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APPLYING TO HIGHER EDUCATION. 16th SEPTEMBER 2013. Demand for University Places . 2013 entry: Nationally applicants up by 3.5% NI applicants up by 7.1% QUB applicants up by 2.9% or 28% including Nursing and Midwifery. Changes in A level Grades.
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APPLYING TO HIGHER EDUCATION 16th SEPTEMBER 2013
Demand for University Places • 2013 entry: • Nationally applicants up by 3.5% • NI applicants up by 7.1% • QUB applicants up by 2.9% or 28% including Nursing and Midwifery.
Changes in A level Grades • 2.6% drop in number of A* & A grades awarded in 2013. • Removal of January AS and A level exam sitting by English exam boards for 2013-14.
Demand for University Places • Competition for places intense. • Heavy cuts to public funding means strict controls on number of new students an institution can recruit. • If this number is exceeded, severe penalties are applied to the institution.
Demand for university places • Despite the high level of overall demand, there are places available on many courses in Clearing, though few in QUB or UU or on high demand courses. • All applicants are advised to think hard about the course and institution which best suits them. • Choose both firm and insurance offers carefully.
Student Number Controls • Separate quotas for: • Home and EU students • Rest of GB students • International Students
Student Number Controls • Applicants with ABB+ grades at English Universities won’t count towards an institution’s student number population. • Universities can expand their number of places for ABB+. May choose not to. • Doesn’t mean an automatic place for those with ABB+ • Some extra places in August. • Still very competitive. • Govt. cap on places with >ABB.
Use of the A* Grade • Competitive university courses often ask for grades rather than tariff points. • Increasing use of A* in offers. • Oxbridge offers: AAA – A*A*A • Other universities include Durham, Exeter, Birmingham, London (King’s, Imperial), LSE, Oxford, Bristol, Bath, QUB. • Note that entry grades can change during application cycle – just a guide. UU range.
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS • Ist Oct : CUKAS • 15th October: UCAS deadline for receipt of applications for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Oxford and Cambridge. • 27th September: school deadline. • 15th January : UCAS deadline for all other courses ( 24TH March ) • 8th November : school deadline : why? • 26th Sept; 17th Oct: personal statements. • 14th Nov: mock interviews. Apply by 10th Oct.
APPLICATIONS TIMETABLE • Direct applications include: • Some colleges of Art and Design. • Education at St. Mary’s University College, Belfast. • Higher Education courses at Belfast Metropolitan College and other F.E. colleges. Social Work at BMC: apply through UCAS.
Applications to ROI • www.cao.ie • Up to 10 course choices. • No personal statement, predicted grades or school reference. • Selection based on A-level results. • Apply by 1st February (40 Euro). • 2550 Euro registration fee. • Often need 4 A levels.
Universities outside B. Isles • Netherlands : • Apply by July • Application form; motivation letter; reference. • Website: www.studielink.nl • Lower tuition fees £1535/yr • £588 ave. living costs. (rent approx £320) • USA • High tuition fees • Scholarships – academic; sporting; Fulbright • Direct application • www.fulbright.org.uk
UCAS Applications • Apply online (£23 or £12) • Available from 1st September. • Up to 5 course choices • Only 4 medicine/dentistry/veterinary courses • Either Oxford or Cambridge • Change or withdraw application within 7 days. • Hardest section is personal statement: • Help available from careers staff: parental help vital too. • Especially important for high demand courses, but use varies among institutions.
Course Choices • Up to 5 courses (add courses up to 30th June if <5) • Alphabetical order • Each university only sees its own courses • Keep 2 offers : Conditional firm (first choice) and conditional insurance : lower grades/points ( second choice). • Choose these carefully, esp CI – little room for manoeuvre in August.
Confirmation, Clearing and Adjustment in August. • If meet conditions of CF university will accept you. • If meet CI but not CF, will be offered CI • If meet neither : choose a course in clearing • UCAS Extra : early clearing (25th Feb – end of June). • May be accepted with reduced offers. • May or may not accept equivalent, eg. AAC instead of ABB. • May offer a change of course. • Often have to wait for news. • Be prepared : read info sent by UCAS and HEIs • Very few courses in QUB or UU in Clearing in 2013.
