UCAS Information Evening

UCAS Information Evening Application, Tracking, Offers and Accepting

Purpose of the evening • UCAS Apply • UCAS Track • The school system (deadlines) • Finance • Results and beyond

An applicant’s journey Choose a course Choose where Apply through UCAS Interviews Accepting offer Offers Adjustment Students may also apply for degree apprenticeships alongside and independently from their UCAS application Firming offers Clearing Finance Results

Choose a course and university Going on to Higher Education is valuable for…… • Developing knowledge and important transferable skills • Improving career prospects and enhancing long term financial success (Employers look to recruit graduates with a good degree but also with many additional skills demonstrated during a degree course) • Pursuing some vocational careers such as medicine, architecture and law • Intrinsic love of learning • giving applicants time to fully consider a future career • A stepping stone onto post-graduate vocational courses such as the LPC (Legal Practice Course) Worthy of note: Getting a degree can be more important than the subject studied – many go on to careers in areas that differ from their first degree choice

Choose a course and university • Students have already started their searches for the courses they may like to study • …and where they would like to study them. • Unifrog • Open days (3 during school time) • Course literature provided and on the internet (entry profiles, popularity, quality, employment rates) • Speaking with students • NEC • Talking to staff and careers advisors • Discussions with parents

Choose a course and university Making the Right Choices The best university for the student is the one that: • Offers the course theywant to study • Is in a place theywould like to live (go and see it) • Will accept themon the basis of realistic predicted grades

Choose a course and university There are 370 universities and colleges affiliated to UCAS that are offering over 37,000 courses……..think outside the box! There are a huge number of courses that you and the students may never have heard of…… University of Aberdeen- Celtic & Anglo Saxon Studies and History of Art University of Winchester- English Linguistics with Forensic Linguistics Queen Mary University of London- Sustainable Energy Engineering with Industrial Experience

Choose a course and university Psychology Goldsmith’s London • Five undergraduate programmes • BSc Psychology • BSc Psychology with Clinical Psychology • BSc Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience • BSc Psychology with Management • Bsc Psychology (integrated) + foundation year • Queen Mary University London • BSc in Psychology (C800) • Psychology as an experimental and natural science • Biological basis • Evolutionary framework • Need at least one A level in a Science subject

Choose a course and university Where to look for more advice? • Unifrog • Unistats • The complete university guide • Guardian • UCAS

The Complete University Guide www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2017/may/16/university-league-tables-2018 Both presents basic comparison data in an easy to read format

Apprenticeships • https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship • https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/organisation/national-apprenticeship-service-381 (national apprenticeship service) • Becoming increasingly more popular as a route through HE • “Earn whilst you learn” • Government/employer funded so no student fees • Good for students with a clear idea of career path • Applications are usually made direct to the employer through an application form, or a CV and covering letter. • Become available throughout the year

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) Apply through UCAS UCAS coordinates applications for undergraduate degrees, HNDs and Foundation degrees In 2018, 559,030applications were handled by UCAS 374,440 applicants from England 370 universities and colleges are members of UCAS These 370 universities and colleges are offering over 37,000 courses

Apply through UCAS • Started today • Aim to complete first draft of Personal Statement by the end of tomorrow • Use online UCAS Apply. • Applications checked at a number of points before final submission. • First date of submission for 2020 entry 4th September. 2019 Deadlines:

Apply through UCAS • Most universities state their entry requirements for their courses as grades • About 1/3 of universities use tariff points, just another way of expressing A-Level grades but in numbers • Some entry requirements are contextual • Some university courses also require additional assessments as part of the selection process, particularly for courses in medicine, dentistry, Oxbridge and law. • When students apply to university through UCAS we allow one aspirational choice and up to 4 other choices in line with, or below their predicted grades. This system means that the majority of students hold an offer before results day, putting them in a better position when they get their results (Clearing and Adjustment)

Apply through UCAS

Apply through UCAS • LNAT Law • MAT , STEP Mathematics • BMAT ,UCAT Medical • TSA Thinking Skills – Various • COPA Cambridge Online Preliminary • Providers’ own tests Mainly for education, midwifery & social work (but there are others) • Students must find out if a course they intend to apply for needs an entrance test and ensure that they enter themselves for it. • Many aptitude / entrance tests are carried out at external test centres. • Speak to Mrs Rose for advice/guidance.

