WHY GO ON TO HIGHER EDUCATION?
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HIGHER EDUCATION?
· Subjects of interest can be studied in great depth. Teaching should be available from experts in those subjects, actively engaged in researching them further.
· Higher education offers opportunities to enjoy many new experiences, both academic and social, with the chance to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds.
· Some careers need a degree for example, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Clinical Psychology. Without a degree you cannot enter this profession.
· Graduates usually have a much wider range of career choices
· Higher education offers an opportunity to leave home with accommodation and the company of other young people readily available. Although, for those who prefer to stay put, there are many higher education institutions within daily travelling distance.
· If you go to University in UK you are able to get a loan which you pay back after you start to earn £21.000.
· Research suggests that graduates have greater career opportunities than non-graduates, which could mean some or all of the following: - better promotion prospects, higher levels of job satisfaction, higher earnings, although of course none of this can be guaranteed. A report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies found that female graduates earned 50% more than their less qualified counterparts, despite similar backgrounds.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF HIGHER EDUCATION?
· You are likely to have debts, i.e. a “student loan”, which will have to be repaid in the future.
· You may not necessarily find a well-paid job immediately after graduation.
· You may find it difficult initially to settle down at University because there are so many new things happening all at once - and in a strange environment.
· You may miss the emotional support of home and family (especially if you move away from home to go to university.
· You may lose touch with some of your old friends.
TO SUM UP: choose your course and institution wisely and higher education can be an investment for your career, much hard work, but a great experience.
WHERE CAN I STUDY?
There are approximately 200 educational institutions offering higher education courses in Britain. Of these, 90 or so are called universities, whilst others are described as colleges of higher education, or are specialised colleges such as those catering for Art and Design or Agricultural students.
THROUGHOUT THIS GUIDE THE WORD UNIVERSITY IS USED TO MEAN ANY INSTITUTION IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR.
WHAT CAN I STUDY?
With 40,000 plus courses to choose from, there should be something of interest. You may choose a subject because of a strong academic or personal interest. Quite possibly you may start by looking at those subjects which follow on from your A Levels. Often students choose courses because they lead directly (Nursing, Dentistry, Teaching etc) or indirectly (Law) to a career.
Some courses will require you to have studied a subject before, but others do not. A few courses cater for students who made the ‘wrong’ choices at advanced level, so it is possible for a non-scientist to become an engineer or even a medical doctor.
COURSES CAN BE:
· Specifically vocational - some careers can only be entered through a vocational course. These include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering and other occupations mainly in the medical/scientific/technological fields.
· Generally vocational - e.g. a Business Studies degree could lead to many occupations within the wide business area, so a student need not be totally committed to one career at the outset of the course.
· Non- vocational - e.g. an English Literature degree could give career advantages in some vocational areas, e.g. publishing, but would also be acceptable for many careers which do not specify a degree subject. However, such graduates may have to undertake some form of post-graduate training.
· Combined courses - allow students to take various combinations of two or more subjects, often described as joint honours, combined honours. Some course are a larger amount of the first subject and a smaller amount of the second subject.
· It is worth remembering that approximately 40% plus of jobs advertised for graduates do not specify the degree subject but ask for a “good” degree i.e. a first or upper second.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS CAN I GET?
FIRST DEGREES - The majority of students study for these.
Minimum qualifications are usually 5 GCSE’s at grade C and above, plus 2 A levels or vocational qualifications. Many universities have higher entry for courses.
English and Welsh universities usually describe their degree courses as Bachelor degrees, e.g. Bachelor of Science, but there are exceptions, e.g. LLB for Law degrees and a few are described as Masters degrees, e.g. MMaths, although they are undergraduate qualifications.
· BA, BSc, BEng. LLB –Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Law
· A standard first degree lasts for three years, but can be longer in certain cases.
· Modern Language degrees usually involve an additional year studying abroad.
· Sandwich degrees are found mainly on vocational courses. They involve either a one-year work placement -a thick sandwich, or several shorter placements - a thin sandwich. Placements are usually paid job positions.
· Some large employers are sponsoring for degrees and paying the fees for university- for e.g. KPMG, PWC have links for accountancy with top universities.
· Courses which confer professional qualifications, e.g. Medicine, Veterinary Science and Architecture, last at least five years.
· Teaching degrees can be either three or four years.
Most degrees offer ‘honours’ status, but there are a few courses which offer ‘ordinary’ degrees, usually with opportunities available to convert them to ‘honours’ status, by undertaking supplementary work or courses.
At the end of the course, students can expect to come out with either a first, upper second (2:1), lower second (2:2), or third class of degree. Some lower achieving students can get a ‘pass’ degree without honours whilst on an honours programme.
Higher National Diplomas HNDs/Foundation Degrees
Minimum qualifications - one A Level
These last 2 years and can be topped up to a full honours degree by doing an extra period of study. They normally have lower entry grades than honour degrees.