Personal Statement • 47 lines (350-550 words). • Basically 3 broad sections. • 1.Academic section – the main one. • Those aspects of their A-level subjects which they have enjoyed and have influenced their choice of H.E. course. • Why they want to study their chosen courses – show evidence of careful research.
Personal Statement (2) • 2. Extra-curricular activities • Inside and outside school. • Not a list. • Analyse how these have helped them to develop as a person. • What skills and qualities have they acquired through participation in these activities.
Personal Statement (3) • 3. Work experience & career plans • Work placements relevant to their courses. • Part-time jobs. • Future career plans, if known. • Analyse what skills and qualities they have gained from these experiences. • Analyse all experiences and relate, where appropriate, to chosen courses.
High Demand Courses • Subjects vary among universities, but can include: • Medicine/Dentistry/Vet. Science • Allied Health Professions • Nursing/Midwifery • Law • Teaching • English/History/Economics/International Relations • Business Management/Accounting • Sports Science/Studies • Pharmacy; • STEM subjects.
How do universities deal with the competition for places? • Raise entry requirements. • Ask for grades instead of UCAS Tariff points. • Impose a minimum standard of achievement at GCSE. • Admissions tests. • Unit grades. • Compulsory interview/multi mini interviews • Consider non-academic criteria. • See ‘entry profiles’ on www.ucas.com
Personal Statement • Interest and commitment to subject. • Commitment to career in profession. • Relevant work experience. • Positions of responsibility. • Skills gained from these experiences. • Ability to think independently. • Personal statements may be ‘scored’ by admissions tutors, but are used differently by different universities – check.
Personal Statements : UU • Faculty of Arts: must be well written with correct punctuation, grammar and spelling. • No more than 2 areas of interest – for medium demand courses. • Total commitment to: 2 sports degree courses, social work and nursing. • Recommend this for health-related and popular vocational courses too. • State if only applying to NI Institutions.
Personal Statements: QUB • Must focus only on one degree subject: medicine, dentistry, nursing & midwifery, education. • Otherwise can mention 2 alternatives • QUB doesn’t score personal statement or focus on it as much as other universities. • Important in borderline decisions in August.
How can applicants improve their chances? • Do their research – know what the universities applied for require. • Academic entry requirements – including GCSEs – do they have them or are they predicted to achieve them? • Fulfilling any other requirements, eg. Work experience – see entry profiles and prospectuses. • Do they have a life outside their studies?
How can applicants improve their chances? (2) • Make the most of the application form. • Be focused and relevant. • Make sure to include all the necessary information. • Communicate enthusiasm for and understanding of the subject applied for. • Ensure that grammar and spelling are correct.
Sources of Guidance and Information - Events • 11th September : UU Open Day. • 13th September : QUB Open Day. • 12-13th September : Higher Education Convention, Methodist College, Belfast. • 29th August: Pre-UCAS Day (BHS) • 30th August : Assessment Day (BHS). • Open days at other H.E. institutions. • 14th November : Mock interviews.
Events (2) • PWC Insight Days: www.pwc.co.uk/careers • 7th Oct: QUB Management School Parents Evening 5.30-8.00pm • 17th Oct: Humanities & Social Science – A Route to Employment 7-9pm • 23rd Oct: UU Allied Health Professions • 4th Nov: QUB Engineering Parents Info Evening
Sources of Guidance and Information - school • Thursday afternoon careers classes: • UCAS; interview skills; student finance & budgeting; student life; careers; high profile speakers. • UCAS supervisor. • DEL Careers Advisers. • UCAS guidance booklets.
