Parents’ evening presentation Help your son or daughter through the UCAS process
Content of this session The applicant journey and how you can help Part one • Researching HE Part two • UCAS application At the heart of connecting people to higher education 2 11/05/2015
Why higher education? • Increase potential earnings* • Better career prospects • Benefit the wider community • Social and cultural reasons • More independence, self-confidence and responsibility • Personal challenge • Broadens interests and knowledge • It can be immense fun! *Source: The Guardian, How much is your qualification worth?, 2011 At the heart of connecting people to higher education 3 11/05/2015
The UCAS journey 4 11/05/2015
Research – it’s free and important to do Start at www.ucas.com Research – career options, universities, courses and minimum entry requirements. Attend a UCAS event – even if your son or daughter doesn’t know what they want to do, speaking to those in the know will help. Learn from others – student videos are available to watch at UCAS.tv. Find us on: At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11/05/2015 5 5 11/05/2015
Unsure of what to study? • Centigrade is an interest-based questionnaire £20-£30 • It matches a student's interests and abilities with HE courses and institutions in the UK, Ireland and those in Europe offering undergraduate degrees taught in Centigrade online English. • Free 5 minute self assessment questionnaire • Interactive questions to get some direction on what you may be most suited to when it comes Spartan test to higher education and future careers At the heart of connecting people to higher education 6 11/05/2015
Entry requirements • The level of academic ability expected by the course provider • Can be specific grades or UCAS points and some courses may also specify GCSEs UCAS Tariff • Converts qualifications to points • Not all qualifications are included At the heart of connecting people to higher education 7 11/05/2015
UCAS Tariff A Levels BTEC Qualifications (QCF) Tariff Grade Grade Tariff points points GCE & A level with GCE A GCE AS AVCE GCE AS & Extended 90 credit Subsidiary additional AS level and Double Diploma Certificate Double AS VCE Diploma Diploma Diploma (9 units) AVCE Award Award A*A* 280 D*D*D* 420 A*A 260 D*D*D 400 AA 240 D*DD 380 AB 220 DDD 360 BB A*A 200 DDM 320 BC AA 180 DMM D*D* 280 AB 170 D*D 260 CC 160 MMM DD 240 BB 150 D*D* 210 CD BC A* 140 MMP DM D*D 200 DD CC A AA 120 DD 180 CD AB 110 MPP MM DM 160 DE B BB 100 D* 140 DD BC 90 PPP MP MM D 120 EE DE C CC 80 MP 100 CD 70 PP M 80 EE D DD A 60 D* 70 DE B 50 PP D 60 E EE C 40 P M 40 D 30 P 20 At the heart of connecting people to higher education 8 11/05/2015
Additional requirements Admissions tests • Medical BMAT, UKCAT, GAMSAT, HPAT • Law LNAT (Cambridge law test) • Maths MAT, STEP • Oxford LNAT, BMAT, ELAT, TSA, CAT, HAT, MAT, MLAT, OLAT, PAT • Cambridge LNAT, BMAT, TSA, STEP Interviews & auditions • Check university websites for specific subject requirements • You may be asked to attend an interview or audition or provide a portfolio At the heart of connecting people to higher education 9 11/05/2015
How to choose and search for courses Types of study UCAS course search Degree usually 3 or 4 year course Other options: Certificate of HE (CertHE) Diploma of HE (DipHE) Higher National Diploma (HND) Foundation degree Foundation year At the heart of connecting people to higher education 10 11/05/2015
Other things to consider • Course content – modules/assessment methods • Providers – facilities/sports/societies Living away from home... • Location – home or away/city or rural • Accommodation – uni halls or private residences? At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11 11/05/2015
Use statistics to help you decide • www.unistats.com subject and course provider reviews • League tables Ask Universities The Guardian about graduate employment... The Complete University Guide What are their students now The Times doing? At the heart of connecting people to higher education 12 11/05/2015
How can you support the research process? • Sign up to the monthly UCAS Parents Newsletter. • Read through the 2016 UCAS Parent Guide Visit • Offer to attend open days with them, www.ucas.com/parents you may have a different perspective. • Financial assistance – with railway tickets. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13 11/05/2015
Activities in preparation for HE Attend open days • Get a feel for the place • Insights from staff and students • www.opendays.com Work experience • Great for your UCAS personal statement and CV and may be a requirement of the course you are applying for e.g. medicine, nursing, social work, teaching Competitions • Science, technology, engineering and maths activities – Crest awards At the heart of connecting people to higher education 14 11/05/2015
Workshops, discussions and Summer schools and workshops presentations. Variety of subjects Including…… Programme of summer schools at Oxford University (variety of Law, finance, IT or media subjects) Subjects including politics, Advice on university history, economics, applications, school creative writing, maths leaver programmes and careers Science, technology, Workshop conferences engineering or maths including physiotherapy, medicine, forensics, law, psychology, nursing At the heart of connecting people to higher education 15 11/05/2015
Key dates and deadlines Mid-June Applicants can register and start to complete their application. Mid-September Schools can start to submit completed applications to UCAS. 15 October Medicine, dentistry, veterinary sci/med and Oxford or Cambridge. 15 January Application deadline for most courses. 24 March Many art & design courses (check each course for deadline). 30 June Applications after this date held for Clearing. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 16 11/05/2015
Key features of the UCAS scheme • Your son or daughter can make up to five choices in one application. • The 2015 applicant fee is: • £12 for one choice • £23 for up to five choices. In 2014... UCAS received 699,685 • Applications received by the key applications deadlines are given equal consideration. 512,370 were accepted • ‘Invisibility’ – universities cannot see where else students have applied. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 17 11/05/2015
Any questions so far? At the heart of connecting people to higher education 18 11/05/2015
The UCAS application At the heart of connecting people to higher education 19 11/05/2015
Making the application Apply is the UCAS online application system. Every applicant has six sections to complete: • Personal details • Student finance (UK and EU only) Once a student submits their • Choices application, the reference is added and it is sent to UCAS • Education who passes it on to the university • Employment • Personal statement. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 20 11/05/2015
Personal statement – start early Personal statements are so important, make sure your son or daughter includes: • academic achievements, past and present • interests in the chosen subject area • knowledge of the subject and enthusiasm to go beyond the syllabus • what they enjoy about studying Personal statements should • details of their independent study skills. stand out – tutors receive 200 per week! The questions universities and colleges will ask: • have they chosen the right subject for the right reasons? • do they have a range of interests? • does the personal statement confirm their interest in the subject? • have they studied independently? • are they motivated and committed? • do they possess good numeracy and literacy skills? At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Decision-making by institutions Universities and colleges will review: • Personal statement • Reference • Qualifications • Admissions test results • Interviews • Portfolios • Institutions may also offer a Auditions. place on an alternative An admissions tutor may make one of three decisions: course • Unconditional offer • Conditional offer • Unsuccessful. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 22 11/05/2015
Tracking applications Track will allow your son or daughter to: • follow the progress of their application 24/7 • Track is our online see their choices and personal system that allows information students to follow the progress of • their application display their offers • reply to offers online. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 23 11/05/2015
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