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An introduction to Higher Education Choosing university courses and places.
Fred Binley, Schools & Colleges Liaison Officer
Pointless
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Pointless
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Bath
Birmingham
Cambridge
Essex
Loughborough
Manchester
Newcastle
….?
….?
….?
….?
….?
….?
….?
Can you rank the following 7 Universities as listed in the latest 2015 Complete University Guide league table?
Pointless
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Bath
Birmingham
Cambridge
Essex
Loughborough
Manchester
Newcastle
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17
1
39
13
28
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Can you rank the following 7 Universities as listed in the latest 2015 Complete University Guide league table?
What will University mean to you?
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opportunity for new
experiences
unlimited academic
possibilities
independence and freedom
An investment for the future
Cheap beer and good nights out
the most exciting time of
your life…?
A great graduate
job/career
University: home or away?
“Students who leave home get the best jobs”
“Students who stay at home choose from a limited selection then should select the course that best suits their interests, not the best locally available”
“Students who study away from home have better job prospects…graduates who attend a local university are less likely to move and find work”
“Graduates who migrate earn more than those employed in their home region”
What should I study to get a good job?
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Accounting & Finance
Chemistry
Geography
Music
which has the highest % of students entering employment on graduation?
What should I study to get a good job?
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Accounting = 80%
Chemistry =85%
Geography =79%
Music
=90%
which has the highest % of students entering employment on graduation?
Targeted by top employers
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What can I do with a degree in…
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Art:
Biochemistry:
Biology:
Geography:
History:
Law:
Languages:
Media Studies:
Philosophy:
television, arts admin, web page design, tourism
forensic science, management, IT, sales
environmental consultancy, finance, marketing
journalism, banking, accountancy, law, sales
law, finance, IT, management, computing
accountancy, banking, the media, industry, sales
law, tourism, civil service, diplomatic service
personnel, marketing, public relations
law, finance, local government
Do I need to choose a vocational subject?
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YES: for the professions: teaching, medicine, nursing, social work, engineering, occupational therapy… NO: It’s having a good degree, from a good university that gets you a good graduate career; not the subject you read. What most graduate employers…
usually ask for: rarely ask for:
good communication skills
aptitude/ a quick learner
accurate literacy/numeracy
confidence /dynamism
rational perspective/tenacity
a good class of degree/work experience
named degree subject
named university
specialist knowledge
ability to party all night
#greatontwitter
expert at taking selfies
Choosing a university: it’s complicated…
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575,898
450,000
60,000
250
applicants, chasing…
places, on over…
different degree courses at…
higher education institutions.
Making an educated choice
Doing the research and find the right university…
…offering you the right course
The good news is the UK is one of the best places to study in the world!
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The globalization of Higher Education
USA - 30
UK - 18
Australia - 7
Canada - 5
Switzerland - 4 Japan - 6
Hong Kong - 3
France - 2
Singapore - 2
Ireland - 1
South Korea - 2 Netherlands - 6
China - 3
Denmark - 2
New Zealand - 1
Belgium - 1
Sweden - 2
Taiwan - 1
Germany - 3
Source: QS World Rankings 2013-14 <http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings>
Finland - 1
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Global graduates
UK universities in the
World Top 100
QS World University Ranking 2013-14
Cambridge
UCL
Imperial
Oxford
Edinburgh
Manchester
Kings
Bristol
Warwick
LSE
Birmingham
St. Andrews Sheffield
Glasgow
York
Leeds
Nottingham
Durham
Not all universities are the same…
“So should I just apply to Russell Group Universities?”
The Russell Group represents 24 leading UK universities
Committed to maintaining the very best research, an offering outstanding teaching and learning experiences
Strong links with business and the public sector
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University Challenge
Which of the following Universities are not in the Russell Group?
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Which universities are not Russell Group?
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Birmingham Liverpool Bath Lancaster Birkbeck Royal Holloway
Cardiff Oxford Durham Queen Mary Exeter Southampton Glasgow St Andrew’s Goldsmith’s Sussex Imperial Warwick Leicester York
University Challenge
The results…
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Birmingham Liverpool Bath Lancaster Birkbeck Royal Holloway
Cardiff Oxford Durham Queen Mary Exeter Southampton Glasgow St Andrew’s Goldsmith’s Sussex Imperial Warwick Leicester York Does this mean then universities in red are no good!? If not Russell Group....which ‘group’ do they belong to?
