APPLYING TO HIGHER EDUCATION

16th SEPTEMBER 2013

Demand for University Places

• 2013 entry:• Nationally applicants up by 3.5%• NI applicants up by 7.1%• QUB applicants up by 2.9% or 28%

including Nursing and Midwifery.

Changes in A level Grades

• 2.6% drop in number of A* & A grades awarded in 2013.

• Removal of January AS and A level exam sitting by English exam boards for 2013-14.

Demand for University Places

• Competition for places intense.• Heavy cuts to public funding means strict

controls on number of new students an institution can recruit.

• If this number is exceeded, severe penalties are applied to the institution.

Demand for university places

• Despite the high level of overall demand, there are places available on many courses in Clearing, though few in QUB or UU or on high demand courses.

• All applicants are advised to think hard about the course and institution which best suits them.

• Choose both firm and insurance offers carefully.

Student Number Controls

• Separate quotas for:• Home and EU students• Rest of GB students• International Students

Student Number Controls

• Applicants with ABB+ grades at English Universities won’t count towards an institution’s student number population.

• Universities can expand their number of places for ABB+. May choose not to.

• Doesn’t mean an automatic place for those with ABB+

• Some extra places in August.• Still very competitive.• Govt. cap on places with >ABB.

2010-11 Admissions Statistics, Edinburgh University

College Applications

Offers Accepts Offer Chances

Hum & Soc Sci

29,813 6,748 2,204 22.6%

Med & Vet

4,459 901 458 20.2%

Sci & Eng 12,817 5,188 1,140 40.5%

University 47,089 12,837 3,802 27.3%

Use of the A* Grade

• Competitive university courses often ask for grades rather than tariff points.

• Increasing use of A* in offers.• Oxbridge offers: AAA – A*A*A• Other universities include Durham, Exeter,

Birmingham, London (King’s, Imperial), LSE, Oxford, Bristol, Bath, QUB.

• Note that entry grades can change during application cycle – just a guide. UU range.

The UCAS TariffA level grade Tariff Points (AS)

A* 140

A 120 (60)

B 100 (50)

C 80 (40)

D 60 (30)

E 40 (20)

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

• Ist Oct : CUKAS• 15th October: UCAS deadline for receipt of

applications for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Oxford and Cambridge.

• 27th September: school deadline.• 15th January : UCAS deadline for all other

courses ( 24TH March )• 8th November : school deadline : why?• 26th Sept; 17th Oct: personal statements.• 14th Nov: mock interviews. Apply by 10th Oct.

APPLICATIONS TIMETABLE

• Direct applications include:• Some colleges of Art and Design.• Education at St. Mary’s University College,

Belfast.• Higher Education courses at Belfast

Metropolitan College and other F.E. colleges. Social Work at BMC: apply through UCAS.

Applications to ROI

• www.cao.ie• Up to 10 course choices.• No personal statement, predicted grades

or school reference.• Selection based on A-level results.• Apply by 1st February (40 Euro).• 2550 Euro registration fee.• Often need 4 A levels.

CAO Tariff Points

Grade A level AS level

A* 150 -

A 135 65

B 120 60

C 100 50

D 75 35

E 40 20

Universities outside B. Isles

• Netherlands :• Apply by July• Application form; motivation letter; reference.• Website: www.studielink.nl • Lower tuition fees £1535/yr • £588 ave. living costs. (rent approx £320)• USA• High tuition fees• Scholarships – academic; sporting; Fulbright• Direct application• www.fulbright.org.uk

UCAS Applications

• Apply online (£23 or £12)• Available from 1st September.• Up to 5 course choices • Only 4 medicine/dentistry/veterinary courses• Either Oxford or Cambridge• Change or withdraw application within 7 days.• Hardest section is personal statement:• Help available from careers staff: parental help vital too.• Especially important for high demand courses, but use

varies among institutions.

Course Choices

• Up to 5 courses (add courses up to 30th June if <5)

• Alphabetical order• Each university only sees its own courses• Keep 2 offers : Conditional firm (first

choice) and conditional insurance : lower grades/points ( second choice).

• Choose these carefully, esp CI – little room for manoeuvre in August.

Confirmation, Clearing and Adjustment in August.

• If meet conditions of CF university will accept you.• If meet CI but not CF, will be offered CI• If meet neither : choose a course in clearing• UCAS Extra : early clearing (25th Feb – end of June).• May be accepted with reduced offers.• May or may not accept equivalent, eg. AAC instead of

ABB.• May offer a change of course.• Often have to wait for news.• Be prepared : read info sent by UCAS and HEIs• Very few courses in QUB or UU in Clearing in 2013.

