1. HIGHER EDUCATION INFORMATION EVENING Year 14 Parents 14 th September 2015

2. Mums!

3. Programme The UCAS Application Process & the Personal Statement : Sharon Roden, LJMU School arrangements & Student Finance : Mrs J. Richardson BHS

4. Key Dates UCAS process in school : 24 th September : 1 st draft of personal statement 15 th October : 2 nd draft of personal statement 3 rd November : school’s UCAS deadline 8 th October : Application for mock interviews 12 th November : mock interviews - evening

5. Forthcoming Events QUB School of Management Parents’ and Guardians’ Evening : 30 th Sept 6.30pm UU Health Professions 14 th October ?? Check Similar events – info on school website &/or registration announcements to pupils.

6. A level Arrangements No January AS level re-sits. All AS level re-sits in May/June. No A2 modular exams in January. All A2 modular exams in May/June. Internal mock A2 exams in January.

7. Direct Application Several Art Colleges in GB. St. Mary’s University College, Belfast. Higher Education courses at F.E. Colleges, eg BMC and NRC (Social Work at BMC is through UCAS)

8. Applying to the ROI www.cao.ie Apply by 1 st Feb. 25/40 Euro Video explaining how offers are made – www.cao.iewww.cao.ie Tariff points raised 180 for A*, 150 for A

9. Trinity College, Dublin Relaxation of tariff points for entry from A levels. Small number of places open to those offering 3 A levels. Minimum of ABB needed. TCD aims to double NI intake to 300 students per year

10. Personal Statements for Competitive Courses Dedicate personal statement to this course. Examples :- QUB : medicine, dentistry, midwifery, nursing, education. UU : sports science, nursing, social work – recommend also for allied health professions.

11. QUB & UU: Impact of Budget Cuts Ulster University 1250 places cut over 3 years. 210 staff cut this year. Course consolidations: Psychology only at Coleraine Sociology only at Jordanstown Computing only at Jordanstown and Magee

12. Course Closures at UU Mathematics at Jordanstown Interior Design in Belfast Design at Magee Financial Engineering at Coleraine Marine Science at Coleraine Finance & Investment Analysis at Coleraine Business Management at Coleraine Banking & Finance at Coleraine Modern Languages at Coleraine.

13. QUB 290 fewer places last year. Not accepted if drop by > 1 A level grade below entry requirements. Performance in relevant subjects –very important 4th AS level – very important Must apply to QUB for medicine first time round to be considered in future. Intro of MMIs for nursing and midwifery this year.

14. Comparing Universities Key Information Sets www.unistats.com League tables : - UK : - Times Good University Guide Guardian University Guide Complete University Guide Subject tables University Rankings World Times Higher; QS World Rankings

15. Useful Websites www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ - graduate careers www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ www.prospects.ac.uk - graduate careers www.prospects.ac.uk www.highfliers.co.uk – graduate careers; top 100 companies www.highfliers.co.uk www.ucas.com – parents zone. www.ucas.com www.tqi.ac.uk – to compare university ratings across a number of indicators. www.tqi.ac.uk www.push.co.uk www.gap.org.uk www.university.which.co.uk/ compare % offers made www.university.which.co.uk/ www.yougofurther.co.uk - student-only community website supported by UCAS. Tailored info; online chat. www.yougofurther.co.uk

16. Other Sources of Info QUB student portal UU “Going to University: A Guide for Families” Higher Ideas – pupils have code – BHS licence :- Options with your A level subjects BHS Intranet Books – Brian Heap; course specific books.

17. Graduate Labour Market Information : 2015 Approx 400,000 UK graduates <200,000 graduate level job vacancies 58.8% employed in non-graduate jobs Entry qualifications to Higher level apprenticeships lowered, eg by PWC – skills valued.

18. Emerging Sectors in NI Graduate Labour Market Business Services ( incl. ICT) Financial Services Retail Food & Drink/Agri-Food Advanced Engineering Advanced Manufacturing & Materials Renewables Health & Life Sciences Creative & Digital Media

19. Graduate Recruitment The UK’s leading employers expect to recruit significantly more graduates in 2015. They are offering 7.9% more entry-level vacancies than last year – the biggest annual rise in graduate recruitment for four years. This takes graduate recruitment beyond the pre-recession peak in 2007.

20. Graduate Recruitment The biggest growth in vacancies is expected at public sector employers, accounting& professional services firms, banking & finance employers, retailers and the Armed Forces which together intend to recruit almost 1,200 extra graduates in 2015. Recruiters have confirmed that 31% of this year’s entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations – either through paid internships, industrial placements or vacation work.