The document is a presentation given to parents about higher education options after completing A-Levels. It discusses various university choices including campus, civic, large and small universities. It covers the UCAS application process and important deadlines. Statistics on acceptance rates and popular degree subjects are provided. Financial options like loans and scholarships are explained. University open days are recommended to help with research and decisions.

1. A presentation to parents
March 2013

2.  Money/career
◦ enhanced salary and
prospects
◦ employers like graduates
◦ but it’s important to
remember it’s not a golden
ticket to a job
 Chance to study
◦ it’s interesting
◦ intellectual independence
 Social life
◦ it’s all true!

3.  The UCAS process
 Research/Decisions to
be made
 Fees/loans
 Competition/Predicted
Grades
 Any questions

4.  Campus?
Warwick / Kent /Sussex
 Civic?
Leeds / Glasgow
 Large?
Birmingham /
Manchester
 Small?
Winchester/ Bath Spa

5.  Over 51,000 available at 165
institutions! Do lots
of research-ask for help
 Do you enjoy the subject?
 Single/joint Honours? sandwich
course? foundation? year
abroad?
 Learning styles /assessment
 Use Unistats for the KIS data
 http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/
 Use guides and league tables
judiciously

6. Maths, Physics and Engineering 34
Bio/Chem related 24
Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary 10
Nursing and Midwifery 9
Social Science (incl. Law) and
Humanities 32
Econ./Business/Finance 18
English and Media 12
MFL and Classics 6
All Design and Media production 16
Art Foundation Diploma 9
Sports related 3
Primary Teaching 6
Performing Arts 7

7. Higher Education
Further Education
Gap Year
Art Foundation
Employment
Unemployment

8. Some George Abbot highlights from 2012
 11 places at Oxford and Cambridge
 Large number of offers from Durham, LSE, UCL,
Imperial College, Southampton, Sheffield, Bristol
 2 places for dentistry (2 applied)
 5 offers for Medicine (6 applied)
 An increase in the number of students applying for
Foundation Degrees especially in Engineering
 An increase in the number of students applying for
sandwich courses.
 More students undertaking taster courses, Headstart
engineering and summer schools.
 Students being more imaginative in their options and
researching them carefully.

9. Some statistics for 2012…………………….
 By September 2012 about 682,514 applicants applied
for degree level study.
 Of these, 487,329 applicants were accepted and
started their course
 Of these, about 53,000 were accepted through Extra or
Clearing
 There has been a slight drop this year, but is mainly
amongst mature students.
 There are declining number of 17-18 year olds
 Average tariff for entry was 304 points (BBB)
 63% were in a graduate job or full time job sixth months
after studying
 Significant numbers continued in education.

10.  GCSE profile
 Enthusiasm for and knowledge of the subject
shown in personal statement
 Coherent application
 Experience
 The reference
 Predicted grades

11. University and Colleges Admissions Service
www.ucas.com
Online queries regarding
◦ institutions
◦ courses
◦ services
◦ links to other websites
◦ teaching quality information

13.  Via the system known as APPLY
 User friendly
 Can apply for up to five courses
 What the universities can/cannot see (including
new questions)
 Writing a personal statement
 A personal advertisement

14. ◦ All via UCAS and earlier date for
Oxbridge and medicine/dentistry/vet
applicants - October 15th.
◦ Admissions tests – BMAT/UKCAT,
LNAT as well as pre-interview subject
tests (ELAT, PPE, HAT, Maths)
◦ Interviews
◦ Preparation

15.  CUKAS is a separate application
system outside UCAS - Birmingham
College Of Music and Drama, Royal College
of Music, Royal Coll. Of Music and Drama,
Royal Scottish and Welsh College of Music
and Drama, Trinity college of Music and
Drama. Guildhall College of Music
 This process starts much earlier - let us know
if you are interested
 Drama courses (UCAS and non UCAS)
 The audition

16.  Online registration takes place on the HE day in
July. Separate provision made for absentees on
courses.
 Storing passwords etc.
 Red folders and advice
 Checking the application -the role of the Form
Tutor, Head of Year and HE adviser
 The reference
 Having a sense of urgency!

17.  Huge range of courses
 Foundation Diploma
studies – one year, no
fees, no loans
 The vital importance of
the Portfolio
 Talk to your teaching
staff

18.  Acknowledgement card is the first contact
 Offers, interviews or rejections made
 UCAS Track
 Student firmly accepts one offer and one
other as an insurance
 What is UCAS Extra and Clearing?
 What is UCAS Adjustment?

19.  Think ahead - is the degree valued by your future employers?
Does it give professional accreditation? Check institution
websites for graduate employment rates.
 Use the Careers Library
 Useful websites
www.britishservices.co.uk/careers.htm
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.isco.org.uk
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
www.careersbox.co.uk
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Register for guide and email bulletins with UCAS

20. Student Finance
See www.direct.gov.uk or studentfinanceengland
Tuition fees are from £6,000 -£9000 p.a.
 Loans available on a sliding scale, therefore no up-front
fees. Non repayable grants for those on low incomes.
 Pay back, through PAYE, occurs once the student is
earning £21,000 p.a. (9% on any earnings above this)
 National Scholarship programme supports students on
household incomes of less than £25,000
 Extra support for disabled students and for some students
with a verified specific learning difficulty

21.  University bursaries - non-repayable.
 Scholarships - for academic excellence
 Shop around the universities for these.
 NHS and Social Work
 Industrial and commercial bursaries
 The Armed Forces

22.  Advice and support for parents is now available for
parents on the UCAS website. Register for emails
and newsletters.
 Show an interest. Be supportive but not pushy.
 Let them do the leg-work! Encourage them to ask for
help - the importance of open dialogue.
 Situation is very different today.
 Communications with the Universities should be from
the student/HE adviser not parent.
 Check application for errors but it needs to be their
own
 Plagiarism.
 Support visits and open days www.opendays.com.

24.  March-July Research, open days
 June Examinations
 July HE Week - Register for
UCAS application
 Sept-November Complete applications
 December Art Foundation deadlines
 January 15th UCAS final deadline
 April-May Final choices & UCAS
extra
 August Results and celebration

25.  Star Future presentation was given in Feature
Lecture
 See the Prospects website for information
 http://www.prospects.ac.uk/studying_abroad
 For applications to the USA see
www.fulbright.org.uk for an explanation of the
process
Book an appt. with Miss Head

26.  We continue to support our students in their
university and job applications after they have
left George Abbot.
 Most Gap Year students will apply to
University through the school within four
years of leaving.
 We encourage all students to register with
UCAS and research their career options
whilst at school.

27.  http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/
 www.prospects.org.uk
 www.apprenticeships.org.uk/
 See Sixth Form Notice board outside Common
Room for Post 18 opportunities
 Financial sector is actively recruiting 18 year olds
with good A Levels – offer professional
accreditation and sometimes degree level study.
 Local FE colleges for L3 and L4 study

28.  Further questions?
Please stay behind and ask
Diane Head
Higher Education and
Post- 18 Advisor
dhead@georgeabbot.surrey.sch.uk
Kevin O’Sullivan
KS5 Manager