HND stands for Higher National Diploma. .They involve less theoretical study than degrees, but can usually give credit towards a degree if the student is prepared to study further.
A standard HND will last for two years, but longer if sandwich placements are involved.
Foundation Degree
These are for people who do not have the requirements to enter a three year degree course and for those who need to work on specific skills to bring people up to the required level.
These are offered by universities often in partnership with higher education colleges and further education colleges. Universities and colleges set their own entry requirements. Check with the institution concerned as some courses may have specific requirements.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A COURSE?
There are many factors to consider when choosing your higher education course.
FIRST YOU NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE.......
The UCAS website www.ucas.co.uk/www.ucas.ac.uk/www.ucas.com lists all the courses and universities that offer these.
KUDOS and Fast Tomato - questionnaires you can complete which will give you career and course ideas ask Mr. Power for the log in code (if you have seen Mrs James the Careers Adviser you will have an Action Plan the code is on that as well).
THEN YOU NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT THE COURSE IS ALL ABOUT.......
Titles of courses can be misleading in terms of their content, and you must go to the University’s prospectus to find out what they are really about. After this you may need to contact the University for more detailed information or answers to questions you may have, for example, are my qualifications suitable. Often individual departments produce a brochure on their own courses, but huge amounts of information are given on the faculty website
Courses with the same name can have little in common when being run by different institutions. For example, a Media Studies course at one university might be mainly concerned with the influence the media has on society, whilst at another it could be a very technical course concerned with media production techniques.
Courses with similar sounding names such as Environmental Studies and Environmental Science could lead to completely different career outcomes.
YOU NEED TO CONSIDER HOW THE COURSE IS ORGANISED.......
Some courses, particularly those which run a modular system, can be very flexible in their structure, allowing students to almost ‘pick and mix’ a degree. Others are much more rigid with a fixed syllabus to be followed. Again, you need to check which structure serves your interests and career intentions best. Careers Staff are always willing to offer advice on this.
DO YOU WANT TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE DURING YOUR COURSE?
If so, consider Sandwich Degrees.
DO YOU WANT THE OPPORTUNITY OF STUDYING ABROAD?
An increasing number of courses include an element of time abroad and these are not just in language-only courses. Alternatively, you may want to study part of your course in a European University. If so, watch out for ERASMUS programmes.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE TAUGHT?
Most courses offer a variety of teaching styles, dependent on the subject being taught.
· Lectures: - Usually involve large numbers of students, with little student participation other than listening to the lecturer and taking notes.
· Seminars: - Much smaller class size groups, where students should get the opportunity to present their ideas and work to fellow students as well as the lecturer.
· Tutorials: - Small groups of students can be even one to one, when work can be discussed on a much more personal basis.
Science courses should provide sufficient time for practical laboratory teaching, and other specialised courses should also provide relevant specialised teaching.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE ASSESSED?
Exams or coursework? Final year or throughout the course? Most courses have a mixture of coursework and exam assessment, but it varies from institution to institution and from subject to subject. Vocational subjects may have practical tests to pass. Group projects and presentations are also becoming popular opportunities for assessment, particularly on HND courses.
Although no one likes to be assessed, you can at least look for courses that offer those methods you prefer.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE OFFERED A PLACE?
UCAS web site – www.ucas.com will give you a general indication of the grades required for particular courses. More detailed information should be available in the prospectus.
A’ Level
requirements are usually expressed either in terms of specific grades, eg. ABB,
or in terms of points A* 56 A 48 B 40 C 32 D 24 E 16. These Tariff points will
be used for applications submitted for the 2017 onwards. AS Official
title: Tariff points: A 20 B 16 C 12 D 10 E 6 BTECs (known
as Nationals) BTEC Extended Diploma Tariff points: D*D*D* 168 D*D*D 160 D*DD 152
DDD 144 DDM 128 DMM 112 MMM 96 MMP 80 MPP 64 PPP 48
Some admissions tutors want specific grades in particular subjects and therefore will not give an offer expressed in points.
Many admissions tutors will not accept points or grades gained from the General Studies ‘A’ Level. See the prospectus or contact the University for guidance.
NB. Many courses will require specific GCSE’s so check the prospectus before applying particularly if you do not have English Language or Maths at grade C or above. Some courses require A or A* in English for medicine for example.
WHEN CHOOSING COURSES, BE REALISTIC. THERE IS NO POINT APPLYING FOR COURSES REQUIRING GRADES THAT YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE AS YOU WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED. Also your grades predicted are the key to getting an offer. There is no point saying when predicted grades are given that you will achieve higher as school will assess you on your actual Year 12 work and not what you think you will get!
HOW DO I CHOOSE WHERE TO STUDY?
The environment in which you live and work for three or four years will play an important part in your life - SO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT YOU WANT!
