1. Higher Education Evening

2. Choosing a Course Choosing a University How universities choose What happens after the application is sent in How BHASVIC helps Common mistakes Recent changes BHASVIC Students Higher Education

3. Where do you get information from… Lots of websites but some key ones are: Complete University Guide (general information about individual universities): www. thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/ Unistats (comparing Universities): www.unistats.direct.gov.uk/ UCAS (excellent information about the application process itself): www.ucas.com

4.  Interest and enjoyment  Professional; academic  Employment  Single or joint  Content and Structure  Assessment

5.  Required subjects  Grades in specific subjects or overall points score  Entrance test  Non academic requirements, e.g. work experience

6.  Generally speaking all A levels are acceptable for University entry but it can depend on the course or individual university.  A ‘spread’ of courses is fine e.g. Biology, Maths, Drama would be fine as 2 courses are regarded as being strong academically.  But Drama, Music and Film Studies would be excellent for any performance related degree  Also a pass in Drama will be worth more than a fail in Maths!

7.  Some universities ask for grades, including ‘*’ e.g. Chemistry at Cambridge requires A*AA  Most do not ask for A* grades e.g. Brighton requires BBC  Some ask for points e.g. Chemistry at Nottingham Trent requires 260 points  Points are calculated using the UCAS Tarrif  The UCAS Tariff also gives details of the points allocated to L3 BTEC qualifications.

8. Grade A2 (A Level) A/S Level A12060 B10050 C8040 D6030 E4020

9.  BTEC qualifications have their own UCAS points attached to them.  For example, the Sports Science course at BHASVIC is a double course and so a double Distinction would be 240 points (2 A equivalent), a double Merit would be 160 points (2 C equivalent).

10.  The right course, quality of facilities, provision  Type and size, quality of accommodation  Distance from home

11. Reputationleague tables, employer links, word of mouth Scholarships and bursaries Learning Support Student mixstate school/private/mature students/ international students/diversity

12.  Some degrees at UK universities will offer a year abroad, typically languages or American (or other cultural) Studies.  A student could think about studying their entire degree abroad and this now has greater relevance given the recent rise in tuition fees.  This year BHASVIC students have applied to U.S, Holland and Australia and we are building up a comprehensive guide for students thinking of this route, as well as offering direct support.

13. Using UCAS Apply Once student has decided on potential courses and universities, they apply to them using ucas.apply UCAS: universities central admissions system, not a decision making body. Handles applications for all full time first degree higher education courses.

14.  Sep – Dec 2013: nearly all applications will be in (final deadline Jan 15 th )  Oct 2013 – March 31 st 2014: Students get Offers  8 th May – students make their choice of two offers to be their ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ choice  Results – 15 th August  Clearing

15. March Tutors begin discussing next year’s options with their Tutor Groups. March 14t h Parents Information Evening and 19th March 25 th – 26thHigher Education Information Day at Brighton University April 30thGap Year Fair June 10thProgression Event Writing Personal Statements Personal Finance Using ucas apply

16.  June onwards: BHASVIC gives students support in using ucas apply and writing personal statements  Students can apply for five courses (unless applying for medicine/veterinary science)  Applications begin in September  Deadline for Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry - 15 OCTOBER  Students who have not made 5 choices can, if they wish, add a further choice before the January 15 th deadline.  Deadline for all other students - 15 JANUARY  Internal deadlines are earlier

17. 1. A student will have to have the grades – AS Grades are crucial as these will be what an Admissions officer will regard as an accurate prediction of A level grades or BTEC levels of achievement. 2. The student’s personal statement  Student’s enthusiasm and motivation for course. Why they want to do it?  Student’s understanding of the course  What students have gained from their current courses (specific interests, skills)?  Additional reading  Evidence of special commitment, work experience, attendance at lectures, organising clubs

18. 3. Reference – written in collaboration between all teachers and Tutor 4. Tests (BMAT, LNAT, HAT) where appropriate 5. Interview (where invited) 6. Widening Participation and the Office for Fair Access

19.  Lack of research - Applying for courses without the right qualifications/subjects  Applying to courses whose entry requirements are higher than AS grades  Applying for extremely diverse courses  Leaving writing a Personal Statement/applying until the last minute  Applying to universities or courses they do not want to go to  Not having a proper insurance offer

20.  Numbers down – in 2011 there was a national drop of around 9% in applications (BHASVIC had an almost identical drop), in 2012 there was a further national drop of 6.5% although BHASVIC’s numbers did not drop this year.  Some universities have been affected worse than others (London Met -43%, Liverpool Hope – 16%) which is serious for their future

21.  Top ten universities BHASVIC students end up at (2012): University of Brighton University of Sussex Bournemouth University University of Cambridge University of East Anglia University of Portsmouth University of Exeter The University of Warwick University of the West of England, Bristol The University of Kent King's College London (University of London) Royal Holloway, University of London University College London (University of London)

22.  Top ten broad areas by BHASVIC students (2012): Biological Sciences Social Studies Business & Admin studies Creative Arts & Design History & Philosophical studies Physical Sciences Law Mathematical Sciences Mass Comms and Documentation Engineering Combined arts

23.  Top ten individual subjects studied by BHASVIC students (2012): : Psychology Law Economics History Politics Mathematics Media studies English Physics Medicine

24.  BHASVICHE@Ed.Higher is the HE Twitter Feed which gets up-to-date information regarding: BHASVICHE@Ed.Higher  University Open Days and other events  UCAS tips, advice and deadlines  BHASVIC support, internal deadlines and other information