Advice and Guidance on University Applications to UK

1. Advice and Guidance on University Applications to UK Y12 Information Application Evening

2. Presentation Rundown • The importance of choosing a course • Choosing a university • Costs • Home Status • Applied Learning • Art and Design • UCAS • Conservatoires • The UCAS Form • Offers • Students choosing UK in 2012 • Offers for 2013 Entry Y12 Information Application Evening

3. The importance of choosing a course • Academic interest/follow a clear career path • Course content and teaching method • Competition for places on popular courses • Entry profiles [available on UCAS website] • Course specific requirements • Additional admissions Tests • “Passion” –the personal statement • Commitment to CAS rather than a list, linked to choice of course if possible. • Interviews Y12 Information Application Evening

4. Additional Admissions Tests • Oxbridge: e.g. TSA, [Thinking Skills Assessment] • ELAT, [English Literature] EMLAT [European Modern Languages] HAT, [History] LAT, [Languages] MAT [Maths and Computer Science], PAT [Physics], • STEP or college’s own test • Biomedicine, Dentistry, Medicine, Vet Science: e.g. BMAT, UKCAT [http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/our-services/medicine-and-healthcare/bmat/about-bmat/] [http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/] • Law: e.g. LNAT [http://www.lnat.ac.uk/] • Education Degrees with QTS – PTS [skills test] [http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/professionalhttp://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/professional]

5. Choosing a University • Location – campus/city • Reputation • Ranking – league tables Times/ Guardian • Teaching [Quality Assurance Agency] • Research [Research Assessment Exercise] • Graduate satisfaction • Graduate destination • Links with industry • Accommodation • Age requirement • Visits and open days http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug/ http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/ Y12 Information Application Evening

6. Costs – two examples of undergraduate tuition fees for International Students Y12 Information Application Evening

7. Home Status • Fee code should be 02 [International/Private Finance is 01] • Student needs to know their Local Authority • Family should be ordinarily resident in the UK. • http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/ • Parents should be able to show ties to UK. • Having a home there or a renewable contract here may help to prove this. A UK address is essential. • Email the universities well before applying to check this. • You will need to fill in an assessment form.

8. Applied Learning Type one universities • [Traditional: research universities-courses with applied learning components] • Bath • Birmingham • Brunel • Dundee • Kent • Loughborough • Newcastle • Stirling • Strathclyde Type two universities • [Applied Learning Focus] • Bournemouth • Brighton • Canterbury Christchurch • Leeds Metropolitan • Manchester Metropolitan • Northumbria • Nottingham Trent • Oxford Brookes • University of Wales Institute • University of West of England Y12 Information Application Evening

9. Art and Design • One Year Art Foundation Direct Application: • Universities with Foundation Programmes: Loughborough University, School of Art and Design; UWIC Cardiff; Oxford Brooks • Dedicated Art Schools: Central St Martins; Chelsea College of Art and Design; Kent Institute of Art and Design; Falmouth, Ravensbourne • Three Year UndergraduateDegrees Through UCAS Most universities prefer students to come through the foundation programmes unless the portfolio can show strong evidence of an ability to access the degree programme. Students entering at degree level would need to be certain of their specialism. http://www.britisharts.co.uk/artcolleges.html [also has league table]

10. UCAS http://www.ucas.com • Course Search – entry profiles • http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate [includes: eg. course content, entry requirements, fees, reasons for choosing the university.] • The UCAS Tariff – [please refer to booklet] • UCAS APPLY: Manages applications to undergraduate degree programmes • 5 choices – one online application form • UCAS TRACK - Managing offers –– Firm/Insurance • UCAS Extra • Results day – Confirmation and Clearing Y12 Information Application Evening

11. CUKAS • If you want to get into a music, dance or drama course at a conservatoire that's part of the Conservatoires UK Admissions Service (CUKAS), you'll need to apply through the CUKAS application system. • We appreciate that researching, applying, auditioning and accepting can be quite a bit to do, so we've put together lots of advice to help you along your way – [UCAS website] • http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/performing-arts

12. The UCAS Form http://www.ucas.tv/ • Students set up account in school • Online form – simple format with drop-down boxes • Check course code/campus code if applicable • Check correct title and board for IGCSEs/GCSEs • Personal Statement checked by tutor • Form checked by Careers Team • Payment by credit card –cost £23 [for 2013 entry] • School reference • Deadlines – Oxford/Cambridge/Medical • - other subjects • MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE HELP BOXES IF UNCERTAIN Y12 Information Application Evening

13. How do Institutions Choose? • The institutions you have applied to will look at many factors when choosing who to accept. These can include: • Qualifications • Personal statement – [passion for the subject is key!] • Reference • Interview • Portfolio • Admissions tests • An admissions tutor may make one of three decisions: • Unconditional offer • Conditional offer • Unsuccessful • Or they may offer a place on an alternative course

14. Offers • The UCAS Tariff – http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/explore-your-options/entry-requirements/tariff-tables • Combining BTEC and IB Certificates • Higher Level subjects • Examinations taken outside school • Accepting a Firm and Insurance Y12 Information Application Evening

15. Examples of Destinations for WIS Students: 2012 Entry

16. Offers for 2013 Entry

17. Destinations of WIS Students 2012 Entry