Personal Statement

• 47 lines (350-550 words).• Basically 3 broad sections.• 1. Academic section – the main one.• Those aspects of their A-level subjects

which they have enjoyed and have influenced their choice of H.E. course.

• Why they want to study their chosen courses – show evidence of careful research.

Personal Statement (2)

• 2. Extra-curricular activities• Inside and outside school.• Not a list.• Analyse how these have helped them to

develop as a person.• What skills and qualities have they

acquired through participation in these activities.

Personal Statement (3)

• 3. Work experience & career plans• Work placements relevant to their courses.• Part-time jobs.• Future career plans, if known.• Analyse what skills and qualities they have

gained from these experiences.• Analyse all experiences and relate,

where appropriate, to chosen courses.

High Demand Courses

• Subjects vary among universities, but can include:• Medicine/Dentistry/Vet. Science• Allied Health Professions• Nursing/Midwifery• Law• Teaching• English/History/Economics/International Relations• Business Management/Accounting• Sports Science/Studies• Pharmacy; • STEM subjects.

How do universities deal with the competition for places?

• Raise entry requirements.• Ask for grades instead of UCAS Tariff points.• Impose a minimum standard of achievement at

GCSE.• Admissions tests.• Unit grades.• Compulsory interview/multi mini interviews• Consider non-academic criteria.• See ‘entry profiles’ on www.ucas.com

Personal Statement

• Interest and commitment to subject.• Commitment to career in profession.• Relevant work experience.• Positions of responsibility.• Skills gained from these experiences.• Ability to think independently.• Personal statements may be ‘scored’ by

admissions tutors, but are used differently by different universities – check.

Personal Statements : UU

• Faculty of Arts: must be well written with correct punctuation, grammar and spelling.

• No more than 2 areas of interest – for medium demand courses.

• Total commitment to: 2 sports degree courses, social work and nursing.

• Recommend this for health-related and popular vocational courses too.

• State if only applying to NI Institutions.

Personal Statements: QUB

• Must focus only on one degree subject: medicine, dentistry, nursing & midwifery, education.

• Otherwise can mention 2 alternatives• QUB doesn’t score personal statement or

focus on it as much as other universities.• Important in borderline decisions in

August.

How can applicants improve their chances?

• Do their research – know what the universities applied for require.

• Academic entry requirements – including GCSEs – do they have them or are they predicted to achieve them?

• Fulfilling any other requirements, eg. Work experience – see entry profiles and prospectuses.

• Do they have a life outside their studies?

How can applicants improve their chances? (2)

• Make the most of the application form.• Be focused and relevant.• Make sure to include all the necessary

information.• Communicate enthusiasm for and

understanding of the subject applied for.• Ensure that grammar and spelling are

correct.

Sources of Guidance and Information - Events

• 11th September : UU Open Day.• 13th September : QUB Open Day.• 12-13th September : Higher Education

Convention, Methodist College, Belfast.• 29th August: Pre-UCAS Day (BHS)• 30th August : Assessment Day (BHS).• Open days at other H.E. institutions.• 14th November : Mock interviews.

Events (2)

• PWC Insight Days: www.pwc.co.uk/careers • 7th Oct: QUB Management School Parents

Evening 5.30-8.00pm • 17th Oct: Humanities & Social Science – A Route

to Employment 7-9pm• 23rd Oct: UU Allied Health Professions• 4th Nov: QUB Engineering Parents Info Evening

Sources of Guidance and Information - school

• Thursday afternoon careers classes:• UCAS; interview skills; student finance &

budgeting; student life; careers; high profile speakers.

• UCAS supervisor.• DEL Careers Advisers.• UCAS guidance booklets.

Sources of Information and Guidance – useful websites

• www.ucas.com – parents zone.• Intranet – for pupils - careers• www.tqi.ac.uk – to compare university ratings across a number of

indicators.• www.push.co.uk• www.prospects.ac.uk – graduate careers• www.careers-portal.co.uk• www.gap.org.uk• www.unistats.co.uk - KEY INFORMATION STATISTICS• www.yougofurther.co.uk - student-only community website

supported by UCAS. Tailored info; online chat.• QUB student portal• UU “Going to University: A Guide for Families”

Sources of Guidance and Information - books

• Degree Course Offers (Brian Heap)• The Times Good University Guide - also at

www.timesonline.co.uk• The Guardian University Guide : see

www.education.guardian.co.uk• The Virgin Alternative Guide to British

Universities.• University Interviews Guide.• UCAS parents guide.• See ‘Prospects’ handout.

Career Pathways

• Which degree?• QUB Survey of Employers:• 41% : no subject preference• 41% : STEM• 14%: Business

Growth Areas in NI

• Advanced materials & Engineering*• Finance & Business Services (IT etc)• Life and Health Sciences• Creative Industries• Agri-Food• *aerospace, electrical, electronics,

automotive, renewables.

