1. Higher Education Information 2017
Miss L Rogers – Director of Sixth Form
Mr I Britten – Assistant Director of Sixth Form

2. Higher education courses Making choices The UCAS form and Apply online
The system
Information and advice available
Finance

3. Higher education - the basics
Each student applies through UCAS via the electronic system (available at home)
Choose up to five different courses
These are usually similar subjects at 5 different universities
All students should have started their application before the summer and have already started visiting university open days

4. Higher Education Courses
Over 900 different subjects and 60,000 different degree, diploma or HE and HND courses available.
NO-ONE CAN DECIDE FOR YOU!!!
Single Subject
Combination
Equally Business and French
Subsidiary Business with French

5. Higher Education Courses
There are lots of different types of courses available, so think what would suit you best:
Sandwich Courses
Year in industry or abroad
Often in Languages, Engineering, Business
Course Duration
Most degree courses are three years
Sandwich courses are four years
Medicine is five years, six with a foundation year
Art usually requires a foundation year first
HNDs are two years

6. Higher Education Courses
The Institutions
Old Universities
Oxbridge
Russell Group
Campus universities
Specialist Colleges
New Universities
Former Polytechnics

7. Timeline 1st September Applications can be submitted to UCAS
 October 2nd School Deadline for Oxbridge, Veterinary, Medicine and Dentistry applications.
 15th October UCAS deadline for Oxbridge, Veterinary, Medicine and Dentistry Applications.
1st December School deadline for completing UCAS application
 15th January UCAS deadline, includes most Art courses but check individual establishments.
 Late February Applications for student finance go live online.
 March 2018 Those who do not hold offers can apply through EXTRA
 16th August A Level results. Clearing vacancies published
 Late September last date for clearing applications.

8. The Russell Group Typically ask for higher grades/points
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
Cardiff University
Durham University
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
Imperial College London
King's College London
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
London School of Economics
University of Manchester
Newcastle University
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
Queen Mary University of London
Queen's University Belfast
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University College London
University of Warwick
University of York
Typically ask for higher grades/points

9. Making Choices Think why you want to go to university :
To study a favourite subject(s)
University sounds interesting
You want a career that requires a degree
You hope to earn more money in the future
To gain life experiences
Cannot decide what job to do at the moment

10. Variety of Course Titles
Making Choices
What do you want to study?
Single Subject
Combined Subjects
Variety of Course Titles

11. Making Choices Where would you like to be for the next 3+ years?
Far from home (avoid parents)
Near to home (get washing and ironing done by mum/dad)
Campus or town or city?
Accommodation? Quality of Course?
Reputation? Likely wages after qualification.
Student Life?

12. Making Choices How about taking a gap year? After Year 13
Apply for deferred entry
Or wait until 2019/2020?
Voluntary Work
Go Abroad
Gain life experience
Earn money to finance studies

13. Here are a few you might (and might not!) consider:
University Rankings
There are lots of different ways of comparing universities. All of these comparisons are on the internet.
Here are a few you might (and might not!) consider:

14. University Rankings Top Ten 2018 Top Five in South West Cambridge
Oxford
St Andrews
London School of Economics
Imperial College London
Durham
University College London
Warwick
Lancaster
Loughborough
Top Five in South West
Bath
Exeter
Bristol
Bournemouth
University of the West of England (UWE) (

15. Best Universities for subjects 2018
University Rankings
Best Universities for subjects 2018
Drama
Lancaster
English
Durham
Food Science
Surrey
Marketing
Bath
Maths
Cambridge
Nursing
Glasgow
Social work
Nottingham
Psychology
Oxford
Law
Education

16. Top 5 universities for student satisfaction 2018
University Rankings
Top 5 universities for student satisfaction 2018
1. University of Buckingham
2. Liverpool Hope
3. St Andrews
4. Keele
5. Coventry

17. Competitiveness Law Medicine Westminster 29 Warwick 20 Durham 8
Bristol 5
Manchester Met 21
Leeds 15
Birmingham 6
Newcastle 7
Cardiff
Southampton 7
London (King’s) 12
Sheffield 9
Cardiff 9
Nottingham 8
Bristol
Cambridge 9
Leicester 12
Oxford 9
Newcastle 16
Liverpool 8

18. The UCAS online application system and form completion.
Apply
The UCAS online application system and form completion.