Not all Universities are the same
Type 1: Research Intensive Universities
Academic, ‘traditional’ subjects, 21st century research, solving world problems, Russell Group and others
Type 2: Regional Universities
Vocationally focused, greater emphasis on teaching skills and sector focused, Millennium Plus Group and others
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Research intensive universities
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national reputation
international reputation
highly competitive
high grades
city based
campus based Research
Universities
What size of research university?
Campus based – (10 –to 15,000 students)
York, Durham, Oxford, Warwick, St Andrew’s...
City-based – (20 –to 40,000 students) :
Manchester, Southampton, Bristol, Newcastle
Leeds, Nottingham, Edinburgh...
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Regional Universities
Regional Universities
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often vocational
accessible
serve local community
teaching based
local employer
links
large range of courses Regional
Universities
The grades game…
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Selectors
Lots of applicants high entry grades
Medics / Vets/Nursing
Law /Psychology
Management / Business/ Economics
Oxbridge & Russell Group…
Recruiters
Fewer applicants lower entry grades
Lots of places to fill....
Environmental Chemistry/Biology
Statistics
Brewing and Distilling Studies
Play your university cards right…
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Let’s look at applications for some Russell Group Universities in 2013-14…
How many applications has each institution received?
How many places did each institution have?
What was the applicant to places ratio?
Play your university cards right…!
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Applications (2013-14) Places Ratio
Oxford Cambridge LSE Southampton York Edinburgh King’s College Warwick Durham Nottingham
18,143 3,281 5.5 15,831 3,401 4.7 16,221 1,416 11.5 34,437 4,499 7.7 23,570 3,749 6.3 46,875 5,474 8.6 33,660 4,331 7.8 28,485 3,828 7.4 26,200 4,026 6.5 52,271 7,160 7.3
Choosing a course Archaeology
Art
Biological Sciences
Biomedical Science
Chemistry
Computer Science
Criminology
Earth Science
Economics
Education
Electronics
Engineering
English
Environmental Science
Fashion & Textile Design
Fashion Management
Film
Geography
Graphics
Health Sciences
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Medicine
Midwifery
Modern Languages
Music
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Oceanography
Philosophy
Physics & Astronomy
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Politics & International Relations
Psychology
Sociology
Statistics
Web Science
Zoology
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Will you be qualified?
32 32
Section 1
personal details
chosen courses
Section 2
your qualifications
grades obtained – do you meet
the pre-requisites
predicted grades
Section 3
personal statement
Section 4
reference
It’s not just about the course…
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Facilities:
Social life:
Accommodation, library, computer labs, teaching rooms etc - 24 hour access?
Cafes, restaurants, bars, night-clubs, sports, societies, shops...
Will you find someone to love you?
Opportunity to study abroad: Europe? USA/Canada? Australia?
New Zealand? Far East? Work-placements? Sandwich year?
Other attractions:
Start researching
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UCAS website
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Which University?
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Which University
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What will I study?
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What about the modules?
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How do you apply?
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Universities & Colleges
Admissions Service
Get a signed up with UCAS Apply in school/college
UCAS deadline is January 15th 2016 (Oct 15 for Oxbridge)
Apply to up to FIVE Universities (4 for some courses)
Universities offer places on you obtaining specified entry requirements
UCAS Extra
Deferred Entry – GAP Years
UCAS Apply
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Student holds final 2 university offers as:
FIRM = 1st choice, or
INSURANCE = 2nd choice
An ideal timeline:
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Now
June
July
August
Visit a HE convention
investigate finance
Start to draw up a shortlist of courses and places you like
Visit universities
look at www.opendays.com
Decide on criteria for choosing
Start researching universities
An ideal timeline:
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October
Autumn
Easter
Summer
Attend open days/ interviews
Receive conditional offers
Decide your first and second choice university
A-level results
Celebrate and head off to Uni!
Complete your online UCAS
application
Come and visit US!
Undergraduate Open days
Friday 3rd / Saturday 4th July 2015
Saturday 5th/ Sunday 6th September 2015