STEM

• Need for more STEM graduates in short & medium term.

• 40,000 shortfall in UK/year• Aim of NISP:• 2030: NI: one of world’s foremost

knowledge & entrepreneurial economies in world.

• Needs x2 STEM graduates• 17th Sept : Belfast Telegraph

QUB Open Day 2013

• 2013 ENTRY:• Applications to QUB up by 4%• Applications nationally down by 7%• Good quality applicants• Higher entry grades.

Nursing & Midwifery

• First time in UCAS.• 2636 applications for 401 nursing places• 879 applications for 35 midwifery places• Shortlisting for interview• Rigorous interview• Preparation : BHS;

www.3fivetwotraining.com

Increases in Applications

• Highest increases:• Computer Science (+46.3%)• Chemical Engineering ( +30.6%)• Actuarial Studies (+28.7%)• Spanish & Portuguese (+22.7%)• Finance (+18.7%)• Dentistry (+17.3%)• Agri-Food & Land Use (16.5%)• Economics (+14.8%)

Precise Grades Only

• Chemical Engineering (MEng)• Medicine*• Biomedical Sciences• Midwifery• Actuarial and Risk Management• *37 points GCSE/UKCAT threshold• 592 interviewed• 375 offers made• 8 taken from reserve list in August (33 in 2012)

Averaged Out Above Target

• Finance• Nursing

Averaged Out

• Film Studies• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering• Biomedical Sciences• More places granted in latter tw0

Drop of <1 A level Grade

• Business Information Technology• Electrical & Electronic Engineering• Chemistry• Agri-Food and Land Use• Biological Sciences• PPE• Economics ( 50-63 places)• Modern Languages• Music• Relevant subjects crucial.• Very good intakes

Drop of 1 A level Grade

• BA degrees ( except for Mod. Languages & Film Studies)• Computer Science – if Maths or Computing offered - 60 more places • Architecture• Civil Engineering• Maths (need A in Maths)• Physics (need BB in Maths & Physics)• Geography, Archaeology & Palaeoecology• Psychology• Pharmacy• Music Technology• Dentistry, but only with A in Chemistry/ A*• Social Work (1 – vg interview)• Business Management• Theology

Drop of >1 A level grade

• Environmental Planning• Law• Accountancy

Summary

• In all cases, performance in relevant subjects is vital

• Numbers getting in below & on minimum entry grades are very small

• Granting of extra places allowed these grade drops

• 4th AS level very important in borderline decisions in August.

• Changed course offers.

Changes for 2014 Entry

• Accounting AAB from AAA• Business Management ABB from AAB• International Business with a language

ABB from AAB• Law AAB from AAA.

2014 Changes (2)

• New Courses:• Software Engineering• Maths & Finance• Physics & Finance• Food Science & Security• MPlan in European Planning

Applied A levels

• Equal consideration to general A levels eg. Law or Accountancy: accept 3 Applied A Levels

• Some exceptions where specific subject requirements, eg Computer Science : ICT not Applied ICT accepted.

• 3 courses limit of 1 Applied A level: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy.

UU 2012 Entry

• Strongly competitive environment• Constrained by cap on full-time student

nos.• Less flexibility in August as more students

staying in NI• Using more grade offers• Use of grade range offers• Use of gathered fields

UU (2)

• Less than 100 places in Clearing• In 4 main areas:• Built Environment• Applied Modern Languages at UUC• Computing & Engineering at Magee• Performing Arts at Magee.• Priority given to applicants over outsiders

in Clearing.

UU Admissions Criteria

• Predicted grades, but actual achievements more important

• Subject requirements ( read small print)• School reference• Personal Statement ( more important now)• Interview• Portfolio• Hpat Ulster - preparation course now available:• www.careerservices.ie/

UU Part-Time Study

• Increasing interest in part-time study as a genuine alternative to full-time.

• Flexibility – life/study balance• Costs – significantly cheaper• Competition for full-time places• Increasing range of degrees available• Application direct to Ulster• No cap on numbers.

Flexible and Part-time Study

• Link from home page : www.ucas.com• Open University: www.open.ac.uk/NI

Alternatives to University

• Level 4 Apprenticeships• ICT apprenticeship programme• School leaver programmes eg. Big 4

accountancy firms; M&S; Santander; Tesco; Asda;

• Armed Forces• Foundation degrees, HNDs ( fees)• Employment.

Conclusion

• Majority of pupils in Ballyclare High School work very hard to achieve best possible GCSE, AS- and A-level results.

• Equally important to put similar effort into Higher Education course research, in order to realise full potential and make best use of achievements.

• Onus is on students to undertake research, but as much advice and guidance as they need are available in the school careers department.