Apply through UCAS • The Personal Statement- What is the Admissions Tutor looking for? • Motivation • Genuine enthusiasm for the course • Academic enthusiasm • More than the academic – what else? • Insights into personality, interests, achievements, responsibilities and relevant work experience • That the student is a well rounded individual Students will be given in depth guidance by Dr.Shakeshafttomorrow. Each statement will be edited/checked by the form tutor before being signed off and submitted with the rest of the application to the referee.

Apply through UCAS Suggested structure for a Personal Statement • Why– Why this course? • What – What has been done to demonstrate a passionate interest in the course chosen? • Academic – How do A Level subjects relate to the chosen course? • Interests and responsibilities – What has been learned from activities undertaken that is relevant to the chosen course and university life? What transferable skills have been acquired? • Conclusion – What personal experience or ambitions can be linked to the chosen course to give the statement a sense of completion?

Apply through UCAS The School reference Universities want to know… • Context of the school • Predicted grades • Justification of predicted grades • Strengths and weaknesses • Passion for the course / learning in general • Level of self-motivation • Level of independence as a learner • Involvement in the wider life of the school The reference is the last section of the application to be completed. Once this has been written and proof-read, the application is submitted to UCAS. UCAS charge students for their application. This is paid for via studentcomms

Getting offers • Once the application has been submitted to UCAS Apply, the progress of the application can be followed on UCAS Track Each university considers the applicants • Offer • Reject • Call for an interview and then either offer or reject

Getting offers

Firming offers • Once all offers/rejections have been received choices need to be made on Track (notification from UCAS) • Firm (CF)- This is the first choice. • Insurance (CI)- This is the University applicants will go to if they don’t meet the entry requirements for the CF. Applicants cannot choose between CF and CI on results day. • Deadlines for this process vary according to the universities’ response dates (Next Steps February) • An additional opportunity to get offers can be taken through UCAS Extra, available from 25th February, 2020 for students who made five choices and received decisions from all these choices, and either had no offers or declined all the offers that they have received, or originally had less than 5 choices on their application

Coffee and Questions? • A lot of information…..any questions so far? • Take a break and please come and speak to me if you have any queries. • Information/powerpoint slides from tonight will be available on the school website this week if there’s anything you need to review at a later date • Next Steps Evening in February, 2020 for more detailed look at what happens after students gain their offers. • I’ll continue in a few minutes with a brief outline.

Finance • Information on and applications for student finance can be found at https://www.ucas.com/sfe and www.gov.uk/studentfinance • Students need to check whether they are eligible, their course is eligible and the university is eligible for support. • There are three kinds of support available (tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and extra support for students with special circumstances) • Tuition fee loans are non-means tested but must be repaid. • Maintenance loans are means tested and must be repaid. • Support loans are awarded to students who are, for example disabled or have dependents. • Some universities also offer bursaries and/or scholarships

Results Day • Thursday 13th August, 2020 • Please do not be away on holiday • Universities receive the results in advance and so can make decisions about applicants • Students will find out these decisions first on Track (probably before they come and collect their results) Students may need to be able to access: • Clearing vacancy search. • Adjustment

Clearing and Adjustment Clearing is designed to match students without places with course vacancies • Clearing is suitable for students who have not received any offers or have declined all offers • Or do not meet (on results day) any conditions of their offers. • Students have to deal with Universities directly and quickly • Universities will not deal with parents/teachers when it comes to negotiating places • Students must be available to collect results and negotiate with universities immediately to get the best places. • Clearing places often all filled by the end of results day

Clearing and Adjustment • For applicants that have met/exceeded the conditions of their firmly accepted offer • Who decide to research alternative courses and register this intention on Track. • Up to five days (120 hours) in which to research alternative courses while holding their confirmed offer by • Speaking to universities and colleges to explore what places are available and whether their application may be of interest. • The university then checks eligibility and may offer them an unconditional place which the applicant may accept, • or decides to stay with their original offer.

Any questions?

UCAS Information Evening