Sources of Information and Guidance – useful websites • www.ucas.com – parents zone. • Intranet – for pupils - careers • www.tqi.ac.uk – to compare university ratings across a number of indicators. • www.push.co.uk • www.prospects.ac.uk – graduate careers • www.careers-portal.co.uk • www.gap.org.uk • www.unistats.co.uk - KEY INFORMATION STATISTICS • www.yougofurther.co.uk - student-only community website supported by UCAS. Tailored info; online chat. • QUB student portal • UU “Going to University: A Guide for Families”
Sources of Guidance and Information - books • Degree Course Offers (Brian Heap) • The Times Good University Guide - also at www.timesonline.co.uk • The Guardian University Guide : see www.education.guardian.co.uk • The Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities. • University Interviews Guide. • UCAS parents guide. • See ‘Prospects’ handout.
Career Pathways • Which degree? • QUB Survey of Employers: • 41% : no subject preference • 41% : STEM • 14%: Business
Growth Areas in NI • Advanced materials & Engineering* • Finance & Business Services (IT etc) • Life and Health Sciences • Creative Industries • Agri-Food • *aerospace, electrical, electronics, automotive, renewables.
STEM • Need for more STEM graduates in short & medium term. • 40,000 shortfall in UK/year • Aim of NISP: • 2030: NI: one of world’s foremost knowledge & entrepreneurial economies in world. • Needs x2 STEM graduates • 17th Sept : Belfast Telegraph
QUB Open Day 2013 • 2013 ENTRY: • Applications to QUB up by 4% • Applications nationally down by 7% • Good quality applicants • Higher entry grades.
Nursing & Midwifery • First time in UCAS. • 2636 applications for 401 nursing places • 879 applications for 35 midwifery places • Shortlisting for interview • Rigorous interview • Preparation : BHS; www.3fivetwotraining.com
Increases in Applications • Highest increases: • Computer Science (+46.3%) • Chemical Engineering ( +30.6%) • Actuarial Studies (+28.7%) • Spanish & Portuguese (+22.7%) • Finance (+18.7%) • Dentistry (+17.3%) • Agri-Food & Land Use (16.5%) • Economics (+14.8%)
Precise Grades Only • Chemical Engineering (MEng) • Medicine* • Biomedical Sciences • Midwifery • Actuarial and Risk Management • *37 points GCSE/UKCAT threshold • 592 interviewed • 375 offers made • 8 taken from reserve list in August (33 in 2012)
Averaged Out Above Target • Finance • Nursing
Averaged Out • Film Studies • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering • Biomedical Sciences • More places granted in latter tw0
Drop of <1 A level Grade • Business Information Technology • Electrical & Electronic Engineering • Chemistry • Agri-Food and Land Use • Biological Sciences • PPE • Economics ( 50-63 places) • Modern Languages • Music • Relevant subjects crucial. • Very good intakes
Drop of 1 A level Grade • BA degrees ( except for Mod. Languages & Film Studies) • Computer Science – if Maths or Computing offered - 60 more places • Architecture • Civil Engineering • Maths (need A in Maths) • Physics (need BB in Maths & Physics) • Geography, Archaeology & Palaeoecology • Psychology • Pharmacy • Music Technology • Dentistry, but only with A in Chemistry/ A* • Social Work (1 – vg interview) • Business Management • Theology
Drop of >1 A level grade • Environmental Planning • Law • Accountancy
Summary • In all cases, performance in relevant subjects is vital • Numbers getting in below & on minimum entry grades are very small • Granting of extra places allowed these grade drops • 4th AS level very important in borderline decisions in August. • Changed course offers.
Changes for 2014 Entry • Accounting AAB from AAA • Business Management ABB from AAB • International Business with a language ABB from AAB • Law AAB from AAA.
2014 Changes (2) • New Courses: • Software Engineering • Maths & Finance • Physics & Finance • Food Science & Security • MPlan in European Planning
Applied A levels • Equal consideration to general A levels eg. Law or Accountancy: accept 3 Applied A Levels • Some exceptions where specific subject requirements, eg Computer Science : ICT not Applied ICT accepted. • 3 courses limit of 1 Applied A level: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy.
UU 2012 Entry • Strongly competitive environment • Constrained by cap on full-time student nos. • Less flexibility in August as more students staying in NI • Using more grade offers • Use of grade range offers • Use of gathered fields