honours degree • Extended degree • Foundation degree • Single honours / Joint honours • Degrees with a year abroad • Degrees with a year in industry

6. What is the “Russell Group”? Birmingham Bristol Cambridge Cardiff Durham Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Imperial Kings College Leeds Liverpool LSE Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Oxford Queen Mary Queen’s Belfast Sheffield Southampton UCL Warwick York

7. Don’t be put off by the costs Costs involved in going to university: • Tuition fees • Living costs

8. Tuition Fees • Mostly £9250 per year • No money needed upfront • Tuition fees loan available to all, paid directly to the university • £25,000 repayment threshold

9. An example: A student finishes their degree in July 2023 and gets a job with a salary of £29,000. Their salary is £4000 over the £25,000 repayment threshold, so they pay interest on £4,000 each year. = £30 per month

10. Living Costs • Maintenance loan (up to £8,200) • 65% available to all: 35% means-tested • £25,000 repayment threshold • Extra support: • University scholarships • University bursaries • Government allowances (eg Disabled students’ allowance)

11. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Aug: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Apply through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day

12. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Aug: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Apply through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day

14. UCAS Convention: June 21 £7.50 for seat on the coach

15. Ex-student advisors July 5th

16. www.unifrog.org Parents can access Unifrog by using the login: FremanParents

18. www.mystudentevents.com

20. Universities will have one of two types of entry requirement

21. What are your qualifications “worth”?

22. Example: University of the West of England asks for 120 points for entry on to Geography degree This could come just from three A level grades: Geography (A) = 48 English (B) = 40 Sociology (C) = 32

23. Example: University of the West of England asks for 120 points for entry on to Geography degree This could come just from three A level grades: Geography (A) = 48 English (B) = 40 Sociology (C) = 32 • Or you could use points from AS Maths / Finance as well: Geography (B) = 40 English (C) = 32Sociology (D) = 24AS Maths (E) = 6Finance (B) = 20

24. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Sept: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Apply through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day

26. What is it in basic terms?

27. The Personal Statement • The most important part of your application • A tool that universities use in their admissions process • Helps distinguish you from others with similar grades • Your chance to show your enthusiasm, talents and qualities

28. Model 2- something new Model 1- traditional Model 3- Oxbridge/ specialism trigger trigger trigger Subject related and relevant A levs Reading/research/activities Subject related A levels/BTEC Reading/research/ activities Extra qualities Extra qualities Conclusion- why you want them and why they should want you Conclusion- why you want them and why they should want you Conclusion- why you want them and why they should want you

31. 1. The pretentious quote • 2. The clichés • 3. Questionable motives • 5. Naming the course and university • 6. Jokes and slang • 10. Bragging • 12. Boring interests • 13. Silly, needless errors- like the numbering on this slide

35. ‘I like to socialise’What to do between now and the end of the summer • Make a list of what the universities and colleges are looking for in a personal statement. • Do a mind map, writing your subject in the centre and surround it with key points, strengths and evidence that justifies why you have chosen the subject • Continually fill in the activities and competencies on unifrog • If planning on Oxbridge, medicine, law or veterinary courses, you need to be ready to write a draft very soon after the summer holiday • Be positive!

36. Pupils shared- read only- 6th form- ucas – personal statements

37. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Aug: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Apply through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day

38. UCAS application deadlines • For Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, and Oxford and Cambridge courses October 15 (Sept 30 Freman deadline) • For all other courses End of November (Freman deadline)

39. https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/ucas-undergraduate-parents-and-guardianshttps://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/ucas-undergraduate-parents-and-guardians

40. What goes into a UCAS application? • Personal details • Course and institution choices • Education • Employment • Personal Statement • Reference

41. Entrance Tests(mostly for Oxbridge, Medical, Veterinary & Law courses) HAT BMAT MAT UKCAT STEP PAT LNAT TSA

42. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Aug: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Apply through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day

43. Once the application has been submitted … • Each university will individually: • Make a conditional offer • Invite to interview • Make an unconditional offer • Reject • Students track the progress of application online • When ALL universities have responded… … accept one offer as your firm choice and one as an insurance choice. • Students not holding an offer once all universities have responded are eligible to apply to further universities through “Extra”

44. Unconditional offers See them for what they are: a marketing strategy Don’t sell yourself short by accepting an unconditional offer at a lower-ranking university

45. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Aug: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Apply through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day

46. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Aug: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Application through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day

47. Results Day

48. “Clearing” “Adjustment” • For those whose final grades do not meet either of their offers • Apply to extra universities with vacancies, one at a time (by phone) • Starts on results day • For those whose final grades meet and exceed their firm offer • Apply to higher universities with vacancies, while holding on to existing place • Starts on results day

49. Timeline for applications May – August: Research courses July - Aug: Draft personal statement Sept - Nov: Apply through UCAS Jan – May: Respond to university offers Feb - May: Apply for Student Finance Aug 2019: Results day