Why University?

1. Why University?

2. Brainteaser… • A man is trapped in a room. • The room has only two possible exits: two doors. • Through the first door there is a room constructed from magnifying glass. The blazing hot sun instantly fries anything or anyone that enters. • Through the second door there is a fire-breathing dragon. • How does the man escape?

3. Brainteaser… • He waits until night time and then goes through the first door!

4. Higher Education Explained

5. Higher Education Vs. Further Education

6. What is Further Education? • Sixth Form • Sixth Form College • FE College • Workplace EMA – you may be eligible to get up to £30 a week to study at FE

7. What is Higher Education? • Range of courses available • Academic or vocational courses • Work-based learning (your employer pays!) • Certificates and Diplomas • Part-time or Full-time • Half of all jobs will need an HE qualification in ten years’ time

8. Types of Higher Education • Degree • Higher National Diploma (HND) • Higher National Certificate (HNC) • Foundation Degree • National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

9. Courses Available • More than 50,000 Higher Education courses to choose from, at over 500 colleges and universities • Including: • Puppetry Oceanography • Criminology Hotel Management • Equine Studies Social work • English Law

10. Gaelic Gallery Management Gambling Game Gamekeeping Garden Garment Gastronomy Gemmology Gender General Engineering Genetics Genome Geoarchaeology Geochemistry Geography Geohazard Geology Geomatics Geophysics Georgian Geoscience Geotechnics German Glass Global Global Cinema Goldsmithing Golf Government Graphic Greek Green Greenkeeping Guitar Gujarati Courses Under ‘G’

11. Institutions Under ‘G’ • University of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Pontypridd • University of Glasgow • Glasgow Caledonian University • The Glasgow School of Art • Gloucestershire College • University of Gloucestershire • Goldsmiths, University of London • University of Greenwich • Greenwich School of Management • Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education • Guildford College of Further & Higher Education

12. GCSE GCSE NVQ1 GNVQ Foundation AS AVCE (vocational AS level) NVQ2 GNVQ Intermediate A2 AVCE (vocational A level) NVQ3 BTEC National Or AVCEs Degree HNC/HND Foundation Degree DipHE Routes into Higher Education

13. Getting into HE • A levels • Vocational A levels (AVCEs) • Diplomas • BTEC • NVQ • Open University Foundation • International Baccalaureate (IB) Remember to check that your qualifications are suitable for your HE course…

14. A-Level Choices • Choose subjects you enjoy and that you think you would be good at • Keep your options open if you aren’t sure what you want to do, i.e. Mix of arts and sciences • If you do know what you want to do make sure you choose the right A levels to suit the course you want to apply for

16. What makes a University? 5,000 – 30,000 students Different locations: City centre Suburbs In the countryside Campus like a student town

17. Lecture theatres Libraries Laboratories Classrooms Halls of residence Students’ union Shops, sports facilities, restaurants, bars etc. What makes a University?

18. Places to Study FE colleges • Campus Universities e.g. Warwick, Bath

19. Campus Universities

20. Places to Study FE colleges • Campus Universities e.g. Warwick, Bath • City Universities e.g. Manchester, UCL

21. City Universities

22. Places to Study FE colleges • Campus Universities e.g. Warwick, Bath • City Universities e.g. Manchester, UCL • Collegiate Universities e.g. Cambridge, Oxford, Durham

23. Collegiate Universities

24. University Teaching • Lectures • Seminars / classes • Practicals • Field trips / language courses / study visits • Exams

25. Collegiate Universities • University based teaching: • Lectures • Seminars / classes • Practicals • Field trips / language courses / study visits • Exams • College-based teaching: • Supervisions • Director of Studies

26. What is a Cambridge College? • 29 undergraduate Colleges • Each subject has its own Department with special libraries and teaching rooms • Students live in the Colleges and study in the Departments • Differ in: • Size (number of students) • Accommodation • Location • Appearance • Facilities

27. Cambridge Colleges

28. Who goes to Cambridge? ?

29. You don’t have to be: Rich Posh A genius From a family that’s been to university From a certain type of school Who goes to Cambridge?

30. You don’t have to be: Rich Posh A genius From a family that’s been to university From a certain type of school You do have to be: Enthusiastic about your subject Likely to get A*,A,A in your A-levels Willing to work hard The best person for the place, whatever your background Who goes to Cambridge?

31. Student Life • Independence • College and/or university societies • Sports at every level • Entertainment • Religious/cultural/support groups • Students’ Union

32. Benefits of Higher Education • Job opportunities • Earning potential • Independence • Study a subject you love • Lots of great opportunities • More time to think about what you want to do • It’s fun!

33. Higher Education Quiz • True or false: HE is much harder work than school vs.

34. Student Learning In reality HE is very differentfrom school… • Informal environment • Lots of individual study • Lots of free time • Fewer teaching hours • Great opportunities • You have chosen to be there!

35. HE Quiz 2) True or false: You have to have A levels to get onto a Higher Education course

36. Getting into HE • A levels • Vocational A levels (AVCEs) • Diplomas • BTEC • NVQ • Open University Foundation • International Baccalaureate (IB) Remember to check that your qualifications are suitable for your HE course…

37. HE Quiz 3) You don’t have school-type lessons in HE but can you name three ways in which you do learn?

38. HE Learning • Lectures • Seminars • Practicals • Individual study • Field trips • One-to-one sessions (supervisions) • Online learning

39. HE Quiz 4) Give three reasons why HE is a good idea

40. Benefits of Higher Education • Job opportunities • Earning potential • Independence • Study a subject you love • Lots of great opportunities • More time to think about what you want to do • It’s fun!

41. Student Life • Student societies • Politics • Social life • New friends from all over the world

42. HE Quiz 5) What does UCAS stand for and what is it?

43. UCAS Universities and Colleges Admissions Service • Processing centre for applications to higher education courses • Students use an online form to apply for up to five different courses

44. University Pros & Cons Opportunities Fees Work Leaving Home Starting Salary Qualifications Facilities Friends Interest Independence Achievement Socialising Experience Career Progression Jobs Diversity

45. Average graduate starting salary is £23,000 Financial/Career Benefits • Graduates earn on average £500,000 more over their life times than non-graduates • Graduates have greater choice of jobs

46. Why should I think about it now? • Allows you to make the best choices for you and keeping your options open for the future • Lots of people decide it’s not for them without knowing much about it

47. A few last things to consider… • Online and email etiquette • Get a suitable email address to use for correspondence with institutions • Remember not to use text speak or emoticons in formal communications! • Email allows you time to think and plan what you want to say – make sure you practice this in person too