19. It’s a big decision… we aim to make sure they make the right choice!

20. Process Student makes choices - informs tutor
Completes form with help from tutor, Sixth form Team.
Final version is checked by Director of Sixth Form.
School adds reference written by tutor and Director of Sixth Form.
Input from subject teachers
Predicted Grades included
Student pays by credit/debit card.

21. Every applicant has five sections to complete: Personal details
Every applicant has five sections to complete:
Personal details
Choices
Education
Employment
Personal Statement
A member of staff at school, usually their tutor, will then complete a reference.
Fees £24.00 for up to 5 applications, £13.00 for an application to a single institute

22. Admissions Tutors look for:-
GCSE results
Other academic and vocational attainment
Predicted grades
Personal statement
Reference
Admissions tests
Piece of written work
Portfolio
Interview
Audition
* Admission tutors do not know which other universities an applicant has applied to.

23. Personal Statement
“The Personal Statement is a students’ chance to sell and differentiate themselves…to influence the Admission Tutors and explain their motivations”
“Personal statements are like a
paper based Interview”
The same principles apply…
First impressions count!
Appearance & presentation is important
Keep to the point
Impress the interviewer

24. The UCAS System

25. The Exciting Bit Some courses will interview
Oxbridge, medicine, education, law, London universities, popular courses, teaching, veterinary, dentistry, physiotherapy
Many will not.
Offers and Rejections will be sent
Informally from the University
Via “Track” online

26. The Exciting Bit
Most offers will be conditional, very occasionally they will be unconditional.
If you get two or more offers :
you can keep only two - one firm and one insurance
If you get five rejections :
You can then apply to “UCAS Extra”

28. Conditions The Offer UCAS tariff points: A level
A* = 56 points A=48 B=40 C=32 D=24 E=16
UCAS tariff points AS level
A = 20 B=16 C=12 D=10 E=6
Many universities still using grades e.g. A B B
There may be an additional requirement in addition to the points e.g. “And a B in mathematics”

29. Conditions The Offer Points are better!
e.g. University 1 offers 120 points
University 2 offers ABC
(apparently the same?!)
BBB would be good enough for the first university, but not the second.

30. Grades are not necessarily a measure of quality
Conditions
Typical Offers
HEALTH WARNING!
Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Physiotherapy A*A*A - AAB
Traditional Universities, Popular Courses AAB - BCC
Popular Courses at newer universities or less popular courses at traditional universities BCC - CCD
Less Popular Courses EE and above
Grades are not necessarily a measure of quality

31. Conditions
The Offer
The insurance offer should be 2 grades below the firm offer
e.g. Firm: BBC Insurance: BCD
Parents – otherwise you are the ones who will have to pick up the pieces on results day!

32. Admissions Tests
Students applying for some courses are required to sit an admissions test as part of the application process.
BMAT (Biomedical Admissions test) for entry to Medical and Veterinary Schools (
UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) for medical and dental degree courses (
HAT (History Aptitude Test) Oxford University
LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) (
ELAT (English Literature Admissions Test) Oxford University
IOT (Institutions own tests)

33. What’s next?

34. What next? Acknowledgement Letter List of choices
Password and details of ‘Track’
An admissions tutor may make one of three decisions:
Unconditional offer (U)
Conditional offer (C)
Unsuccessful (R) or
A place on a different course
Deferred entry
A maximum of two offers may be held after final decision has been
received
Choice of three reply options:
Firm acceptance -
Insurance acceptance
Decline
Final Decision Letter

35. UCAS Extra ‘Second bite of the Cherry’
Extra operates from late Feb, to early July. Courses which have vacancies in Extra are listed during this period at
Eligible Applicants:
No offers made
All offers declined
Student Driven:
Available courses listed
Self-referral
Application sent to relevant University

36. Results Day 16th August 2018 Things go well… Absolute commitment
Universities must confirm offers
Students can change their mind but will then have to go through clearing and start the process again in terms of applying for accommodation etc.
Things don’t go so well…
CF may still confirm the offer
Insurance offer
Clearing

37. The Adjustment Process
If results are better than the conditions of their firm choice
5 Day Adjustment Period
Look at available courses and contact University
Receive new offer or stick with firm choice

38. Clearing Matches available applicants to vacancies
Students will need to find a course & University using the UCAS website and /or The Independent
Contact the University
Send the University the Clearing Entry Form (CEF)
University makes the offer

39. Miss Rogers & Mr Britten
Advice
Tutors
Subject Teachers
Mrs Lawrance
Miss Rogers & Mr Britten

40. Any questions on the UCAS System?

41. Finance