LOCATION: -
Would you prefer to be in an ancient, modern, rural or urban setting? Would you like a large institution like Manchester University with around 14,000 students, or a small one like York with only around 4,800 students? Would you like a city location like Birmingham or a country one like Keele? What about a campus University where everything you are likely to need is on one site - lecture theatres, accommodation, sports halls, Students Union, etc. for example, Exeter? Or would you prefer a non-campus University like Westminster where buildings are spread around the city and you would have to travel between accommodation and lecture theatres, and maybe sports facilities are several miles away.
Is it important for you to be near your home, or is it more important that there are good road/rail/air links to your home? How much travelling will cost will also depend on how often you plan to go home?
ACCOMMODATION:-
You may want to spend your first year in a hall of residence with or without meals provided. This is a good way of getting to know other students and integrating into university life or you may be able to choose university self-catering accommodation with a private study bedroom and a shared kitchen and bathroom. The costs of hall accommodation will vary. Lodgings in a private house are another possibility. You could rent a flat or house but you are more likely to do this after the first year when you have made friends to share with. Universities often offer first year students controlled accommodation of some sort, as the newest universities do not have a residential tradition so accommodation can sometimes cause problems, especially in London. Many students though who stay in London live at home.
It is worthwhile checking out the accommodation situation before applying to a particular university. This should be covered in its prospectus.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES: -
Higher Education is not only about studying - you should have some free time for leisure pursuits. Universities offer many facilities. All universities have a Student Union, most have sports facilities and many other opportunities. There are societies of all types, from political to theatrical. REMEMBER, PARTICIPATION IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN YOUR FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS.
Information on accommodation, leisure activities and how to choose your university can be found in ‘The Guardian University Guide’ or ‘The Times Good University Guide’ and on line at the Student Room. Finally, if possible, try to visit the university. Details of university open days are available on line at www.opendays.com or alternatively, contact universities direct to find out when they are being held. Also, ‘The Students’ Union’ often publishes an alternative prospectus that gives useful background information on social life.
HOW WILL I SURVIVE FINANCIALLY?
At present new entrants will be asked to pay £9000 per annum towards the cost of tuition. As grants for low-income families have been discontinued most students take out a student loan. This means that students will be able to borrow money each year and pay it back when they start to earn £21,000 or more after they graduate.
OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME FOR STUDENTS CAN INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: -
1. Sponsorship - Some large companies will sponsor students through certain degrees and HNDs. Engineering predominates, but there are some others available. See also Sandwich degrees
2. Bursaries and Scholarships - Universities offer a bursaries or scholarships if students meet certain conditions.
3. Part-Time and Vacation Jobs - Most Universities now accept the need for students to earn some extra money while they are studying at university. Vacation jobs have always been acceptable, but in the past there has been resistance to students working in term time. However, universities often have their own employment agency for students. Part-time work obviously has to be balanced against the academic demands of the course and should not put a student’s achievements into jeopardy. However, if a sensible approach is taken, such work can enhance career prospects for some students, as employers often value it.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Degree courses and foundation degree courses require an application though UCAS. This acts as a central distribution point for completed forms, copying them and sending them out to the institutions that the student has applied to. It then keeps a record of all the offers and acceptances made. It also operates an ‘Extra’ system in March and ‘Clearing’ system in August for those students not holding any offers. Universities only know you have applied to their institution and cannot see your other choices, they do though all see the same Personal Statement. Universities are placed alphabetically and so the individual university does not know which of your choices is first.
YOU CAN APPLY FOR UP TO 5 CHOICES online for all courses except medicine, dentistry and veterinary science where choices are limited to 4. Also remember there are now the UKCAT and BMAT tests to take for medicine and dentistry and LNAT for Law –See websites for full information.
Detailed instructions on how to complete the UCAS on line form will be supplied at the beginning of the Autumn Term in Year 13.
What you need to be aware of at the moment are the application deadlines!
UCAS applications that include an application for Oxford or Cambridge and/or Medicine must be at UCAS by 15th October, so the forms need to be completed by mid-September. UCAS applications must reach UCAS by 15th January, so the form must be completed by the end of December at the very latest. Here at school we ask for forms to be in by October half term. Remember, after you have completed the main section of the form, your tutor needs to complete the reference section.
Completing the form early is advised. Many admissions tutors start to send out offers as soon as they receive applications. Early applicants may find that they are having interviews or offers by November.
APPLICATIONS FOR ART AND DESIGN COURSES.
YOU DO NOT APPLY FOR ART FOUNDATION COURSES THROUGH UCAS, although Degree courses are handled by UCAS and require the completion of a UCAS form. Many practical art courses will want you to have completed the one-year post ‘A’ level, Foundation Diploma Course.
OTHER APPLICATION PROCEDURES:-
CUKAS is now available for Music courses, so applications need to be made on line for conservatoires. There are a few courses which require applications to be made directly to the institutions, most notably some HNDs and specialist courses in subjects such as Drama. In these cases, you need to be guided by the prospectuses of the institutions concerned.
GOOD LUCK
